• 10 Nov 2022 10:27 AM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Adelaide Convention Centre is pleased to announce the 2022 Future Leaders Scholarship program recipients.


    The 2022 Future Leaders program cultivates leadership qualities across the association sector. It supports emerging leaders and creates a network of committed individuals ready to take their organisation and the sector to the next level and contribute to the future success of the Association sector.

    The program brings together a group of diverse professionals working within a not-for-profit organisation or association to engage with current and relevant themes affecting the industry's future at the 2022 ACE Conference & Exhibition in Melbourne.

    Five dynamic and skilled members of the association community have joined the sector's professional and personal development program, Future Leaders. The 2022 Future Leaders Scholarship program recipients are:

    Meet our 2022 Future Leaders

    • Cassandra De Conno - Operations Manager, SMSF Association (SA)
    • Samuel French - National Membership Development Officer, Australian Institute of Architects (VIC)
    • Jessica Landers - Deputy CEO/Accreditation and Certification Manager, Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (VIC)
    • Louise Reid - Communications & Marketing Manager, Cooperative Research Australia (ACT)
    • Tracey Rudd - General Manager, Australian Rheumatology Association (NSW)

    AuSAE would like to acknowledge all the nominees for their submissions and dedication to the sector and congratulate the 2022 Future Leaders.

    AuSAE’s Chief Executive Officer, Toni Brearley said, "We have been pleased with the high calibre of applicants for the 2022 Future Leaders program; the applications this year were outstanding. We look forward to working with our Future Leaders and can't wait to see our rising stars' future progress."

    "The successful applicants represent a group of diverse professionals from the association community with several states represented and comprising individuals from across the breadth of the sector," Toni said.

    “Adelaide Convention Centre was delighted to partner with AuSAE on this important initiative designed to support the development of future leaders in the association sector. Association conferences and exhibitions are a critical platform to imagine the future, bringing together the best minds to collaborate, network and share knowledge to ultimately elevate industries. The successful candidates came from a highly competitive field and we warmly congratulate each of them, along with all participants in the 2022 Future Leader Program” said Melissa Reilly, Head of Sales at Adelaide Convention Centre.

    "By supporting the next generation of association leaders today, we hope to inspire a bright future for the association sector," Toni adds.

    To learn more about the 2022 Future Leaders Scholarship Program recipients, visit www.ausae.org.au/future-leaders-2022.

  • 15 Sep 2022 9:51 AM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) today announced its partnership renewal with Advanced Solutions International (ASI) that will support and strengthen the association sector in Australia and New Zealand.

    ASI is a leading global provider of cloud software and services exclusively for associations and non-profits — and the developers of the iMIS Engagement Management System.  iMIS is the #1 association software platform and world’s only Engagement Management System (EMS). 

    AuSAE and ASI has held a continuous premium alliance partnership since 2017. The new two-year partnership will support AuSAE's professional education and event initiatives, which aim to build the capacity and capabilities of association leaders. ASI's sponsorship will also contribute to important industry advocacy efforts on behalf of members fostering a robust association sector.

    ASI will have a strong presence at AuSAE's upcoming 2022 Leadership, Insights & Networking Conference (LINC) in Blenheim in September and the 2022 ACE Conference & Exhibition in Melbourne in December. The company will also participate in several AuSAE webcasts, events, and roundtables in the coming months.

    Toni Brearley, AuSAE's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are delighted to renew our partnership and work with our partner ASI – at the global, national and local levels – built upon shared vision and goals of placing our members at the centre of everything we do. The collaboration with ASI will help our members and community achieve great things for their associations. Their continued support allows us to expand the scope of our programs and ensure our members get the highest quality professional education, support, and advocacy possible. We have an exciting year ahead of us, and we appreciate ASI's investment in AuSAE's mission."

    Paul Ramsbottom, Managing Director of ASI Asia-Pacific, said, "We are thrilled and honoured to continue our strong partnership with AuSAE. They are making a positive difference in the sector and advancing the association management profession in Australia and New Zealand, as well as internationally. It’s important to us to support AuSAE as the only non-profit association that supports and represents association professionals

    “We believe the work of associations and non-profits is of vital importance to the world, and our continued partnership with AuSAE allows our clients to focus on their mission, not their technology,” added Paul.

    About AuSAE
    The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) is the only not-for-profit professional society representing more than 10,000 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. Learn more about AuSAE at
    www.ausae.org.au

    About ASI
    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. Our portfolio of solutions includes iMIS for association and non-profit management, TopClass LMS for learning management, and OpenWater for application and review management.   ASI is a proud AuSAE Premium Alliance Partner. Learn more at www.imis.com

  • 29 Aug 2022 1:28 PM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    The first dedicated digital transformation conference for innovative associations proudly presented by Causeis. Causeis are the leaders in association digital transformation and growth strategies.


