Data-driven marketing association chief assumes CEO post across the holding group, which also includes IAPA, DGA and Digital + Technology Collective after Stephen Porges exits.

View the full original article here. 

Melbourne, VIC (01 July 2019) — Advanced Solutions International (ASI), a leading global provider of software and services for associations and non-profits, announced today it has committed to an exclusive, three-year Premium Alliance Partnership with the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE).  AuSAE is the leading association for current and future association leaders in Australia and New Zealand representing more than 12,000 professionals.

ASI’s partnership will help support AuSAE’s educational and professional development programs, including conferences, webinars, and networking luncheons, as well as research and advocacy efforts.

“ASI has supported AuSAE initiatives for many years now and we’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism and the value the organisation delivers to its members by providing a place where they can connect while learning and advancing their careers,” said Paul Ramsbottom, Managing Director of ASI Asia-Pacific.  “We’re thrilled to make this long-term commitment to AuSAE and are very proud to support their exceptional programs and initiatives across Australia and New Zealand.” 

“AuSAE’s philosophy behind securing mutually beneficial partnerships is to enhance and complement the capacity to link our members and industry in an exclusive environment,” said Toni Brearley, AuSAE’s Chief Executive Officer.  “We strive to create a sense of belonging while providing guidance and inspiration.  We’re very gratified ASI believes in this mission and will be providing the support we need to continue our vital work in the years to come.”

About AuSAE

The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) is the peak not-for-profit professional society representing more than 12,000 individual leaders working in organisations throughout Australia and New Zealand.  With offices in Australia and New Zealand, AuSAE's purpose is to provide the tools, information, and networks not-for-profit professionals need to achieve the visions of their organisations.

About ASI
Advanced Solutions International (ASI) is a recognised global, industry thought leader that focuses on helping associations and not-for-profits increase operational and financial performance through the use of best practices, proven solutions, and ongoing client advisement. Since 1991, ASI has served nearly 4,000 clients and millions of users worldwide, both directly and indirectly through a network of over 100 partners, and currently maintains corporate offices in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. Learn more at www.advsol.com

CONTACT:

Marla Nelson                                                                                                                                    Advanced Solutions International
Ph: +61 3 9869 7503
Email: mnelson@advsol.com

The tragic events in Christchurch unfolded as I was waiting to return home to Australia following our Future Leaders conference in Wellington. It was impossible not to feel a profound sense of shock and disbelief.  AuSAE in New Zealand is supporting our members and colleagues in Christchurch and beyond whose lives have been either directly or indirectly but irreversibly changed from this event. Kia Kaha Christchurch.

It has also been impossible not to notice the many forms of leadership following this event from the highest levels to those at the heart of the community most effected.  It is neither position nor stature that determines good leadership, rather a set of values, characteristics and behaviours that define a true leader.  I have written some notes that came out of our Future leadership conference which you can read here.

I am pleased to provide you with an update on some of our other activities from around the country:

2019 Member Communications Survey

We were delighted that the Mahlab team could join us for our first round of networking lunches this month and present their research findings from the 2019 Member Communications Survey.  Some startling facts in relation to an association’s attitude to investment in communication and their growth.  If you missed out on attending the lunches, you can still download the report here.

ASAE Membership Benefits

I am hearing great things from our members regarding their ASAE membership, especially in relation to the resources available and the on-line community.  If you have yet to activate your membership, I encourage you to do so and discover some of the great benefits this partnership brings.  If you need some assistance getting started please give us a call and we will be happy to guide you through.

Expressions of Interest:  ASAE Annual Meeting 2019, August 10 - 13, Columbus Ohio

I will be leading a delegation to the ASAE Annual meeting in August of this year to Columbus, Ohio and would love to hear from any members who were thinking of attending the conference. As part of a delegation we receive a special rate (approx. 50% discount) and we will arrange bespoke events for our group and those you would like to interact with.  The program was released yesterday and can be found here. Please email me if you are considering attending and would like to be kept up to date with the delegation offering.

Mentoring & Leadership Program

One of our strategic focus areas is the development of the sector and future association leaders.  The AuSAE Mentoring and Leadership program is a principal activity to achieve this goal.  We are almost fully “matched” for our new cohort of mentees but have a few specific skills we are seeking in mentors.  Firstly, someone who has experience in leading an organisation through the transition to service delivery through the NDIS, and secondly someone based in Melbourne with a strong Association Policy background.  If you fit these criteria and would consider being a mentor, then I would love to hear from you.

