Claire Austin has been named as Chief Executive of the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Announcing her appointment, National President, Murray MacCormick said “Claire brings a diversity of experience to the role. She has first-hand knowledge of the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand, the health sector, development of the health sector workforce and she has worked in the areas of health policy development.”

Claire’s last position was as a consulting Principal with Sapere Research Group specialising in health workforce issues, primary and rural health care policy, health reform and service development, health practitioner regulation and health sector organisation strategy and change management.

Throughout her career Claire has held a number of national and international strategic, governance and health policy advisory roles. These include being a member of the New Zealand Minister of Health’s Advisory Council focusing upon the implementation of the New Zealand Primary Care Strategy, International Federation on Ageing Advisor and New Zealand Health Strategy expert reference group. She has also provided advice to a range of Australian, New Zealand and United
Nations policy makers and organisations and the New Zealand Health Workforce Advisory Committee.

“I am looking forward to taking on this role and working with the Divisions, their staff and volunteers. They do a fantastic job and have a huge impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families. At the end of the day that’s what we are here for,” said Claire, “to support that role.”

For further information contact
Lynne St. Clair- Chapman
National Communications Manager 027 4444 150

Ms Mac Dermott was previously the Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council for the past four years. Her career in property includes 11 years as a property journalist for the Australian Financial Review (including seven as Queensland Bureau Chief) and corporate advisory roles in Brisbane and London.

Chief Executive of the Property Council Ken Morrison said: "Kathy brings more than 25 years' experience of working in the property industry and has led a highly successful Queensland Division, achieving excellent member and political engagement.

"Most recently she has been very involved in the formation of the Property Male Champions of Change, a national initiative to help increase the number of women in leadership roles and achieve gender equality in our industry."

"She brings strong communication and change management experience to the COO role."

Mr Mountford has more than a decade of experience in public policy advocacy and has been the Deputy Executive Director of the Property Council's Queensland Division for the past four years. His career includes working with the Local Government Association of Queensland and Civil Contractors Federation.

"Chris is an outstanding advocate for the industry and has played a leading role in several recent public policy debates, including the review of Queensland's infrastructure charges framework," Mr Morrison said.

"I am confident his appointment will help the Property Council continue to build on our achievements in Queensland and maintain open communication with policy makers at all levels of government."

The announcement follows recent appointments of new Executive Directors in South Australia and Tasmania and a restructure of the Property Council's national policy team.

Both appointments are effective immediately.

Media contact:

Kathy Mac Dermott on 0427 243 986, or Chris Mountford on 0408 469 734

Sourced from: http://www.propertyoz.com.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=16&id=10312

AUSAE has the great pleasure to announce Rydges Hotels and Resorts NZ as their new annual partner in New Zealand. 

New Zealand may be known as the “land of the long white cloud,” but when it comes to quality hotels, Rydges has the country covered.  Rydges currently offers five hotels in New Zealand- Rydges Auckland Hotel, Rydges Wellington Hotel, and Rydges Rotorua, all located in the North Island. The South Island includes the Queenstown Resort located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, plus the newest addition Latimer Christchurch. No matter which you chose, we are certain you will be satisfied by the amenities awaiting you at Rydges.

We are delighted to have Danelle and her team onboard. Contact Danelle Ayers danelle_ayers@rydges.com 04 498 3780

Have you considered a LinkedIn ‘company page’ for your association? With linkedIn being an online community for professionals this could be a great way to create awareness of your association to those within your industry or sector.

The winner of the 2014 Macquarie Social Innovation Award was announced today, with the Fogarty Foundation, an Australian not-for-profit organisation that supports and provides educational opportunities for Western Australians, taking out the award.

The Award recognises and rewards an Australian organisation or program that addresses an unmet community need in Australia. The Fogarty Foundation won for its Fogarty EDvance initiative, which aims to improve the educational outcomes
of students in low socio-economic status communities by providing principals working in low-SES schools with leadership and management skills. In this way it can help develop targeted school improvements.

The Fogarty Foundation will receive $100,000 over the next two years to scale up the EDvance program to attain a critical mass, and to develop its sustainable funding model.

Shemara Wikramanayake said the high calibre of submissions received this year meant it was a difficult judging process.

“On behalf of the Foundation Committee and our judges, I would like to commend all the organisations and individuals who participated.

“I congratulate all our outstanding finalists for their commitment to continuing to develop innovative programs that address social needs and long-term community problems.”

The Social Innovation Award finalists were (in alphabetical order):

• The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, which tackles Australia’s toughest social challenges by developing new ways of doing things.
  
• The Centre for Eye Research Australia, which is Australia’s leading ocular research centre.
  
• Settlement Services International, which provides settlement and support services to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers across NSW to help them integrate into the community.
  
• The Smith Family, which invests in children’s education to help break the cycle of disadvantage in families from low-SES background.
  

The judging panel for the 2014 Social Innovation Award and David Clarke Fellowship comprised:

• David Bennett – Committee Member, Macquarie Group Foundation; Chair, Social Enterprise Finance Australia
  
• Tanya Branwhite – Committee Member, Macquarie Group Foundation, Board Director, Anika Foundation
  
• Michael Traill – Executive Director, Social Ventures Australia; Chair, Goodstart Early Learning
  
• Sheryl Weil – Former Committee Member, Macquarie Group Foundation;Board Director, Lifeline Australia and Schizophrenia Research Institute
  
• Shemara Wikramanayake – Chair, Macquarie Group Foundation
  

For more information, please contact:

Navleen Prasad, Macquarie Group Corporate Communications (02) 8232 6472

About the Social Innovation Awards
The David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowship, established in 2012 in memory of the Macquarie Group Foundation founding Chairman, David Clarke AO, is presented biennially to a CEO of a not-for-profit organisation to visit and research Macquarie Group Foundation 4 best practice innovation around the world. The Fellowship was this year opened up to entrants outside of Australia for the first time, in Hong Kong, New York City and the US.

