In 2026, associations face a dual challenge: remaining indispensable to members while navigating an increasingly complex workplace landscape themselves. Industrial relations reform, psychosocial risk obligations, wage pressures and governance expectations are reshaping the environment across Australia and New Zealand.
In this session, Citation Group shares frontline insights drawn specifically from our Advisory work with associations across Australia, alongside HR Advice Line data and sector-wide trends. We’ll unpack the key compliance, workforce and risk issues association leaders are raising with us, what’s driving concern within their member bases, and where gaps commonly emerge.
Attendees will gain association-specific intelligence on what keeps both boards and members up at night — and leave equipped with practical, data-informed strategies to strengthen internal capability, enhance member value, and position their association as a proactive, trusted partner in 2026 and beyond.
What You’ll Gain
- Association-specific insight drawn from Advisory interactions with Australian associations
- Clarity on 2026 IR, compliance and psychosocial obligations affecting associations and their members
- Visibility into the most common HR risks and governance challenges emerging in the sector
- Practical strategies to strengthen internal capability and member-facing support
- Data-informed talking points to enhance advocacy, communications and perceived value
Meet Our Presenter
Wes O’Donnell
Head of Enterprise Growth, Citation Group
Wes is an experienced Lawyer with extensive consultancy experience in the field of workplace relations and employment law. Wes has over 20 years’ experience and has assumed senior workplace relations and management roles in both Australia and London.
As Head of Enterprise Growth at Citation Group and a member of the Executive Team, Wes leads the strategic expansion of the Group’s professional services divisions, overseeing the design and delivery of workplace relations and WHS solutions for major industry associations and large corporates.
He also manages the delivery of large, complex contingent projects through Citation’s Flying Team — a specialist cohort of HR, WHS, and legal experts mobilised to tackle critical compliance and workforce challenges. This combination of enterprise growth leadership and hands-on project delivery gives Wes unique insight into the compliance, workplace relations, and HR issues facing Australian businesses across diverse industries.
Wes prides himself on demonstrating strong commercial awareness, used to great effect in delivering commercial solutions, strategies and advice tailored towards the specific requirements of clients.
Wes’s expertise focuses on:
- Advocacy – Conciliation and Litigation
- Disciplinary/Grievances
- Workplace Mediation
- Workplace Investigations
- Performance Management
- Drafting Contracts
- Redundancy/Restructure
- Anti-Discrimination
- Privacy Law
- Coaching/Training
Wes is frequently called upon to lead seminars and provide coaching on all aspects of employment law throughout the entire employee lifecycle.
Qualifications: BEc, LLB.
AuSAE is a CAE Approved Provider. The program(s) linked below meet the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit CAE Certification. 
