An entirely new award, the ICAO Distinguished Service Award, was created to honour an individual – not necessarily a Chartered Accountant – who has provided outstanding service to, or on behalf of, the CA profession. The first recipient is Mr. Peter H. Barnes.

Mr. Barnes is a long-time member-at-large of the Institute's Council and is President of Peter Barnes Enterprises. He sat on the Institute's Council as a public representative from 1995 to 2003, acting as Chair of the Audit Committee, the Government Affairs Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. He also served as a member of the Executive Group.

Mr. Barnes served the Government of Ontario in a variety of high-profile roles, including Secretary of Cabinet, Clerk of the Executive Council and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, before establishing his own business in 1996.

He also sits on the boards of the Social Research and Development Corporation, the Youthdale Treatment Centre and the Last Post Fund of Canada.

Mr. Barnes is Chair of the Board of Governors of George Brown College, and is also a special advisor on international programs to the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. In addition, he is a member of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Advisory Committee.

Mr. Barnes was formally presented with the ICAO Distinguished Service Award at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards Dinner, held in Toronto.