The Australasian Society of Association Executives is a proud supporter of the 'Start with Why' Leadership Forum’ in Sydney and Melbourne in March 2017.

As a priority, we wanted to let you know that the Melbourne seminar has SOLD OUT and tickets are available in Sydney only! So please hurry! Take advantage of our special member discount and book your Sydney tickets NOW!

The ‘Start with Why’ Leadership Forum, presented by Simon Sinek and Peter Docker, will help you:

• Harness the power of “why” to create extraordinary and sustainable high-performing cultures
• Understand your organisations golden circle
• Learn why some organisations are more innovative, more profitable and command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike (and how you can too).

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the most sought after leadership thinkers around the globe, Simon Sinek share his strategies on how to influence positive change, increase employee engagement and grow key leadership competencies.

Speakers:

Simon Sinek | Leadership Expert

Peter Docker | Leadership expert

Peter Docker is passionate about enabling others to be extraordinary. Working with individuals and organisations inspired by Simon Sinek’s theory of “The Golden Circle,” as illustrated in Simon’s bestselling book, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Peter helps to harness the power of “why” to create extraordinary cultures and sustainable high performance. A leadership consultant and executive coach, Peter has engaged at senior levels with several of the world’s largest companies, developing an understanding of a wide range of industries.

When:

• Melbourne - 3 March 2017 SOLD OUT!
  
• Sydney - 7 March 2017
  

Timing:

• 09:00 – 12:00 Leadership Presentation with Simon Sinek
  
• 13:30 – 16:00 Implementation Workshop with Peter Docker
  

Special Rates for AuSAE members:

• Non-Member Rate: $995 per person
  
• AuSAE Rate: $895 per person
  
• Group Rate (10 +): $795 per person
• Platinum Tickets: SOLD OUT!

Book your tickets here now!

If you would like further information regarding this event, click here.

Queenstown will host the World Hereford Conference in 2020, bringing an estimated 450 Hereford enthusiasts and farmers from South and North America, Canada, Scandinavia, UK and Ireland and Australia to New Zealand for business and networking.

Lead organiser Posy Moody of the New Zealand Hereford Association has an events background, but this is the first time she has bid for an international conference. She says the support she’s received to win the prestigious event has been invaluable.

“New Zealand hasn't hosted the WHC since 1984 and I think it is definitely due to come here. People are very eager to come to New Zealand to learn the latest from our farming systems and discuss using our Hereford sires in their studs. Our farming is very innovative and that is very attractive. We pride ourselves on our uniqueness and diversity,” Moody says. “We have Herefords in Northland where it is semi-tropical, and in tough mountainous terrain in Otago, and that fascinates people. That diversity continues into breeding and we have specialists who have bred Herefords specifically for the dairy industry, as well as those providing for the beef industry. This event will open up a lot of opportunities for us.”

She notes: “Our association runs on an oily rag really, and the financial and emotional support we’ve received from Tourism New Zealand in the bid process has really made a difference. The Conference Assistance Programme funded my attendance at this year’s WHC in Uruguay. That was really beneficial for our organisation, which is made up of voluntary, very busy, farmers. Tourism New Zealand helped us put together a proposal, bid document and presentation for Uruguay, covering facts about New Zealand, New Zealand Herefords, and what we would show them if successful. The World Hereford Delegation council loved it so much they asked us if we could do it in front of the whole conference as a finale. Everybody loved the bid documents and they disappeared in a hurry. Everyone we spoke to said they would come to New Zealand and they’re very excited,” she says.

“Associations are not always aware of the conference support available. I do feel I can pick up the phone to Tourism New Zealand and ask for advice. They know a lot about conferences… and, actually, after the bid process, a lot more about Herefords, too!

“They appreciate that they may spend a few dollars to deliver the bid, but I believe we really will see financial results from that. The people that attend won't just come for a week, they will spend time here in New Zealand. People bring their wives and enjoy a holiday and that all-important time off the farm.”

Moody says an initial feasibility study floated the options of bringing the event to either Hamilton, Christchurch or Queenstown. “The NZ Hereford board liked the option of Queenstown in March. It will coincide with the Wanaka A&P Show, an iconic Kiwi Show with wood chopping and sheep dog trials, which will appeal to overseas guests. Plus, March suits our breeders and they will have the opportunity to attend and meet the international breeders to do business.”

She adds that Queenstown’s natural beauty and tourism appeal were another major drawcard for international visitors. “Although we are far away, there are so many reasons for breeders around the world to come here. To see the cattle, to see the country, to see Queenstown, and experience that Kiwi hospitality.”

