Rydges World Square

Rydges World Square won Superior Hotel of the Year 2019 at the Tourism Accommodation Australia (NSW) Awards for Excellence. Feel right at home when checking into Rydges World Square Sydney and enjoy our convenient location in the Central Business District. Our world-class Sydney accommodation and services raise the standard of hospitality while providing easy access to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay and the city’s financial precinct. The Sydney CBD hotel is 20 minutes from Sydney Airport (SYD). Premier shopping and dining options abound for leisure and business travellers alike. We are now offering free WI-FI in all our guest rooms, bar, restaurant and public areas. 

ImpactInstitute

At ImpactInstitute, we believe storytelling is the greatest agent of change. A Certified B Corp, we help purpose‑driven organisations achieve meaningful social and community outcomes through a unique blend of advisory, communications, and events services. We partner with associations, business, government, and the social sector to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messaging that resonates with targeted audiences, media, and key stakeholders. Our team brings deep expertise across education, healthcare, disability, ESG, and infrastructure. Through storytelling, evidence‑based insights, and applied AI tools, we support leaders to strengthen reputation, influence decision‑making, and grow their impact.

Zadro

Zadro is a strategic brand and communications agency. Our mission is to create, reinvigorate, and amplify brands. We wrap the facets of communications – strategy, campaign, public relations, creative, marketing, and digital – around an organisations brand to elevate it to new heights. We know that driving engagement demands compelling stories, expertly crafted, and passionately shared.

Medianet

Higher Logic

Higher Logic is revolutionising engagement. We combine AI with human insight to help organisations build lasting relationships through personalised experiences. Our software connects community, marketing, learning, and events on a centralised data foundation that adapts with every interaction, enabling smarter, more relevant engagement and lasting loyalty. 

Kintell

Lift member engagement with short videos, made 100% remotely. Associations use Kintell to produce crisp, authentic videos featuring member testimonials, industry experts, and event speakers. Our video directors interview your people online, while Kintell’s platform handles production from start to finish. Fast, effortless and affordable, level up your video content today to keep members informed, connected and coming back.

Agend

Association communicators are stretched thin. Agend connects your website, member portal, events, and communications so the right message reaches the right member, every time - without the manual effort. Australian-made, modular, and built for the long run alongside the associations we serve. No scattered tools. No missed moments.

Annie Gibbins, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Traditional Medicine Society

Annie Gibbins is a dynamic and visionary leader with over 25 years of experience as a multi-award-winning CEO and change management expert. As the CEO of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), Annie is dedicated to advancing the natural medicine profession through advocacy, innovation, and strategic partnerships. Annie is also the Founder and CEO of Women’s Biz Global, a women’s empowerment enterprise that has garnered multiple prestigious international business awards. Her diverse portfolio includes roles as a global media executive, TV and podcast host, producer, magazine and book publisher, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. Annie’s career highlights include leading organisations such as Glaucoma Australia, the Australian Institute of Ultrasound, and the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. Additionally, she is a Founder and Director of the Australasian College of Optical Dispensers, Optical Dispensers Australia, and the Australasian College of Audiometry, showcasing her ability to drive success across varied sectors. A highly sought-after speaker and mentor, Annie’s expertise in transformational leadership and her passion for empowering others make her a standout contributor to the Associations Forum. She continues to inspire individuals and organisations to unlock their full potential and achieve next-level success.

Susanne Tegen, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Alliance

Susi Tegen is the Chief Executive of the National Rural Health Alliance, as well as having served as the CE of RANZCO, MTAA and other medical, health and Primary Industry entities. She is a visionary leader and passionate advocate for rural and remote communities, knowing their economic and societal contribution to the whole Australian population. With a multidisciplinary career spanning healthcare, education, economic development, agribusiness, and sustainability, she has been a Telstra Business Award and Business Innovation Award winner. Susi has driven policy reforms, expanded telehealth access, improved workforce sustainability, advocated for health and medical education in rural communities and the support for Indigenous communities. Her work focuses on bridging the urban–rural divide, mentoring, cultural safety, and amplifying minority voices, underpinned by a commitment to equity, parity and systemic policy and funding change.

Stuart Charity, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association

Stuart Charity is a passionate industry leader, having served the automotive industry in a variety of senior roles over 25 years.  Stuart is CEO of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), which represents over 4,000 member businesses and the entire automotive aftermarket, an industry which contributes $25B annually to the economy. Under Stuart’s leadership, the AAAA has championed many initiatives, services and regulatory reforms to improve the sustainability and growth of the industry.

Lise Sperling, Head of Corporate Affairs, Australian Beverages Council

Jenny Bax, Chief Executive Officer, Underwriting Agencies Council

Jenny Bax, with more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, is the inaugural CEO of the Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC). Recognised for her collaborative leadership and strategic vision, she has been instrumental in advancing the underwriting agency sector and strengthening its voice across the industry. Jenny’s career includes senior roles in Australia and internationally, along with being a founding member and former Chair of the ANZIIF General Insurance Faculty Advisory Board. She holds an MBA from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma in Insurance, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). A passionate advocate for women in leadership, Jenny is a sought-after speaker on mentoring, executive confidence, and navigating industry change. Since becoming CEO, she has spearheaded initiatives such as the UAC Leadership Academy, Member Spotlight Series, and a dedicated Employee Assistance Program, all designed to support member growth, connection, and wellbeing.