    In conjunction with our technology partners, Causeis has proudly designed a face-to-face conference The Digital Academy Summit 2022. Set over two-days, 12th and 13th October at the convenient Citadines on Bourke Melbourne.

    It's time to focus on your association’s growth. Everything you need is here. Experts. Peers. Inspiration. We hope you and your team will join us, be sure to register early as numbers are strictly limited.

    The 2022 Summit has been designed to provide you with the skills, tools and strategies to prepare your association for accelerated digital transformation. Sessions will include masterclasses, presentations, training, and industry knowledge bursts.

    This event will provide you with more networking opportunities beyond what a virtual event can do. You will have access to networking among your association peers, industry experts and global leaders in association digital transformation.

    If your association is focused on data, technology, continuous improvement, digital transformation, growth and improving your customer's experience then this event is for you. With over 10 industry thought leaders presenting across two streams: technology and strategy.

    Learn directly from IKEA, AuSAE, Higher Logic, Association Analytics and iMIS. With topics ranging across Customer Experience, Data Analytics, Data Security in the Cloud, Automation, Membership onboarding Strategies, Integration and iMIS workshops. 

    Every association can benefit from attending the 2022 Summit. Register now as tickets are strictly limited.  Discover the 2022 Summit at www.causeis.com.au/summit

  • 09 Aug 2022 12:01 PM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    Bookings are flowing in for Wellington’s new purpose-built convention and exhibition centre, Tākina (www.takina.co.nz), as opening approaches.

    Construction is on track to open June 2023 and conference organisers are locking in dates, with more than 80 conferences already penciled in at the central city venue.

    Among the lineup of events confirmed for Tākina is the 22nd International Sedimentological Congress (ISC) in 2026, expected to attract up to 1,000 participants to Tākina and deliver an estimated $3.4m to the economy.

    Lead organiser and Senior Geologist at GNS Science, Dr Mark Lawrence, says: “This congress will be an excellent opportunity to showcase New Zealand.

    Sitting across two levels and ideal for conferences up to 1,600 delegates, Tākina sits at the heart of New Zealand’s compact, walkable capital.

    The centre will be operated by Tākina Events alongside conference venue and national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, enabling business events planners to access and book the spaces and services of two of Wellington’s premium conference venues together. Situated just across the road from each other in the heart of the vibrant, walkable capital, it’s also ideal for delegates.

    Tākina Commercial Development General Manager David Perks says he is excited that in less than a year Tākina will be open and the floors alive with conferences of a size unseen before in New Zealand’s capital city.

    “Tākina is already on course to be a key strategic asset for Wellington, driving the city economy and bringing a buzz to the city as conference delegates visit all year round. Combining the events service at Tākina with Te Papa provides conference organisers with a diverse set of venues to choose from, on a scale not previously available in Wellington.”

    To enquire about booking a conference or event in Wellington, contact Business Events Wellington BDM in Australia, Tania Barnes: tania.barnes@wellingtonnz.com or phone +61 459 031 091

  • 05 Aug 2022 6:49 AM | Brett Jeffery, CAE (Administrator)

    The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), working with partners and other system stakeholders, is developing a refreshed National Careers System Strategy to:

    • Strengthen and future-proof New Zealand’s careers system;
    • Support the system to help New Zealanders make careers decisions; and
    • Support New Zealanders to grow the skills and capability needed now and in the future.

    We warmly welcome careers system stakeholders and community representatives to attend an online hui session that will run for 1.5 hours and provide information on the Strategy background and progress to date. All attendees will then have the opportunity to ask questions, share their views and provide input through online feedback tools and kōrero. There are several date/time options to choose from and some sessions focussed on Māori and Pacific Peoples perspectives.

    Register now

    Click here to register for a session time/date that suits you.

    General Sessions

    Māori Perspectives Sessions

    Pacific Peoples Perspectives Sessions

    Please feel free to share this invitation with your contacts that would be interested in attending.

    We look forward to you joining us.

    Ngā mihi,

    The TEC National Careers System Strategy Team



  • 03 Aug 2022 12:48 PM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    If you’re leading an association which has no strategic plan, you’re not alone!  The metaphorical beaches are filled with heads in the sand.  

    It’s not uncommon for the leaders of associations to spend too much of their time ‘in’ the business rather than ‘on’ it. Does your board spend a lot of each meeting debating what software to use to handle regular procedures, addressing issues within the team, reviewing venue options for events and other such operational topics? If so, you’re stuck in the weeds, you’re limiting success and you aren’t adding your highest-level value.