As we are about to head into April and the abundance of holidays, I wish you all a very happy Easter and hope you have an opportunity to have a break and refresh.

Warm regards

Toni

The tragic events in Christchurch unfolded as I was waiting to return home to Australia following our Future Leaders conference in Wellington. It was impossible not to feel a profound sense of shock and disbelief. For my many colleagues and friends whose lives have been either directly or indirectly but irreversibly changed from this event I extend my deepest condolences.

It has also been impossible not to notice the many forms of leadership following this event from the highest levels to those at the heart of the community most effected. It is neither position nor stature that determines good leadership, rather a set of values, characteristics and behaviours that define a true leader.

Whilst I did not envision that I would be using this article in this context (I penned this on the plane home) I would like to share with you some of the themes on leadership that emerged from the array of speakers who shared their wisdom, their journeys and some of their mistakes along the way at our recent Future Leaders conference. These include:

Have a vision for where you want to go – but don’t worry too much if you get off track or change tracks entirely, it’s the bumps in the road that teach you the most valuable lessons.

Be who you are. It’s impossible to lead as someone else. Many of our speakers talked about the fact that once they realised they could be themselves leadership came with a degree of ease.

Don’t do what you don’t like. Simple in theory but sometimes it takes courage to say stop or change paths.

Get involved. Many of our speakers found a path to leadership through volunteering, either in their local community or through associations.

Take opportunities as they are presented. Say yes, bite off more than you can chew and then chew like mad.

Surround yourself with good people. You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.

Have passion. Be clear for what you believe in and argue your case.

Be trustworthy, be present and be consistent.

Leaders can be made and like any craft it takes time, practice and mistakes to grow from good to great.

“We don’t have to be perfect, just engaged and committed to aligning values with actions” Brene Brown.

Kia Kaha Christchurch.

Toni

The Perth Convention Bureau’s (PCB) 2019 Aspire Program is now open to individuals involved with not-for-profit associations in Western Australia, who can apply for the City of Perth Convention Scholarship and the Giving West Conference Scholarship. In addition, the City of Fremantle Convention Scholarship and the City of Mandurah Convention Scholarship are open to individuals involved with not-for-profit associations in the City of Fremantle and the City of Mandurah respectively.

The aim of the Aspire Program is to assist the individual’s personal and professional development through attendance at a relevant national* and/or international* conference. The funding covers travel, accommodation and registration expenses to the maximum value of the award.

Application information and guidelines are now available at http://www.pcb.com.au/aspire. The deadline for applications is the 29th March 2019. Individuals are able to apply for multiple scholarships if eligible. A wide of assistance and advice is available to help you apply, for more information or to enquiry if you are eligible to apply, please contact Malcolm Farrell-Mitchell, Perth Convention Bureau – Email: mfarrell-mitchell@pcb.com.au.

*dependent on individual award guidelines

The UK Railway Industry Association (RIA) and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the rail associations work more closely together to help boost each country’s export potential in rail.

The agreement will see:

• The exchanging of information linked to research and innovation (not IP protected) undertaken in either country
• Sharing and exchanging information and approaches relating to skill needs, training and the attraction of career aspirants to the rail industry
• Closer working arrangements in trade fairs and rail exhibitions in either Australia, the UK or in third countries, where appropriate
• Access to meeting facilities in the offices of ARA or RIA by members of either organisation

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, The Hon Michael McCormack MP, said, “Australia and the UK have long been partners in many aspects of our economies and our communities.

“This agreement is yet another partnership which will build upon our strong trade relationship, help encourage even more jobs and opportunities in the rail sector and be mutually beneficial for our economies.

“I know Australia’s regions have many exports – particularly our world-leading food and fibre – which the UK is looking to import and rail is a vital part of the mix to get that premium produce from paddock to port to plate.

“I look forward to seeing how our two countries can share expertise, ideas and insights to help grow jobs and opportunities in the rail sector in Australia and the UK.”

UK Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Fairhead, said, “This agreement between RIA and ARA will further strengthen our trading relationship with Australia so that we can work together more closely on the delivery of ambitious rail infrastructure programs.

“The UK is a world leader in rail and has a particular focus on developing exciting new technologies. Projects including those such as Crossrail and HS2 mean that the UK is well placed to share insights, expertise and knowledge to help build rail industry capability around the world.

“This capability has been harnessed in the government’s recently launched Rail Sector Deal which aims to support yet further innovation and the application of more, new technologies in this growing sector.