Jamie Shepheard, Senior Manager - Digital, Marketing & Communication, Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT

Jamie is a strategic communications leader with over a decade of experience translating complex challenges into creative, data-driven solutions across digital and traditional platforms. As Senior Manager, Digital, Marketing & Communication at Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT, Jamie leads integrated communication strategies that strengthen brand visibility, grow engagement, and enhance member experience. Recognised for delivering high-impact campaigns and major rebranding initiatives, Jamie brings a rare blend of creative, technical, and strategic expertise, shaped by a career spanning communication, marketing, digital, and print production. Their work is grounded in analytics, user-journey mapping, and strong brand and content strategy, ensuring communications are both purposeful and measurable. Jamie holds a Master of Strategic Communication from the University of Technology Sydney and was awarded the Asia Pacific Leadership Award for Service to Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting in 2021.

Cecilia Rago, Senior Advisor Communications & Public Affairs, MINTRAC

Cecilia is a senior corporate affairs professional with experience across industry, government-facing organisations and regulated sectors in Australia, Latin America and Europe. She specialises in designing and embedding integrated communication frameworks that align advocacy, stakeholder engagement and organisational purpose ensuring clarity, coherence and credibility across members, government and peak bodies. At MINTRAC, she works closely with the CEO & Board and operates across multidisciplinary teams of highly specialised policy, workforce development and industry experts to maintain a cohesive institutional voice. Through strategic communications, she contributes to MINTRAC’s role as a national stewardship body, reinforcing alignment, trust and long-term capability across its member base and the broader training system.

Victoria Forrest, Marketing and Communications Manager, Australian College of Midwives

Victoria worked in television for 15 years, managing Sky News Weather for the last four, before shifting to the not for profit sector with a marketing/comms role at the Australian College of Midwives (ACM). Over the past eight years, ACM has matured, becoming more professional, more in demand as a voice for advocacy and providing greater and higher quality events and education. As a core driver of the small team behind Australia’s peak professional body for midwives, Victoria enjoys innovation to fuel growth and efficiency across all portfolios.

Felicity Zadro, Founder & Managing Director, Zadro Agency

Felicity Zadro founded Zadro in 2007, inspired to support companies through excellent communications. Felicity often leads Zadro’s creative campaigns, and has ghost written millions of words for clients. She is a specialist in stakeholder dialogue and developing two-way streams of communication for associations. Felicity’s training in sociology, love of strategy, experience in leading market and social research projects, training in change management and leadership, combined with her business acumen, allows Felicity to broaden the standard scope of communications practice.

David Westman, Former Communications Manager, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Dave Westman has a media, marketing and government background. His Bachelor level studies (Business and Arts) covered Human Resources, Indigenous Studies, and Journalism, later completing a Graduate Certificate in Business Management and Masters in Marketing. Dave’s media career spanned newspaper editorial, sales, design and management. After four years as General Manager of the Whitsunday Times he launched Flat Cat Marketing and took on a CEO role for a group of B2B and retail businesses for 18 years. Dave “fell” into politics by helping a former colleague in 2011. After 10 years, working with four political parties and winning six elections at Federal, State, and Territory level, Dave returned to Canberra as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. With a particular passion for innovation and creativity, Dave is the Author of a book called Stop Wasting Money on Ads: Get double the results for half the money.

Simon Rountree, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum 

Simon has over 30 years leadership experience in the Not For Profit sector with 24 of those years being the General Manager and/or CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation, Camp Quality and Tour de Cure. His extensive experience in growing businesses extends across governance, leadership, board development, cultural change, strategic and operational planning, revenue generation, risk, workplace wellbeing, volunteering and coaching. Simon has also developed and implemented social enterprises aligned to the businesses purpose and mission whilst linked to commercial strategies in order to deliver growth and diversify revenue streams. His personal traits include being values based, a good listener, having clear communications without ambiguity and adopting a collaborative approach to achieving great results.

Amrita Sidhu, Managing Director, Medianet

With over 18 years of experience in business strategy, sales growth, and relationship management across media sectors, Amrita is the Managing Director of Medianet, as well as a proud board member of the prestigious global body for communication measurement, AMEC. In her current role, Amrita leads the business strategy, operations, and commercial performance of Medianet —a leading platform that provides media intelligence, PR, and communications solutions to clients across Australia and New Zealand. Amrita has significant experience and success as a senior executive leader in technology and digital services enterprises, having served as GM Asia for Tigerspike, a technology agency that builds enterprise-level digital solutions, and as Global Head of Commercial and Partnerships for VMG, a SaaS social media solution.

Niall Hughes, Head of Brand Storytelling, ImpactInstitute

Niall Hughes has more than 17 years of international PR & Comms experience in delivering effective, award winning campaigns for clients across industries. A strategic thinker with a passion for driving high-performing teams, Niall heads up the Brand Storytelling practice, overseeing client engagement, campaigns and team capability building to creating impactful work. Niall is an award-winning practitioner, holding the PRIA's (now CPRA) Golden Target Awards: PR Professional of the Year (silver). He is also a CPRA NSW Council Member. Niall's strengths lie in his futuristic vision and strategic thinking to develop long-term integrated campaigns that drive real-world impacts.