    Effective strategic planning is simple and clear.

    Having a solid strategic plan (including a set of goals with a 3-year horizon and a detailed action plan for the coming 12-months) is the single best tool to help keep the board focused in the right areas. The process of determining a strong strategy includes many steps, the first of which is to be clear on:

    • Who your organisation does and doesn’t do.
    • What drives you and what you stand for.
    • What problem do you solve for your members.

    Step 1:
    In other words, you need to be crystal clear on your mission, vision and values (MVV). Check out our Mission, Vision, Values Cheat Sheet which will help you to easily get clear on these guiding principles for your organisation.

    Step 2:
    The next step is to develop a three-year strategy; a set of aims addressing where you want to get to and what you want the organisation to look like in the future. You will be guided by your MVV while developing the strategic plan. We recommend between 3-5 key pillars or goal areas, with between 3-5 key goals under each one. A simple 1-page document is enough to lay it all out.

    Step 3:
    The final step in the planning phase is the development of a detailed plan of action for the following 12-month period. What do you need to achieve in the next year in order to set you up for success in three years? Broken down into quarterly goals and month-by-month actions, this document becomes your working roadmap.  At its most drilled-down level, this is your to-do list!

    Planning is a continuous cycle
    The planning cycle – in the diagram below – is a continuous cycle of assessment, action-taking and review. 


    The benefits of solid planning are many: spend less time questioning decisions, eliminate time-wasting on non-core activity, get all your stakeholders ‘on the bus’, have the knowledge you need to plan and budget for the resources you’ll require, deliver the value your members want. And for the board; you can get back to your rightful role - in the driver’s seat.

    For more detail on simple strategy development, contact onsomble.

  • 08 Jul 2022 2:51 PM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    AuSAE is excited to announce that nine association executives recently earned their Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the CAE Commission of ASAE. 

    They join the growing cohort of CAEs in Australia and New Zealand, with more than 4,600 industry leaders worldwide who hold the CAE credential.

    AUSTRALIA

    • Jill Brookfield, CAE - Chief Executive Officer, Association of Australian Certifiers
    • Kym De Britt, CAE - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Dental Industry Association
    • Kim Harland, CAE - Marketing Manager, Skin Cancer Clinics
    • Lindsay McGrath, CAE - Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia
    • Joanne Phillips, CAE - Director Member Services, Australian Retailers Association
    • Jonathan Seller, CAE - Senior Director of Development – APAC, AVIXA
    • John Winter, CAE - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association

    NEW ZEALAND

    • Allison Delaney, CAE - Executive Director
    • Brett Francis, CAE – Chief Executive Officer, Window & Glass Association NZ

    Toni Brearley CAE, Chief Executive Officer of AuSAE, says, “We are proud to welcome this new cohort of CAEs and have them join the CAE community.” Earning the CAE demonstrates their commitment to the profession and ongoing professional development and activities in association and not-for-profit management.

    AuSAE, in partnership with #ASAE, launched the first localised version of the CAE credential in New Zealand & Australia in February 2021. We are committed to championing this important credential for the sector and advancing the association management profession.

    The Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential is an international marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment. 

    For more information about the credential or to register for the September 2022 study group, visit the AuSAE website - ausae.org.au/cae

  • 04 Jul 2022 10:35 AM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    Events have been and always will be the backbone of any association's reason for being. They deliver an array of important benefits that are the entire reason for most associations' existence: education, professional development,  industry insights, building valuable connections and contacts up and down the value chain.

    But as we look to shake off the shadow of the last 2 years, we have an important opportunity to ‘hit reset’ on the traditional association event strategy.

    Here are Uncommon Conference's top 5 things we know your members will be looking for in your 2022 event calendar:

    1/ An event calendar, in the first instance

    You do have one, right? Because if you don't, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of unnecessary headaches. But don't just dust off what you used to do, unless you are absolutely sure that's what your members are still looking for (which would be very surprising)!

    Shifts in patterns around work from the office vs home, commuting and flexi hours are having a direct impact on in-person event participation. And not everyone will want to or in some cases be able to return to what was.

    Time to get a blank sheet out and build afresh!

    2/ A demonstration of how you've incorporated their input (Because you did ask them, right?)

    If there's one truism in event strategy design, it's: know your audience. That doesn't come from a survey though. You need to have actual conversations.

    Now is the perfect time to seek frank input from members on what they are prepared to commit to. Businesses seem busier than ever, trying to make up for the 'lost years'. That makes the proposition for attending events a lot different now. For a while there we had a captive audience, stuck at home and looking for any semblance of connection. No longer.

    So, yes, it's time to hit the road (or the phone) and get in front of members again and ask the hard questions!