“We very much look forward to the enhanced cooperation that this new agreement with Australia can bring and encourage any interested companies to get in touch with the UK Department for International Trade to find out more.”

Danny Broad, Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), said, “This partnership is of immense value to our industry. We are undergoing a renaissance in rail in Australia, with major new rail projects in our capital cities and regions over the next decade.

“The opportunity to leverage the skills and expertise of UK rail companies will add breadth and depth to our industry, and give Australian businesses valuable insights and partnerships. Working and collaborating with the RIA on common industry challenges will provide consolidation of ideas for possible suitable outcomes for the rail sectors covered by both the ARA and RIA.”

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the UK Railway Industry Association, said, “We are delighted to support this partnership between the UK and Australasian rail industries, which will see the exchange of knowledge and expertise across the two countries.

“In the UK, rail exports £800 million a year and will play a vital role in achieving the UK Government’s aim of increasing exports to 35 per cent of GDP, as we exit the EU. We look forward to working with our colleagues at ARA to maximise the exporting potential of both industries.”

Original article published by Infrastructure Magazine. View the article here. 

The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has launched a new Women in Airports Network (WIAN) to coincide with International Women’s Day.

AAA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said the network would create a community to support the advancement of women across all aspects of airport operations.

“Airports operate in a truly global industry and a diverse workforce is absolutely crucial to support our growth and success,” Ms Wilkie said.

“With global passenger traffic expected to double in the next 15 years, there will be many great career development opportunities for airport staff in the future.

“We are absolutely committed to ensuring gender diversity is a clear focus as we prepare for this next phase of growth in the industry.”

The WIAN will provide a forum to discuss career development and leadership pathways for women working in airports across Australia and New Zealand.

It will support the participation and advancement of women working in both operational and leadership roles.

AAA members will be invited to start the dialogue through a dedicated LinkedIn group ahead of a Women in Airports Forum to be held in November 2019.

The forum will precede the AAA National Conference and will seek to identify key initiatives for the WIAN to pursue on behalf of its members.

“The forum will provide an opportunity for detailed discussion on supporting gender diversity at airports across Australia and New Zealand,” Ms Wilkie said.

The WIAN was launched on International Women’s Day, in support of this year’s theme #BalanceforBetter.

The Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association (AGCSA) and Golf Business Forum are delighted to announce a new partnership that will deliver Australia’s largest ever Sports Turf Management and Golf Business Conference in Melbourne, June 2020.

Through this partnership, the AGCSA is delighted to announce an agreement with Golf Business Forum, to host the GBF in conjunction with the 2020 AGCSA Sports Turf Conference in Melbourne. Already the largest Conference in Golf Course and Sports Turf Management in Australia, this partnership provides a platform for the AGCSA to significantly expand Conference education, networking and value that Members and Trade Partners receive.

“Partnering with Golf Business Forum ensures that Australasian Sports Turf Managers have expanded access to leading education opportunities to continue creating and successfully managing some of the most breathtaking sporting facilities in the world.” explains AGCSA CEO Mark Unwin.

Guy Chapple, the Forum’s Director, is equally thrilled. “This is a natural evolution for Golf Business Forum. It’s been our objective to create an education and networking event for the whole golf industry. Joining forces with AGCSA, together with the ongoing support of our Foundation Partner Golf Australia, and the PGA of Australia, will see this combined event have a tremendously positive impact on the golf industry.”

Over 1,250 delegates are expected to attend the combined program in which both events will be held concurrently, coming together for education, networking and a large trade exhibition.

The Golf Business and Sports Turf Trade Exhibition will occupy a massive 6,000m2 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, making it the largest and most diverse golf and sports field industry exhibition ever staged in Australia.

The Australasian Turfgrass Conference is a 4-day event for Australian and international Sports Turf Managers. The Golf Business Forum is a 2-day event that connects and inspires the entire range of golf businesses, industry organisations and commercial partners that delight Australia’s 2.1M golf participants.

Both events will tee-off on Tuesday 23 June. All education sessions will be held in the main theatre providing a single stream of education for Delegates. Tuesday afternoon education will be provided in the exhibition area and different concurrent sessions on a range of Golf Business and Sports Turf topics will be offered. The Conference will expand into specific streams of education provided on Wednesday, before a combined closing keynote presentation.

Optional pre-event workshops will be available on Monday 22 June, and the Turfgrass Conference will provide further education, certification, a range of facility visits and Turf Management tours on Thursday.

