AuSAE, the peak body for association professionals in Australia and New Zealand, in partnership with Causeis, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the Causeis Leadership Advancement Scholarships, supporting attendance at the 2026 Women in Association Leadership (#WIAL) Retreat in Christchurch, New Zealand, 5–8 May 2026.
The scholarship program recognises exceptional women leaders in the association sector who are committed to expanding their leadership skills and making a positive impact within their organisations.
- Nicola Anstice, Optometry Australia – Director, Education and Research
- Rachael Corby, CAE, Australian Water Association – Head of Member Engagement & Experience
- Paula Kinnane, Australasian Sonographers Association – General Manager, Professional Development, Clinical Standards, and Research
- Tess Rich, Audiology Australia – Manager of Member Services
Toni Brearley, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of AuSAE, said:
"These scholarships are an important way to champion female leadership in the association sector. We are thrilled to recognise these outstanding women leaders, and to provide opportunities like the WIAL Retreat that support their growth, connection, and impact across the sector.
Michelle Lelempsis, CEO & Founder of Causeis, said:
"At Causeis, we are passionate about supporting leadership development across the association sector. These scholarships empower talented women to take their leadership journey to the next level, and we are proud to partner with AuSAE to make this opportunity possible."
The WIAL Retreat is a leading professional development event for women in the association sector, providing workshops, peer discussions, wellbeing experiences, and networking opportunities designed to inspire, challenge, and equip attendees to thrive in leadership roles.
AuSAE is grateful to Causeis for supporting this initiative and championing female leadership in the association sector.
For more information about the WIAL Retreat, please visit www.ausae.org.au/WIAL
About Causeis
Causeis the global leading and multi-award-winning team of 25+ experts, dedicated to empowering associations to achieve their digital success. Causeis are the creators of the Causeis Launchpad and Smart Suite — trusted solutions that help transform and elevate the member experience.
Every day, their work impacts the lives of over 500,000 members globally across 75+ association clients.
The Causeis Launchpad powered by iMIS®, is the only preconfigured AMS solution purpose-built by association experts. Proven to accelerate digital success, by combining the power of iMIS with new functionality and hundreds of prebuilt configurations, designed to fast-track your journey to digital excellence. Causeis is the current ASI Global iMIS Partner of the Year, an achievement they've proudly received five times in the last six years. Visit www.causeis.com for more information.