Macquarie’s Social Innovation Award is presented biennially to an Australian not-for-profit organisation to recognise, promote and reward news ideas that work to meet pressing community needs, alleviate disadvantage and promote social
inclusion.

Sourced from: http://www.cbb.com.au/community-development/grants-and-scholarships/

The CBB next round of Community Development Grants is now open!

They are seeking applications from Australian Not for Profit organisations undertaking a project that assists in their growth, or provides a benefit to the community. The applicant must show that the grant will be used for a purpose that supports CBB Community Development Grants objectives:

• To assist Not for Profit organisations in the Australian community who serve disadvantaged, disengaged or marginalised individuals.
  
• To assist Not for Profit organisations that provide advocacy or services to those in need.
  
• To assist Not for Profit organisations to achieve their social objectives.
  
• To support services and programs that build capability and capacity of the Not for Profit sector.
  

A monetary grant of up to a maximum of $3,000 + GST will be available to successful applicants. The number of successful applicants will be determined by the CBB Community Development Grants Committee.

Applications close 5.00pm (ACST), Friday 28 November 2014.

Find out more here: http://www.cbb.com.au/community-development/grants-and-scholarships/

• Optometry Australia awarded major tender to accredit the optometry profession’s CPD
  
• Stricter governance on CPD service providers to be introduced
  
• Service providers to be charged a service management fee
  

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: 17 November 2014
Omer Soker has been appointed CEO of the Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA), after serving as Executive General Manager reporting to the board since December 2013.

“Soker has engaged strongly with the Membership and re-set the focus of the organisation in accord with the board’s wishes,” AGHA President Nigel Kirby said.

In his first year running the industry association which has 2,500 Members and a turnover of $8 million, Soker has restructured the Member services department, launched a new online resource to link local wholesalers and retailers, acquired Fashion Exposed to diversify the organisation into new segments, engaged government departments to provide industry support and begun work on reforming the Constitution.

Australian wholesalers and retailers need much more support to compete effectively in an industry facing structural threats, global disintermediation and cyclical challenges, Soker said.

“The AGHA has a huge role to play in providing the optimum commercial environment for these companies to succeed, and in leading the long term development of the gift and homewares industry.”

Media Enquiries:
Paris Dennett- Marketing Manager
02 9763 3225
paris@agha.com.au

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN GIFT & HOMEWARES ASSOCIATION (AGHA)
Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA) is the leading industry body representing the gift and homewares industry in Australia with origins dating back to 1977. Based in Homebush, Sydney, the not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to serving its Membership base through the provision of discounted industry services, commercial and political lobbying as well as two annual Home & Giving Fair and FASHION EXPOSED REVIVED exhibitions held in Sydney and Melbourne. Find further information at agha.com.au.

AUSAE has the great pleasure to announce Exhibition Hire Services as their new annual partner in New Zealand. When you host a conference, they are your one stop Nationwide New Zealand Exhibition Supplier.

From Roadshows, Conferences, Product Launches to Large Exhibitions they have the expertise & knowledge to offer solutions to all aspects of your event.

They offer a diverse range of products nationwide & have built a reputation on providing display solutions to all aspects of the event industry. Products include floor plan / stand design, partitions, carpet, furniture, signage, marquees and general event hire. We are delighted to have Matt and his team on board. 

Contact Matt Reilly matt@exhibitionhire.co.nz  09 579 9884 or 021 843 178

NZVA CEO Julie Hood was invited to speak at a recent networking lunch organised by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE). The event focused on strategic planning for membership growth.

AuSAE is a professional society whose purpose is to equip leaders working in not-for-profit organisations with the information, tools and networks they need to better achieve the vision of their organisations; essentially it is the association for associations.

A total of 55 organisations attended collectively representing a broad range of not-for-profits (small to large).

The focus of Julie’s speech was on the future of the NZVA – our strategic goals, how we measure our success, what is important to our members as gleamed from surveys, and how we transform these findings into actions.

Julie outlined the results of NZVA’s participation in an Australasian membership satisfaction survey which highlighted that the top priorities for our members are to be kept informed on the latest developments impacting the profession, accessing quality (affordable) professional development, and networking opportunities. NZVA rated most highly for its delivery of up to date information to members and did better than many other associations in its communications and delivery of events. Julie emphasised however that associations need to continually adapt to meet the changing expectations of their members – including how information is delivered – and that they need to be able to respond and change quickly.

Julie said the NZVA is in a strong position following an internal review of its systems to make it more streamlined and efficient, and that there is support from staff and members for the NZVA to deliver on its 2020 strategy. She said the NZVA’s Marketing the Profession project was focusing on the profession’s competitive advantages to achieve a viable and sustainable profession into the future.

Julie’s speech was so well received by attendees that a coffee morning has been organised for Julie to answer more in-depth questions from AuSAE members about the detail of NZVA’s work to boost membership.

Julie did note this may mean that at least one of the NZVA’s Strategic Key Performance Indicators is on the way to being achieved – to be the envy of all other Associations (in the world!). “Veterinarians don’t do things by halves”, Julie said, and this is a very good example! 

You can read Julie’s speech here…