    3/ A demonstration of what you've learned over the past two years

    After all those great conversations, patterns will definitely emerge around what members want and need from you.

    We're already seeing shifts in terms of what will get people out of their sweats and back to commuting when it comes to in-person events. The old offering of a prawn cocktail and a warm beer won't cut it any more!

    They're looking to reconnect first and foremost, and yes, looking for fresh perspectives on how to get sh!t done. So now is not the time to overload your participants with endless 'expert' sessions. They definitely won't be excited at the prospect of being spoken at over the course of a dozen sessions in a dark, sleep inducing room. (After all, you could have just recorded the sessions and your members could have just viewed them in their own time.)

    4/ A clear offering of optimism and hope

    Which leads us nicely to our next point. We have a chance to finally do things 'better' when it comes to gathering our communities. Better in terms of the value members gain from joining. Better in terms of the impact events have on the individuals that join. Better in terms of the way they encourage, enlighten and inspire. We all need a good dose of optimism to take us through these ever-evolving weeks and months.

    Will you take up the challenge?

    5/ The ratio of in-person to virtual events

    You probably noticed we haven't mentioned event format much. That's because it's always secondary to what we're hoping to achieve from a gathering. That said, it's probably time to state the obvious: virtual events are here to stay. And for good reason.

    There was a serious disconnect between what was promised and what was gained from joining events that involved mostly one-way transmission of information. Everyone wins by hosting those online - no commute, no great expense, easier to take notes etc etc.

    It's now time to think about the different audiences an in-person vs virtual offering might satisfy. How? Go back to your research to unpack what your members need most from you. If it's education-heavy, then the answer is obvious: stick with digital. But if it's connections and contacts and inspiration they seek, you're going to want to design something a lot more participant-led and engaging, with lots of opportunities to discuss, debate and decide.

    Which just so happens to be what Uncommon Conferences specialises in. Say hello@uncommonconferences.com if you're ready to take your events to the next level!

  • 23 Jun 2022 6:38 AM | Brett Jeffery, CAE (Administrator)

    One year from opening, over 70 conferences are already in the calendar for Tākina, Wellington’s new premium, purpose-built convention and exhibition centre.

    Located in the heart of Wellington’s cultural precinct and on track to open mid-2023, Tākina will be a meaningful place to connect and collaborate.

    Among the lineup of events confirmed for Tākina are Festival for The Future, the annual conferences of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, Federated Farmers of New Zealand and the New Zealand Aged Care Association.

    Sitting across two levels and ideal for conferences with a plenary of up to 1,600 delegates, Tākina sits at the centre of New Zealand’s compact, walkable capital.

    Australian professional conference organiser Jessica Ferguson of Arinex says she’s looking forward to the opportunity Tākina will bring. 

    “The small but mighty capital of New Zealand is full of flavour that is sure to enhance any business event that selects it as host city. Wellington is a city that allows a conference to truly own the destination and showcases the warmest manaakitanga welcome and kiwi hospitality to all who visit.”

    The convention centre will be operated by Tākina Events alongside conference venue and national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, enabling business event organisers to access and book the spaces and services of two of Wellington’s premium conference venues together. Situated just across the road from each other in the heart of the vibrant, walkable capital, it’s also ideal for delegates.

    To enquire about booking a conference or event in Wellington, visit www.WellingtonNZ.com/MEET or contact the Business Events Wellington team BusinessEvents@WellingtonNZ.com


  • 21 Jun 2022 2:19 PM | Sarah Gamble (Administrator)

    Congratulations to ADAVB President Dr Warren Shnider and the new ADAVB Branch Council following our recent branch elections. Dr Warren Shnider is a registered specialist in special needs dentistry. He is Head of the Integrated Special Needs Dentistry Unit at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and is in specialist private practice in Hawthorn. Dr Shnider is also Academic Lead, Special Needs Dentistry at La Trobe University and a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Dr Shnider is an examiner and an accreditation assessor for the Australian Dental Council and a specialist advisor for the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency.

    We also welcome our new Branch Executive team: Dr Jonathan Teoh (Vice President), Dr Jeremy Sternson, Dr Andrew Heredia and Dr Carolyn Ng and congratulate newly elected first time council member Dr Conny Qian (2019 La Trobe University graduate). Stay tuned for more information in July’s Victorian Dentist.


The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE)

Australian Office:
Address: Unit 6, 26 Navigator Place, Hendra QLD 4011 Australia
Free Call: +61 1300 764 576
Phone: +61 7 3268 7955
Email: info@ausae.org.au

New Zealand Office:
Address: 159 Otonga Rd, Rotorua 3015 New Zealand
Phone: +64 27 249 8677
Email: nzteam@ausae.org.au