Association Leaders Symposium 2025
Association Leaders Symposium is a prestigious annual event that brings together influential leaders from associations which represent various industries and professions. Through insightful keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, Association Leaders Symposium aims to foster collaboration, share innovative ideas, and inspire positive change in the associations sector.
Why Attend ?
- Network with visionary leaders
- Embrace innovation and stay on the cutting edge of association leadership
- Stay informed about industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies
- Presentations from business, association and charity leaders
- Engage in thought-provoking discussions and challenge your leadership paradigms
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
CEOs and C-Suite | Presidents | Board Members | Senior Managers | Emerging Leaders
MEET OUR SPONSORS
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8:30am |
Registration and Optional Site Tour |
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9:00am |
Welcome to the Association Leaders Symposium Setting the scene: the changing role of associations in a post-election, productivity-focused policy landscape - and why capable governance and clear advocacy matter more than ever. |
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9:05am |
Welcome from International Convention Centre Sydney |
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9:10am |
Increasing Productivity in Australia and the Role of Associations Key industry bodies have raised concerns that increasing workplace regulation may lead to job losses and negatively impact economic growth and productivity. In this session, expert leaders will discuss Australia's productivity - what it means, how it’s measured, and how associations contribute to shaping policy and initiatives that drive national economic performance. |
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9:50am |
Sponsor Address: Higher Logic |
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9:55am |
Roundtable Interactive Session Informal roundtable discussions on board culture, member engagement, new revenue, advocacy strategy. |
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10:25am |
Sponsor Address: CPDValet |
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10:30am |
Morning Tea |
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11:00am |
Behind Closed Doors: Real Discussion between a CEO and a Chair This candid session dives into the tensions, blind spots, and opportunities in CEO-Chair relationships. With Felix Pirie newly stepping into the CEO role, this discussion offers a fresh lens on leadership transitions and board dynamics. |
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11:50pm |
Advocacy That Cuts Through: How Associations Get Heard Housing - or the lack thereof - and its impact on the cost of living were predominant issues that dominated the 2025 Federal Election and were key concerns for voters. Simon Croft, Chief Executive - Industry Policy at the nation’s leading residential building industry association, led the advocacy on these critical issues, driving political commentary and prompting a raft of housing announcements from the major parties. Simon will outline how they drove their campaign to gain maximum effectiveness for their members and to cut through in a packed media environment and looking beyond a Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra program and getting into the regions which are having a growing influence on politics. |
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12:30pm |
Lunch |
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1:30pm |
Challenges and Lessons from the Chair |
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2:30pm |
AI in Associations: Enabling Innovation, Productivity, Leadership The adoption of generative AI across sectors is accelerating, offering associations opportunities to boost productivity and innovation. A balanced regulatory approach is essential to support growth without duplicating existing legal frameworks. |
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3:00pm |
Insolvency Risks for NFP Directors A growing number of not-for-profit entities are operating with negative equity, raising serious concerns about potential insolvency. This session highlights key legal risks for directors, governance responsibilities, and practical steps to mitigate exposure. |
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3:30pm |
Afternoon Tea |
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4:00pm |
FINSIA’s Strategic Pathway to Global Partnership |
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5:00pm |
Closing Remarks |
Member Registrations: $700 | Non-Member Registrations: $850 (NFP only)
Associations Forum will send a tax invoice upon registration for this event. Registrations are only open to not-for-profit organisations. For corporate enquiries, please contact partnerships@associations.net.au.
SPEAKERS
Simon Croft, Chief Executive – Industry & Policy, Housing Industry Association
Simon is responsible for overseeing HIA’s extensive involvement in relevant building policy matters cutting across building codes and Australian Standards, economics, planning, environmental and sustainability, workplace relation and compliance, industry skills and small business. Simon is HIA’s representative on a number Commonwealth and State peak building advisory boards and committees and also sits on a number of industry bodies Boards. Simon has oversight for HIA responses to governments on relevant building policy issues that affect residential building work and building practitioners, particularly on issues such as energy efficiency regulations, accessibility, building products and building certification reviews. Simon previously worked for the Australian Building Codes Board and has over 25 years’ experience working in the building and construction industry in a number roles. Simon has a broad range of building and construction qualifications in fields of building, building surveying, project management and training and is a qualified carpenter.
Jamieson Louttit, Principal, JLA Insolvency & Advisory
Jamieson Louttit is the Principal of JLA Insolvency & Advisory, established in 2002. With over 30 years’ experience, he has held senior roles in leading accounting and insolvency firms. He is an Official and Registered Company Liquidator, Chartered Accountant, and holds a Master of Taxation Law and Bachelor of Business (Accounting). Jamieson has managed major insolvency and advisory projects across diverse sectors including finance, property, manufacturing, and government. Notable highlights include overseeing a $140M finance portfolio, restructuring a $140M housing company, and acting as Receiver for a national body with over $60M in assets. He also led the Members Voluntary Liquidation of 23 subsidiaries of an ASX-listed company. Jamieson is a Justice of the Peace in NSW and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. JLA provides full-spectrum insolvency services, including liquidations, voluntary administrations, forensic reports, and commercial arbitration, underpinned by strong conflict checks and professional independence.
