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Association Communications Summit 2025

This comprehensive one-day event will provide delegates with an understanding of the current issues and trends emerging from associations producing communications across multiple platforms. Suitable for delegates from associations, industry bodies and not-for profit organisations.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Publications | Marketing | Communications | Public Affairs | Media | Member Liaison | Member Engagement | Members Services | Membership


MEET OUR SPONSORS

                                                               
Program

8:30am	Registration Opens
9:00am	Welcome to the Association Communications Summit Chair: Lewis Kaplan, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
9:05am	Welcome from the Venue
9:10am	10 Communications Tips from Associations Forum  Associations Forum has worked with many members on their communications as well as informing its own 500 members for over 20 years. This session will cover:  -Knowing your audiences and what they might want to and should hear  -Having suitable people in the right roles  -Style and skills necessary for quality and timely communications  Lewis Kaplan, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
9:20am	Communication to the Wider Public about your Cause: Tips and Techniques Most associations communicate with their members using in-house communications teams. This session covers how to communicate on a low budget and how to engage the general public as a large and valuable “member”: -Strategy to connect with members and the wider public including electronic communication tools (e.g. social media, videos etc.) -Sourcing content from an often-apathetic membership: create the content from the membership to amplify to the public -The importance of technology, including AI, podcasts, webinars, video content, social media and traditional media Moira Junge, Chief Executive Officer, Sleep Health Foundation
9:50am	Sponsor Address: Beyond The Brochure: Building intelligent association websites that learn, think, and convert. Steve Brendish, Founder, 2 Dam Creative
10:00am	Challenges & Strategies   This session is designed as an interactive group discussion, where delegates collaboratively explore practical solutions to communication-related challenges faced by associations. It's not just theoretical - the session aims to generate actionable strategies that can directly improve key performance indicators (KPIs) in communications. Facilitated by Lewis Kaplan, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
10:20am	Media, Democracy and Crisis: Lessons for Association Communicators  Greg Jennett, ABC political journalist and presenter, reflects on the changing role of media in Australian democracy and what association communicators can learn from the newsroom. Drawing from decades in the press gallery, he shares insights into credibility, public trust, and crisis reporting - offering valuable lessons for associations managing high-stakes messaging, political scrutiny, and crisis communication in the digital age. Greg Jennett, Bureau Chief, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
10:50am	Morning Tea
11:30am	Advocacy in the Digital Age In an era of digital disruption, associations must modernise how they communicate, campaign, and engage. This session will share insights into building influence, reaching decisionmakers where they are, and strengthening organisational voice through traditional and digital communications. Zara Bryan, Communications and Marketing Manager, Ports Australia Christopher Zinn, Chief Executive Officer, Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association Sean Cole, Advocacy and Rural Affairs Manager, Grain Growers
12:30pm	Lunch
1:30pm	Legal Basics Every Comms Professional Should Know in 2025 Legal risks don’t just live in the fine print, they show up in the everyday work of association communication professionals. In this practical 20-minute session, we’ll walk through common scenarios that can carry legal implications. Perfect for those who want a foundational understanding of legal do’s and don’ts in a communications role. Kathy Nguyen, Senior Lawyer, Governology
1:50pm	AI in Comms: Risk or Opportunity? Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping how associations communicate - from automating tasks to generating content. But is it always helpful? This session explores the potential of AI tools in communications, the risks of misuse or misinformation, and how associations can harness AI responsibly and ethically to support their goals. Louise Harland-Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Communication and Public Relations Australia
2:30pm	Communications that Drive Connection and Impact (Workshop) In this interactive workshop, attendees will explore practical strategies and collaborative exercises to sharpen their communication focus to better connect with members in their respective associations, stakeholders, and the wider community. In this session, we will: - Guide participants to evaluate their current communication efforts - Demonstrate how to craft member-centric messaging - Introduce new tools and channels for greater impact - Tips for building an action plan for more strategic and aligned communications Felicity Zadro, Managing Director and Founder, Zadro Agency
3:00pm	Afternoon Tea
3:30pm	Strategic Comms in Action for Impact Claire Macuz-Witte shares how the APA transformed its media and PR function - developing strategy, managing structural change, and delivering results across major campaigns including concussion, veterans’ health, and the Federal Budget. This session explores how associations can sharpen their communications to drive engagement, influence policy, and lead with clarity. Claire Macuz-Witte, Manager, Media and PR, Australian Physiotherapy Association
4:10pm	Closing Q&A Panel Discussion In this wrap-up session, a panel of experienced association communicators will help synthesize the discussions on the day and inspire attendees with new approaches to strengthen member engagement and communication impact. These include:  -Reflections on challenges and wins in association communications -Perspectives on leading change and setting the tone from the top -Answering questions on crisis communication, public trust, or board-level strategy Priyanka Shahdadpuri, Manager of Advertising, Marketing and Media, Australian Hotels Association VIC Judy Stenmark, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Healthcare Products Australia
5:00pm	Closing Comments

Member Registrations: $550 
Non-Member Registrations: $770 (NFP only)

Associations Forum will send a tax invoice upon registration for this event.