Unwin explained “The role of a Sports Turf Manager is evolving from having a pure focus on the science of Agronomic management, to an increased emphasis on the leadership and development of turf management teams. To be able to partner with Golf Business Forum and significantly expand the education offering to Sports Turf Managers is something I’m particularly looking forward to in 2020.”

There will also be plenty of opportunity for networking and social interaction at the event. Golf Business Forum will continue with its major social event on Tuesday night, whilst the Turfgrass Conference will get together for the Sports Turf Management Industry Awards Dinner on Monday evening and the legendary Conference Farewell Bash on Thursday night.

“We know that successful golf facilities enjoy a great partnership between the General Manager and Golf Course Superintendent. Both Guy and I worked with that approach in mind during our partnership discussions, and we are both very eager to continue this approach and bring something very special to the golf industry in 2020.” Unwin concluded.

About the Asia Pacific Turfgrass Conference

Held annually, the Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition is the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, encompassing over 120 hours of education and showcasing the latest in Turf management machinery, equipment, research, technology and products.

Each year, Golf Course Superintendents and their teams join hundreds of Sportsturf professionals, greenkeeping staff, Curators and Turf Maintenance personnel who attend the variety of Turf Management, Environment and Biodiversity and Management education seminars from leading Australian and International presenters, and visit the trade show to browse, question and hear from representatives across all elements of Sportsturf Management.

2019 Asia Pacific Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition

June 24 - 28, 2019

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre - Brisbane, Australia

2019 Turfgrass Conference registrations are now open, and a very limited number of Trade Exhibition opportunities remain for the 2019 Turfgrass Conference.

AGCSA Members receive a substantial discount for Conference Registration, so Join Now to save $200 on 2019 Conference Registration.

Learn more about this year’s Australasian Turfgrass Conference & Trade Exhibition via https://www.agcsa.com.au/conference/ and Golf Business Forum 2020 via https://www.golfbusinessforum.com.au/.

Originally published on www.agcsa.com.au. View the article here. 

As AuSAE is a Partner of the Small Business Hub located in Canberra, you have access to desks and meeting rooms for Canberra-based work and meetings.

And the best part – it’s free!

The Hub provides small businesses, family enterprises and industry associations representing small businesses with easy access to Parliament House and government departments.

It’s also the perfect venue to work collaboratively on key small business issues and policy, to continue to build a fertile environment for small businesses to prosper and grow.

Booking into the Hub is easy, with a new four-step booking tool and instant confirmation. To book, go to https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sbhub/book_a_space and click on ‘Book Now’. The Hub is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am until 5:00pm.

For more information, visit https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sbhub

It has been a productive month in the AuSAE office as we start to roll out some of our new initiatives for 2019.

Members should have started to received their information to activate their membership with the American Society of Association Executives this week. This is an exciting opportunity to gain access to a raft of resources and access a well-connected Association community through the “Collaborate” site. I encourage all members to get connected and take full advantage of this new opportunity.

We have conducted our first round of Executive briefings with our exclusive Workplace Relations partner FCB in Sydney and Melbourne this week – covering the proposed policy changes in the industrial relations space as we head towards a Federal Election in May as well as some of the key legislative changes that have occurred in the later part of 2018. FCB have produced a fantastic hard copy resource which I am happy to send to those members who were not able to attend the briefing events this week.

The AuSAE Mentoring and Leadership program is currently open for applications for both Mentees and Mentors. The program, now in its third year is the only mentoring program in Australia that has been designed and developed by Association Executives for Association Executives. Delivered by mentoring experts the Art of Mentoring the program has produced some inspiring results for both mentees and mentors in previous years. To find out more about the program and how to participate please click here.

Our flagship event the AuSAE Conference and Exhibition will be held in Brisbane in June (11-13). Under the theme of ‘Upholding Tradition, Embracing the Future’ will see us deliver a program of both practical and inspirational speakers and topics. Registration is open and announced speakers can be found here.

The AuSAE board recently met in Brisbane, and as we continue to grow and mature as an organisation so too does our vision. We are the professional body for the the profession of Association Management and will continue to develop and deliver services and support to ensure a strong, vibrant and respected association community. Some of our focus areas for 2019 will be to:

• Finalise the introduction of a Professional Certification for Association Executives
• Increase our Advocacy efforts to communicate the tangible impact Associations have on our society
• Continue to create meaningful connections for our member community through targeted networking and educational activities
• Form strategic partnerships to increase our capacity to deliver targeted and relevant products and services to our members

I look forward to talking more about these initiatives in the coming months. Until then we are here to serve so please let us know if there is anything we can assist you with.

Warm regards

Toni