Common Grounds Canberra (14 Oct 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Take a couple of hours at the start of the day to connect with others in the industry.

These catch-ups are all about connecting with people who get association life. No presentations, no agenda, just a chance to catch-up with your peers, share what’s on your mind, and strengthen our community.

If you can spare an hour that morning, I’d really enjoy seeing you there and having the chance to catch up properly/

Executive Roundtable (Sydney) - Connected by Design: The Next Layer of Association Growth (10 Nov 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 03:45:00 GMT

Most associations have built real strength over the years - events, education, content, partnerships, community. What's less common is having those pieces work as one system. Too often they sit side by side: valuable on their own, but not reinforcing each other, and not building toward anything that compounds.

As associations look toward 2027, a shift is underway: from running good programs to designing a connected operating model - where member data, engagement, and program design work together rather than in parallel. Leaders who make that shift aren't necessarily doing more; they're getting more out of what they already have.

This executive roundtable brings peers together to explore what that shift looks like in practice - where connection is paying off, where it's still missing, and what it takes to move from a collection of programs to a genuine system.

Key Learnings:

Why some associations get compounding value from their programs while others reset each cycle.
What "connection" actually looks like across membership, events, education, and community and what it doesn't.
Where the biggest structural gaps tend to sit, and why they're often invisible from inside the organisation.
How leaders are shifting from managing individual programs to designing a connected member experience.
What this shift means for strategic priorities heading into 2027.

Our hosts:

Paul Ramsbottom, Managing Director at Advanced Solutions International (Asia-Pacific)
Marla Nelson, Marketing Manager at Advanced Solutions International (Asia-Pacific)

The roundtable will be hosted by ASI, the developers of iMIS.

ASI is a proud AuSAE Premium Alliance Partner.

Event details:
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Time: 2.45pm for 3pm start to 5pm AEST (Followed by 30 minutes of networking drinks)
Venue: Ace Hotel Sydney, Tyne Room, 47-53 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000

Afternoon tea on arrival (please advise of any special dietary requirements)

Who should attend: Association leaders who are seeking to achieve sustainable membership growth and improved association’s performance through the implementation of a digital transformation strategy and looking to learn from their Association peers. Attendees receive 1.5 ASAE CAE credits.* 

*ASI is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider. As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this event may be applied for 1.5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.  

Meet our Host and Facilitator

Paul Ramsbottom,
Managing Director at Advanced Solutions International (ASI) Asia-Pacific

Over the last 30+ years Paul has worked with more professional bodies, industry associations, charities and fundraisers than most people would gather in several lifetimes.

He is passionate about helping Not-For-Profits and Associations reach their goals, through adopting new and innovative solutions to help them run more efficiently. He is Managing Director of ASI Asia-Pacific which has more than 600 Not-For-Profit clients in the region.

Paul enjoys working everyday with great staff and great clients and is rewarded by seeing great things ASI clients do in and around the community and knowing that ASI is able to contribute to that.

Proudly sponsored by:

Advanced Solutions International (ASI) is a leading global provider of cloud software and services for associations and non-profits. ASI helps clients digitally transform, streamline operations, and grow revenue through industry expertise, best-practice advice, and high-quality solutions.

Its portfolio of solutions includes iMIS for association and non-profit management, TopClass LMS for learning management, OpenWater for application and review management, and Clowder for year-round mobile app management. www.advsol.com/solutions

AuSAE upcoming events

Common Grounds Canberra (14 Oct 2026)

Take a couple of hours at the start of the day to connect with others in the industry.

Executive Roundtable (Sydney) - Connected by Design: The Next Layer of Association Growth (10 Nov 2026)