Association Leaders Symposium 2026
Registrations for this event have closed.
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 2026 |
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9:05am |
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9:10am |
Productivity, Reform and Australia's Future Economy |
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9:40am |
AI Governance, Ethics and Risk: What Boards and CEOs Need to Know |
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10:25am |
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10:30am |
Morning Tea |
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11:00am |
National Campaigns That Shift Policy and Public Opinion |
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11:30am |
Behind Closed Doors: Fireside Chat with Association CEOs |
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12:20pm |
Lunch |
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1:20pm |
Creating Sustainable Revenue Streams Beyond Membership Dues |
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1:50pm |
What I Wish I Knew Earlier as Chair |
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2:30pm |
Roundtable Interactive Session |
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3:00pm |
Afternoon Tea |
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3:30pm |
Lessons Learnt from Leading Industry Associations As industries evolve, associations play a critical role in supporting their members, advancing their sectors, and guiding their industries through change. In this closing panel discussion, Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson, CEO of the Australian Publishers Association, and Jackie Brian, CEO of Australian Organic Limited, will share insights from their leadership journeys and the transformations taking place within their respective industries. Key discussion points include: -About the Organics and Publishing industry Jackie Brian, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Organic Limited |
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4:25pm |
Closing Remarks |
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4:30pm |
Event Ends |
Member Registrations: $750
Non-Member Registrations: $900 (NFP only)
Buy One, Get One Free: Simply add the code ‘2ndFOC’ when registering to avail our limited time offer.
Gold membership comes with more value
Join as an Associations Forum Gold member and receive a complimentary ticket
to the Association Leaders Symposium. Email us to learn more.
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.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Danielle Wood, Chair, Productivity Commission

Danielle Wood is Chair of the Productivity Commission. She leads the Commission in providing evidence-backed research and policy advice to the Australian Government. She is currently co-leading its Housing Supply Regulation Inquiry. Danielle is a member of the Australian Government’s Competition Review Expert Advisory Panel and is Co-Lead of the Evaluation Profession across the public service. She also holds advisory roles for the Melbourne Institute, UNSW Public Policy Institute and Australian Dialogues. Prior to joining the Commission, Danielle was CEO of the Grattan Institute. Before that, she worked in senior roles at the ACCC and in economic consulting. She started her career as a graduate at the Productivity Commission. Danielle is an Honorary Fellow and former President of the Economic Society of Australia and was the co-founder and first Chair of the Women in Economics Network. She holds an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and Masters Degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Melbourne. In 2025, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Adelaide. Danielle was the winner of the 2024 AFR Women in Leadership Awards.
Martin Coote, President, Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia

Martin Coote was elected President of Master Locksmiths in 2023. Since then, he has led the organisation through a period of profound change with the recruitment of a new Chief Executive and implementation of an ambitious strategic plan. He has also been the public face of Master Locksmiths in a series of national media campaigns. Martin’s chair philosophy is vision-led, combining a clear sense of future direction with strong internal advocacy, and building resilient boards able to make difficult decisions for long-term success. Martin was previously Chair of St Marys Town Centre Ltd (a commercial precinct NFP) and a director of the Self Storage Association of Australasia, where he remains a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Martin’s education and working life span business, law and the creative arts, having once composed music for Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He is currently the director of his family’s locksmithing and importing businesses in Sydney and regional NSW.
Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Housing Industry Association

Jocelyn Martin is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Industry Association (HIA), which represents over 60,000 people in the residential building sector nationally. With housing supply and affordability central to national debate, Jocelyn and her team work with state and federal governments to remove barriers to housing supply, combining grassroots advocacy and networking with strong media and social media presence to advance members' interests. Following HIA's Federal election campaign, and heading into the Victorian state campaign, she is leading an innovative, trial-and-error approach to reaching new audiences through new market channels. Prior to joining HIA in 2014, Jocelyn had a lengthy career in education and training. She is a Ministerial Appointee to the Construction Industry Reference Council, Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Economics Committee, and a director of her family's business, Ravensworth Wines. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, a Masters in Accounting, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance.
Steffi Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Change Management Institute

Steffi Jackson is the CEO of the Change Management Institute, the global peak body for the change management profession, connecting a professional community across 49 countries and advancing standards of excellence worldwide. Appointed as the Institute's inaugural CEO in 2021, Steffi brings nearly 20 years of national and international leadership experience spanning management consulting, financial services, insurance, and the not-for-profit sector. A Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, her expertise sits at the intersection of strategy, transformation, and organisational change. Under her leadership, the Change Management Institute has earned recognition, including Small Association of the Year (2023) and External Campaign of the Year (2024). Steffi knows firsthand the tension of running an association while simultaneously changing and growing it, delivering on member value today while building the organisation for what lies ahead.
David Millar, Chief Executive Officer, Concrete Institute of Australia

David Millar is Chief Executive Officer of the Concrete Institute of Australia, with 35 years' industry experience including 20 years as an association executive. A civil engineering graduate from the University of Sydney, he began his career in concrete aggregates before expanding into precast concrete, construction chemicals, and concrete materials, and remains an active volunteer on several concrete-related committees. David was Executive Director of the Concrete Pipe Association of Australasia from 2005 to 2013, before joining the Concrete Institute of Australia as CEO in 2014. In that role, he has convened seven major conferences, driven the transition to online education products, introduced Young Professionals and Women in Concrete focus groups, and overseen significant growth in membership, sponsorship and stakeholder engagement. He is an elected member of the Standards Australia Membership Committee, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Australasian Society for Association Executives, and a nearly 20-year member of Associations Forum.
Matthew Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Society of Anaesthetists