Moody is now working on a programme which encompasses a conference week comprising speakers and country reports, and social events including a registration reception and final gala dinner. “Queenstown Convention Bureau with support from Tourism New Zealand recently hosted us and that was really valuable to see our options for venues and activities. Plus, we’re fortunate we have well-recognised guest speakers from within New Zealand to showcase local knowledge on topics from health to profitability, feed conversion and heifer mating,” she adds.

“We’re also running a pre-conference tour in the North Island and a post tour in the South Island. It’s a real opportunity to visit the farms and see how we are farming, plus we’ll build in visits to Kiwi attractions, scenic locations and general agricultural-related businesses as well. That could include, for example, a high country picnic with stunning views, complete with a Kiwi barbecue with Hereford Prime beef.

“We aim to showcase the best in Herefords but also New Zealand as a whole: our wine and produce, the landscape and New Zealand culture.”

If you would like to find out more about Tourism New Zealand, please visit www.businessevents.newzealand.com

AuSAE has welcomed new members from the following organisations this month. Is your organisation on this list? If your organisation is on this list as an AuSAE organisational member but you are unsure if you are part of the membership bundle, please contact the friendly AuSAE team at info@ausae.org.au.

Not on this list? To join AuSAE today please visit our membership information page here.

Digital; the seven-letter buzzword that has changed the way we communicate, train and educate. And with members increasingly expecting to have content available online, the Associations Sector has experienced a huge digitalisation of its core services.

Check out the top 3 ways Associations can utilise Digital Events to transform member engagement and maximise return on investment:

Webinars

In a recent survey, 72.3% of association members indicated that online education resources such as webinars, online journals and training ¹ are valuable to their organisations. Webinars offer an easy-to-use dynamic platform for the Association Sector, which helps to engage members while providing access to vital information. Take your webinars to the next level with these tips:

• Sponsorship: Webinars provide the perfect platform for sponsorship logos, call to actions and click throughs to almost whatever you like
  
• Interactive Tools: Engage with surveys and polls to get to know your members and what they really want
  

On-demand: Record your digital events and then host them in your members portal for easy on-demand viewing

CPD Webinars

One of the key reasons members opt out of attending CPD events is the simple fact that they are not always willing to travel long distances to attend face-to-face training. And until we figure out how to be in two places at once (we’re still working on our teleportation device) CPD webinars will have to do.

Not only do they allow participants to log in where and when they want, they also provide an array of engagement and tracking tools to ensure Associations are maximising their resources and providing members with an exceptional experience.

To find out more and see our latest Australia-specific Research Report and Guide, please visit: http://webinars.com.au/applications/cpd-webinars/

Webcasting CEO Announcements

Did you know that only 7% of communication is verbal meaning that 93% of what we communicate is done through body language and facial expressions? So it’s really no surprise that more CEOs than ever before are choosing to record or live stream their announcements and events – after all, messages sound a lot better when they are delivered by a person rather than through email!

Moreover, workplaces are becoming increasingly dispersed meaning that good quality, quick communication is vital to ensuring that everyone is receiving the same messages quickly and easily.

To find out more, please visit the Redback Website or email us at marketing@rdbk.com.au

Until next time,
Redback Conferencing

Most of the leadership programs I’ve done have an underlying concept of wellbeing and the leader taking good care of themselves. In practice, I find it difficult to maintain good habits throughout the year especially when staff, Board, members, stakeholders and operational priorities take centre stage and the spotlight heats up.

By the end of 2016 my clothes had shrunk and my energy levels were low. I got active and regained some level of fitness. I now have increased energy, a better diet and enhanced quality time with family.

My holiday reading included The Millionaire Next Door. Based on comprehensive research and extensive interviews, this book contains sound advice to live below your means and build wealth accumulation beyond material possessions and fixed assets. A worthwhile read containing advice equally applicable to the Associations we lead.

By taking better care of myself in 2017 I am confident I’ll be a better decision maker, leader, husband and father. I’ll keep swimming and running. I’ll keep learning, and I’ll implement ideas like those in The Millionaire Next Door.

I hope you also had time to reflect, re-energise and refresh yourself over the summer holidays.

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with as many of the AuSAE community as possible at our events and membership engagement activities and wish you every success for the remainder of 2017.

Brendon Ward - Chief Executive Officer
Australasian Society of Association Executives

Three big-ticket items will dominate councils’ waste minimisation agendas this year.

Paul Evans, Chief Executive, Waste Management Institute New Zealand

With the confluence of a number of key pieces of independent work as well as legislative requirements, 2017 is set to be an eventful year for the local government sector when it comes to waste minimisation.

