**Ruth R. Millar, C.M.G**

The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) will present a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the upcoming 8th Annual Financial Services Excellence Awards Banquet. This is only the second time since the Excellence Awards programme was introduced in 2001 that BFSB has selected an individual to be recognized in this manner for sustained, outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the Bahamian financial services industry.

The 2008 recipient of the award is Mrs. Ruth R. Millar, C.M.G., retired Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

Mrs. Millar was appointed Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning in 1994, after an already distinguished career with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Housing and National Insurance and the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation. Among her “significant accomplishments,” she has been credited with responsibility for helping the completion of the first Assessment of the Housing Stock of The Bahamas, and the creation of the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation.

Speaking at a Retirement Service honouring Mrs. Millar in July of this year, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, called her *”a fine example of what a public servant should be.”* He also noted that that there are many who, year after year, day in and day out, and sometimes well into the night, devote the best of themselves, their talents, their knowledge and their skills, to the service of their country. *”Ruth Millar”*, he said,* “has for many years, been high in the ranks of this extraordinary contingent. And truly in her case each working day literally extended well into the night. She has unstintingly given of her vast knowledge, experience and capacity for work over many crucial years in our country’s recent history.”*

Mrs. Millar began her public service career as a nurse for which she qualified in the United Kingdom. She then studied hospital administration in Canada, obtained a Masters in Business Administration and qualified as a CPA. She also earned a Fellow Life Management Institute (F.L.M.I.) with distinction from the Life Office Management Association of the U.S.A.

Mrs. Millar was designated a Companion of the Most Excellent Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) in 1996 by Queen Elizabeth II and is the proud recipient of many honours and awards.

BFSB is pleased to salute a pioneer whose decades-long career is admirable and inspiring. CEO & Executive Director Wendy Warren points to the critical role played by the public sector, and particularly the Ministry of Finance, in providing an attractive environment for financial services. She maintains that fiscal stability is perhaps the most important asset in this connection, playing a vital role in maintaining favourable sovereign credit ratings. Additionally, clarity of policy and confidence in the integrity of the public service also are critical to a healthy financial services industry. * “Ruth Millar, as Financial Secretary, set a strong record of performance and certainly promoted confidence in the integrity of the public service,”* says Ms Warren.

In responding to the announcement, Mrs. Millar said *”I am profoundly grateful for being selected by BFSB for its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a very significant recognition of my career in the Public Service.”*

The Awards Banquet is scheduled for October 25, at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island. BFSB currently is taking reservations for the gala event, when it also will recognise recipients for the 2008 Executive of the Year, Professional of the Year, Achiever of the Year, and the Financial Services Student of the Year. Also to be recognised is an individual or company for the annual Financial Services Development & Promotion Award.