Registrations are only open to not-for-profit organisations. For any corporate enquiries, please  contact partnerships@associations.net.au

This event is proudly sponsored by

Accommodation - Book your discounted stay at canberrarexhotel.com.au with code REXEVENTS  
under 'Rate Access/Corporate Code' at checkout.

SPEAKERS

Christopher Zinn, Chief Executive Officer, Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association

Christopher Zinn is well-known for his media commentary on consumer rights and empowerment. He sits on code of conduct committees encouraging higher standards in private health insurance sales and digital platforms around mis- and dis-information. He has been on the boards of the NSW cemetery regulator, Sydney’s leading community radio station, and the child safety charity Kidsafe. He was at CHOICE as the head of communications and policy for some years and worked with several start-up companies, including One Big Switch,  Fifty Up Club and the School Food Project. Throughout his career, he has been a journalist, working at the ABC TV and radio, Channel Nine, and various newspapers in Australia and overseas. He moved to Brisbane with his wife last year along with 32,258 other interstate migrants.  

Greg Jennett, Bureau Chief, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Greg Jennett has been reporting on politics, and national and international affairs from the ABC’s Parliament House Bureau in Canberra for more than two decades. During that time, he has covered multiple elections, budgets, leadership challenges, and policy debates. Greg has also reported extensively from overseas, including serving as Bureau Chief in Washington, D.C., during the Trump and Biden presidencies. After presenting the Afternoon Briefing program on the ABC News Channel for three years, Greg recently moved away from Parliament House to take up a position in the Canberra newsroom, where he now presents the ACT’s evening 7 PM news bulletin.
Moira Junge, Chief Executive Officer, Sleep Health Foundation

Dr Moira Junge is a clinical health psychologist with a specialty in treating sleep disorders and sleep health. She is now the CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation. After three decades on the front lines treating mental health challenges and sleep disorders, she made the switch from intervention to prevention. Today, she’s on a mission to raise awareness in the community and at all levels of government, to ignite behaviour change, and embed sleep as a cornerstone of wellbeing alongside diet and exercise—long before problems become chronic. Blending scientific knowledge with real-world insight, Moira is a sought-after speaker in the media and at conferences. She cuts through complexity to deliver evidence-based and accessible strategies that resonate. Whether addressing corporate audiences, health professionals, or the wider public, she brings clarity, credibility, and urgency to one of the most overlooked pillars of mental and physical health: sleep.

Sean Cole, Advocacy and Rural Affairs Manager, Grain Growers

At GrainGrowers, Sean Cole ensures the organisation has influence with key decision-makers in Federal Parliament, government departments, and industry stakeholders, delivering a targeted advocacy strategy that positions growers’ priorities at the forefront of national agricultural policy. He has previously held executive roles across grower advocacy, trading, export, manufacturing, and supply chains. As former CEO of CCW Co-operative Limited, and with a career spanning a range of trading and management roles across the grains sector, Sean brings depth of experience and a commitment to helping Australian grain growers prosper. Originally from South Australia, Sean holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide and a GAICD qualification from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has served actively on industry boards and committees throughout his career.

Judy Stenmark, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Healthcare Products Australia

Judy took up the position as CEO of CHP Australia as of January 1, 2025. Prior to this she was Director General of the Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) in Switzerland from 2018 until end 2024. During that time, she directed a restructure and re branding of the organization and implemented a new direction, The Future of Self-Care Strategy, which enabled self-care to be considered an integral part of global health policy. She has a background in health with a degree in physiotherapy and a master’s degree in Public Health. A long-standing career leading global and national NGOs in the health arena, with an eight-year tenure as head of the International Osteoporosis Foundation in Switzerland (prior to GSCF) and nine years leading Osteoporosis Australia. An Australian national, Judy has spent the last 16 years living and working in Switzerland. In this time, she established a strong network within global healthcare institutions, including the World Health Organization, international scientific academia and among many global health organizations.

Zara Bryan, Communications and Marketing Manager, Ports Australia

Zara Bryan leads the communications, marketing and media strategy for Ports Australia. With a background in journalism and professional writing, she brings experience across local and state government and industry peak bodies. Zara began her career in the nfp sector at Associations Forum and continues to be deeply passionate about the vital role associations play in shaping Australia’s critical infrastructure. She is also passionate about digital storytelling.