Luke Achterstraat, Chief Executive Officer, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia
Luke Achterstraat is the CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), the only national peak body dedicated exclusively to the interests of over 2.5 million small businesses in Australia. He has advised two federal government ministers and appeared before parliamentary inquiries on behalf of both federal and state industry groups. He was the NSW Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia and was also appointed by the NSW Government as the inaugural Chair of the NSW Expert Housing Advisory Panel. Luke is passionate about small business, having helped co-found and lead the talent disruption business Commtract.
Felix Pirie, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia
Felix Pirie has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) from 3 February 2025. Appointed as Deputy Chief Executive – Policy & Research at ITECA in 2019, Felix leads policy advocacy across skills training, higher education, and international education. He champions independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and higher education providers, fostering productive relationships with regulators and industry groups in the domestic and international education context. With a government background in workplace relations, education, and defence, Felix has driven reforms to improve student services and strengthen Australia’s international education sector. At ITECA, he balances support for the sustainability of independent providers and student protection with ensuring they can grow, innovate, and support economic growth. His active engagement with independent providers across the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors has been a key factor in driving meaningful education reform.
Andrew Gosbell, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Andrew is based in Melbourne and provides a range of advisory services for Associations Forum based on his broad experience in governance, change management, leadership development, government relations and policy development, risk management, strategic planning, negotiation and partnership development.
Andrew has over 15 years senior executive experience working in medical colleges and associations, including successful tenures as CEO of General Practice Registrars Australia and Deputy CEO at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He has a track record of working collaboratively with volunteers, association members and office bearers, and professional staff to successfully deliver a range of strategic initiatives at both national and state levels. He has well-developed networks in the health and associations sectors. Andrew also has governance experience as a non-executive director and currently holds a number of Board and Committee positions in the NFP and tertiary-education sectors.
MAJOR PARTNERS
ICC Sydney
ICC Sydney is Australia’s leading convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct, located at the intersection of the city’s academic, cultural and technology hubs. Distinguished by its striking design, ICC Sydney stands apart as a symbol of excellence in Australia’s most cosmopolitan city. More than a venue, ICC Sydney functions as an incubator of ideas and advocate for community, giving clients the opportunity to contribute to the city’s cultural capital in meaningful ways. ICC Sydney’s commitment to community, dedicated team of event experts and best-in-class ICT infrastructure all make it well placed to deliver engaging and extraordinary events every time.
Business Events Sydney
Backed by over 50 years’ experience and built on relationships, our global team works across Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. During the entire process, we’re with you every step of the way. We're committed to helping you win and host something unforgettable. BESydney is an independent not for profit, supported by the NSW Government, City of Sydney, and industry.
Higher Logic
Higher Logic is revolutionising engagement. We combine AI with human insight to help organisations build lasting relationships through personalised, intelligent experiences. Our platform connects community, marketing, learning, events, and more—powered by a centralised data foundation that learns and adapts with every interaction. It’s how we enable smarter, more relevant engagement. Whether helping associations improve retention or enabling businesses to reduce support costs and grow loyalty, our deep expertise and true partnership mindset empower our customers to do more than they ever imagined.
PREMIUM PARTNER
CPD Valet
Bayshann delivers a range of advisory services and software solutions to the higher education sector and professional associations. Bayshann has recently released its digital solution for the management of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) schemes. Our world first CPD platform is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, capable of supporting the CPD needs in any profession, such as accounting, health, law, plumbing, electrical and much more. Bayshann provides software development and systems implementation services for major platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365. We work closely with our customers to deliver transformative outcomes through innovation and industry insight.
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Nexia Australia
Nexia Australia is a full-service accounting and advisory solution supported by global links to Nexia International. Specialising in several key industries, we support a range of clients including not-for-profit entities, small to medium-sized businesses, publicly listed companies, and high-net-worth individuals. At Nexia, our purpose is to help people and businesses reach their potential by providing the insight, advice and support needed to navigate to success.
The Association Specialists
Entrust the day-to-day management of your association to Australasia’s largest and most trusted association management company and professional conference organiser. Providing both structured and flexible management solutions we support over 80 organisations including trade associations, government departments, professional societies, not-for-profit and for purpose organisations. Under one umbrella, we offer extensive, specialised services from administrative association management services, financial management, sponsorship and marketing consulting, through to strategic consulting and executive officer services. Our dedicated conference and events team can also provide you and your delegates with a profitable, seamless, successful conference.
Professional Advantage
As the premier Microsoft partner in the Associations industry, Professional Advantage offers Upbeat, a Dynamics 365-based platform that simplifies member management. Upbeat's adaptability meets modern associations' needs effectively without costly customisations. We also provide comprehensive IT support, including cloud services, software implementation, and security solutions
Beaumont People
Beaumont People is a dedicated recruitment partner for Associations, Institutes and Membership organisations, offering preferential rates exclusively for this sector across permanent, temporary and contract roles.
We have built a trusted reputation in this sector since 2013, placing quality candidates across all levels, from CEOs, Membership Managers and Policy/Advocacy specialists to Accounts/Finance, HR, Marketing & Communications professionals, EA/PAs and Office Assistants.
We also provide Career Coaching, Outplacement Services and Professional Development Programs.