To my mind, there are three key items that will be front and centre on the agendas of councils. These are:

1. Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) reviews;
   
2. The review of the effectiveness of the waste disposal levy; and
   
3. Collaborative work to inform nationally-significant waste minimisation activities and advocacy.
   

Waste Management and Minimisation Plan reviews

As I write this, the vast majority of councils across the country are in the thick of waste assessments and other work to inform the next iteration of their WMMPs (a requirement of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 [WMA]).

This is an incredibly important time for waste management and minimisation in New Zealand. Councils have a key leadership role to play as their plans set out key activities for the next six years.

Consequently, there’s a scurry of activity to inform what should and shouldn’t occur. There’s also a significant amount of interest from people in the broader sector, who don’t sit within the realms of a council.

As is often the case, there are those who feel that councils should take a more hands-on approach, while there are others who feel that councils should get out of the way of the private sector.

My summary of it is this. The private sector has been playing an ever-increasing role in the provision of waste and recycling services. This has resulted in significantly more competition for council services, which in turn creates funding challenges. Some councils are leaving collections to the private sector, whilst others are grappling to regain control. So, what’s the right approach?

Ultimately that’s a decision that is best made locally. However, under the WMA, councils are responsible for developing WMMPs for their entire jurisdiction, whether they control the waste stream or not. If councils are to truly address their obligations and in turn make a real difference to waste minimisation, they must look at the waste market in its entirety and how they can influence this.

There is naturally a fine balance between councils fulfilling their legislative role and ensuring locally-appropriate outcomes, whilst not impeding cost-effective and innovative commercial services. To enable this, councils must be having a robust and effective dialogue with waste producers, their communities and the private sector.

Waste disposal levy

The waste disposal levy introduced under the WMA is currently set as $10 per tonne on all waste sent to a disposal facility. The levy has two key purposes:

• To encourage Kiwis to take responsibility for the waste they produce and to find more effective ways to reduce, reuse and recycle; and
  
• To create funding opportunities for waste minimisation initiatives.
  

The funds generated (currently around $25 million per year) by the levy are used to develop and enhance waste minimisation activities, with half of the levy money going to territorial authorities, while the other half goes into the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund.

The Minister for the Environment is required by the WMA to review the effectiveness of the waste disposal levy at least every three years, with the next levy review to be completed by mid-2017. The last review (completed in 2014) raised a number of key issues, which are particularly pertinent to local government.

It found that the levy is currently only applied to an estimated 30 percent of waste disposed of to land meaning that the vast majority of waste incurs no levy at all. This will be of real interest to councils as we head into the next levy review because it means that there is essentially no price signal on most waste, and therefore no real impetus to find more effective ways of dealing with this waste.

This creates a real challenge when trying to give effect to their WMMPs. Furthermore, should the breadth of the levy be widened to encompass more facility and waste types, there would be significantly more funding available to councils to support their WMMP aspirations.

The review also said that the Ministry for the Environment should investigate options for setting rules on how territorial authorities spend levy funds to ensure appropriate accountability and spending.

I know that many councils had significant concerns around this particular recommendation, as councils feel they are best placed to make investment decisions for their communities. So it is likely to be a matter for debate throughout the review process.

Lastly, many councils are keen to explore the rate of the levy (currently $10 per tonne) and what costs and benefits an increase in the levy may have. There is a widespread belief that raising the levy would not only reduce waste disposal but would also support industry development and job creation.

However, given that we are in an election year I think it’s highly unlikely the government will entertain any increase, with many in the business sector seeing a levy increase as an economic handbrake.

For this reason, I believe it’s far more likely that councils in partnership with the broader waste sector will need to undertake their own research with a view to informing a longer-term case for change.

Collaborative work and advocacy

Over the past two years, councils have been working far more strategically on nationally significant waste minimisation research and work programmes. A key example of this is the nationwide Love Food Hate Waste campaign 
(www.lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz). Coordinated by WasteMINZ, the campaign involves a collective of community organisations and some 60 councils with funding support from the Waste Minimisation Fund. After just one year (of a three-year project) the campaign has already been a hugely successful initiative. Buoyed by this success many councils now see the value of a well-planned collective approach.

I expect to see the councils working together far more closely on an agreed programme of work, co-funding research and advocacy in key areas such as product stewardship. For this reason, I would expect to see ongoing debate around the concept of a nationwide beverage container deposit scheme. This will likely build upon the Local Government New Zealand remit that was passed with 90 percent support in July 2016.

With all this in mind, I think 2017 has the potential to be a sea change year when it comes to waste minimisation. However for this to occur local government must be a well-planned, well-researched and cohesive voice.