Matthew has been CEO of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists since 2022 after CEO roles in other regulated healthcare associations since 2001. He has a PhD from Deakin University and an honorary doctorate from Charles Sturt University where he is an adjunct Associate Professor. Matthew has attended executive education at Harvard Business School and London Business School, both with a specific focus on leadership. He is a director of AMA CPD Home | Tracker | Catalogue | Compliance and has been a director of ESSA, AHPA and a subsidiary company of the University of Western Sydney. Matthew is described as a transformative CEO but embraces being described by others as a good human. He has recently implemented organisational policy on AI at the ASA and is part of an international collaboration on AI in medical societies.
Troy Williams, Association Management Leader | Chief Executive, Auctioneers & Valuers Association of Australia

Troy Williams has built a reputation as a highly effective association executive, recognised for growing membership, establishing certification schemes, and positioning organisations as influential voices with government and industry stakeholders. He’s recently stepped back from the associations sector following a career of three decades leading national peak bodies including the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA), the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) that’s incorporated by Royal Charter, the Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia (AVAA), and briefly the National Farmers Federation (NFF). His experience has seen him work with an association in the United States he’s led organisations operating in highly regulated and politically complex sectors. An organisation under his leadership was recognised as “Association of the Year”, and he was later inducted into the “Associations Hall of Fame” for his contribution to the non-profit sector. Troy is particularly recognised for expertise in government affairs, professional registration and credential schemes, and organisational strategic transformation.
Megan Spielvogel, General Manager, Australian Information Security Association

Megan Spielvogel is General Manager of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), bringing over 20 years' experience in event management, membership, communications, and sales across membership associations and enterprises. Since joining AISA in 2018, she has strengthened member engagement, driven growth, and enhanced the member experience. Megan holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, the sector's highest professional credential, and the Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) certification. Her career spans senior roles at the RACGP, RACV, and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Over the past 8 years, she has become deeply embedded in the cyber security industry, championing diversity initiatives and shaping professional development opportunities for security professionals. With expertise in strategic planning, marketing, and project management, Megan works closely with AISA's members, branches, board, and stakeholders, uniquely positioning her to advance AISA's mission and support the growth of its 15,000+ members.
Katherine Turner, President, Australasian Lymphology Association

Katherine is a registered nurse who runs a small private practice, looking after people with lymphoedema and lipoedema, in Cairns. Katherine joined the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA), which is the peak body supporting professionals to raise awareness and deliver best-practice management for those affected by lymphatic health conditions. In 2020 Katherine was elected as an appointed director, filling a casual vacancy. Katherine was then elected chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk committee, once becoming a full director. Katherine took on the role of President following the AGM in May 2025. Katherine has worked in local government and sat on many different volunteer committees over the years, giving her an unique insight into working with volunteers in various settings.
Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Publishers Association Ltd

Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson is CEO of the Australian Publishers Association, where she advocates for the publishing industry and supports its future growth. Patty leads a team of 10 staff representing 200 diverse member companies.
Jackie Brian, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Organic Limited

Jackie Brian is CEO of Australian Organic Limited, the peak industry body for Australia’s certified organic sector. A passionate organic consumer and advocate for healthier, more sustainable food systems, Jackie brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across Australian and international markets, spanning technology, payments, SaaS, e-commerce, consumer businesses and industry organisations. She has held senior roles with Amazon, Visa, Intuit and Ignition, focused on strategy, transformation, partnerships and growth. Since joining Australian Organic in 2024, Jackie has led significant organisational and industry change, strengthening industry alignment, modernising governance, building a stronger national policy voice and increasing collaboration across the organic sector. Jackie believes modern associations can be powerful catalysts for change — convening industries around shared challenges, building capability and infrastructure individual members cannot create alone, and helping sectors navigate change collectively. Raised in regional Australia and having worked internationally, Jackie brings a commercial, collaborative and systems perspective to leadership.
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.
PREMIUM PARTNER
Guild Solutions Inc
Guild Solutions Inc. (GSI) is an award-winning Australian business services partner helping organisations grow through exceptional talent and tailored solutions. With offices across Australia and New Zealand, supported by our Global Delivery Centre in Manila, we provide customer support, business analysis, project delivery, HR, finance, insurance and operational services. Backed by Guild Group Holdings, GSI is recognised for innovation and employee experience, combining local expertise, global capability and a people-first approach to deliver measurable business outcomes.
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
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.
Roundbox Consulting
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.
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.
Convene
Convene, developed by Azeus, the global leader in IT services, is designed to address the nexus of board efficiency, compliance, and corporate governance. Serving thousands of clients from over 100 countries worldwide, Azeus specialises in developing comprehensive IT systems to meet the governance requirements of boards and organisations from diverse industries including government, commercial sector, healthcare, higher education, and not-for-profits.
Cox Purtell
With a 30-year history of placing roles for Associations, we focus on finding the best aligned candidates to advocate for you & support your members. Sydney-based and family-owned, we offer preferential rates across permanent, temporary and contract roles. Beyond the placement, we partner with you on the things that actually move the needle: market insights to inform your strategic decision-making, mapping and identification of who and what talent is available to you at any given time, and a 90-day employee attachment survey to lift retention and performance.
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.







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