This article was originally sourced from Local Government Mag and written by Ruth Lepla.

The New Zealand Bankers' Association is warning people about a phone scam that asks for personal information.

People have reported receiving unsolicited calls from an organisation called the Bankers' Association of New Zealand claiming to be doing a customer satisfaction survey and asking after personal information.

New Zealand Bankers' Association chief executive Karen Scott-Howman​ said people should not engage with the caller.

"They do not represent the New Zealand Bankers' Association and are highly likely trying to obtain personal information for criminal purposes."

She said people should never give out personal information to unsolicited calls, including the full name, date of birth, bank account details, PINs and passwords.

The association would never ask for confidential information like passwords.

"If in doubt, just hang up," Scott-Howman said.

Scams can be reported to the Department of Internal Affairs.

This media release was originally sourced from Stuff.

Content marketing is always changing in response the way users interact online and the way that sites like Google and Facebook change their algorithms, resulting in changes to the type of exposure brands can get.

Keeping up with content marketing trends can help you stay aware of the latest changes to the landscape, as well as what your competitors might be doing to reach your audience.

Here are the 2017 top 5 content marketing trends you need to know about right now:

Robots will Replace Writers

As our technology continues to advance, it seems to find a way to do everything for us.

That’s good news for brands and bad news for writers.

Robotic algorithms are now producing content about simple topics, like weather predictions for a particular city or region. That means that freelancers who pump out simple articles will likely be finding a lot less work soon, and it means that brands will start saving money on their content marketing.

Soon, industry insiders predict that the algorithms will get more sophisticated and will be able to produce lengthy and complex content.

We’re not sold on the idea that robots could ever produce the same quality content as experienced writers who know your niche, but the possibilities for limited use here are exciting.

Content will be More Visual

Images and other visual aids are already very important for promoting content.

When was the last time you saw an article without a photo? Chances are that if you did, you just kept right on clicking without reading anything.

However, the demand for visuals has only grown. In fact, much content is exclusively visual, such as gifs, vines and videos. People find this type of content easier to consume when trying to manage their busy schedule, and people are more engaged by this type of content.

Interactive Content will Grow

User engagement is at the core of any content marketing plan. One of the best ways to make users feel more engaged is to create interactive content.

Marketers are taking notice, and more brands are now producing interactive content such as surveys, quizzes, maps, and even virtual reality experiences.

Just think about all those Buzz Feed quizzes you see shared on Facebook. Do you really care if your friend is Cersei from Game of Thrones and your dad is Tyrion? Probably not. But people like to take these tests to have their self-image affirmed, and they share those results for the same reasons. Meanwhile, Buzz Feed gets a crazy amount of page views and shares, generating more ad revenue.

For more serious publishers, you can see the success of interactive content in graphs and maps that show things like the average price of real estate in each state or the living wage by area. People click on these types of content because they want to see how they compare, and they often share the content to express some personal opinion about the “state of things.”

Finding ways to create interactive content will help you get more user engagement and more shares, which will lead to more traffic for your site and more brand exposure.

Users will Aggregate Content

More people are going to be getting their content from friends and family, not from brands themselves.

Facebook just announced an algorithm change that prioritizes the content shared by friends and family shared in the news feed, which means that brand content will get the most exposure only when it is shared by someone users know.

Meanwhile, tools like Project Lightning from Twitter are aggregating content by looking at images, videos and updates to create information about trending stories.

Publishers will have to work very hard to find a way to break through these barriers and make sure that their voices are being heard by their audiences. Otherwise, they will be quickly pushed out of the picture.

Social Media will Offer More Options

Though social media is getting more restrictive in some ways, it is also offering more options for publishing content.

For example, Facebook introduced instant articles so that publishers can get more of their content in the news feed and capture the attention of more users.

Google is also introducing an instant article format for mobile users, which will give brands more visibility with that audience.

It is important that you incorporate these options into your content marketing strategy and that you find smart ways to use them. You can’t just publish an instant article and expect the traffic to come pouring in. You need to publish the type of content that these users want and that will best engage them.

Content marketing is becoming more challenging, but it still offers a valuable way to reach your audience. It is important that you look at these trends and make changes to your content marketing strategy as needed.

This article was originally sourced from Business2Community and written by Roee Ganot.

When it’s time for the administration to turn over, the president uses his farewell speech to build and reinforce his legacy. When an association leader steps down, they face the same challenge—without the benefit of a nationally televised speech.

President Obama gave his farewell address in Chicago a few days ago, warning against the dangers of economic inequality, racism, and divisiveness, as well as sharing his intention to create a smooth transition process for President-elect Trump.

Yet the question that always arises around any president’s farewell speech is: Will this speech cement his legacy? And the question of leadership legacy applies to any leader looking to step down, whether it’s a corporate or association CEO, a board president or elected leader, or an executive staff member.

For association leaders, according to Chairman and Co-CEO of Tecker International, LLC, Glenn Tecker, it’s important to remember this: “If you’re going to create a worthwhile and lasting legacy, the legacy needs to be leaving the association with the capacity to do well what it needs to do next.”

A leader’s legacy is not just about setting up a particular program or process but also leaving the association in a condition that allows the next leader to effectively carry on its mission. This includes ensuring that critical decision-making processes function effectively; establishing secure processes for research, strategy, policy, and resource allocation; and remedying any glaring problems that may exist in the association, he explained.

“An effective leader in an association uses their time at the association as their turn at the wheel and recognizes that the next person or persons that will be steering need to have the ability to pursue the direction that makes sense at their time of leadership,” Tecker said.

Association leaders probably won’t have the opportunity to make a speech on national television to help establish their legacy, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take time to celebrate successes accomplished during their tenure. In fact, departing CEOs should remind staff of their teams’ successes, as well as show staff that they have communicated these successes to the next leader and are supportive of the next leader’s competencies to build on them.

When it’s time to hand over the reins, the most helpful thing outgoing association leaders can do is be available to incoming leaders to offer advice and consultation, but only when help is requested, Tecker said. They shouldn’t involve themselves in organizational issues or decision-making, and the best option may be to just move on.

Once the administration turns over, Vice President Biden, for instance, will carry on his work in promoting cancer research—something he did in office through the “cancer moonshot” initiative—by starting a nonprofit dedicated to promoting collaboration in cancer research and combatting high drug prices.

“What we would hope [a leader would] do at the new organization is bring the experience, the competencies, and the commitment that they developed over time in professional positions elsewhere, but to recognize the ways in which they were successful—the strategies they employed, the behaviors and approaches they used—may not necessarily be the right fit for the new organization they are joining,” Tecker said.

So when it’s time to move to the next thing, association leaders need to practice “intelligent adaptability,” adjusting their skills and insights to a new environment, ready to make a difference and establish a new legacy elsewhere.

This article was originally sourced from Associations Now and written by Alex Beall.

A list of the 45 listed companies without any female directors in 2016 contains some of the biggest names in New Zealand business.

Last week, information filed by companies on the stock exchange's main board showed 17 percent of directors last year were women.

The figure is the same as 2015.

The Institute of Directors has described the latest figures as "shocking" and "clearly not good enough".

RNZ has now obtained the full list of companies without female board members last year and it contains health giant Orion Health, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand and the rural services company, PGG Wrightson.

The logistics company Mainfreight is also listed, although its general manager, Don Braid, said as of two weeks ago, it had appointed two new female board members.

Investment company Property For Industry has also subsequently appointed a female director since the data was compiled.

The leading poultry producer Tegel is named, as is Seeka, the largest grower of kiwifruit in New Zealand and Australia.

"We are conscious of this and it's not that we haven't actively sought female board members, we've just been unable to find someone suitable," Seeka chairman Fred Hutchings said.

"We are looking for another board member right now and will again actively try to find a woman."

His board had some diversity - with one Māori director and another from the Philippines, he said.

Tower Insurance was also without any women directors, but chairman Michael Stiassny said 55 percent of the company's workforce was female.

"Rebecca Dee-Bradbury sat on Tower's Board from 2014 to 2016 and made a valuable contribution.

"While it's disappointing that Tower has been without a female board member since her resignation four months ago, recruitment is underway for this position and an update will be made to the market in due course," Mr Stiassny said.

The list also contained Hellaby Holdings, an investment firm currently the subject of a takeover bid by Australian autoparts company Bapcor.

The worst offender in the list was TeamTalk - New Zealand's largest mobile radio company - which has an all-male board of 10 and no female officers.

Similarly, PGG Wrightson has 12 male officers and only one woman.

The figures from last year have been provided to RNZ by NZX.

They show only one listed company has a female chief executive, although there are none in the NZX50.

That will change from next month when Kate McKenzie takes over the role at Chorus.

The figures also show there are 22 companies on the NZX main board that have no female directors or officers.

Overseas issuers, debt-only issuers and AX and NXT issuers have been removed from the list.

Information from the Institute of Directors also showed New Zealand's 17 percent rate of female directorships was even worse than other western countries.

In Canada the percentage was 21 percent, in the UK 27 percent, and in the US it was 22 percent.