Association Membership Summit 2026
Members are at the core of associations. A healthy membership leads to a vital organisation, yet even strong associations need to keep up-to-date on how to recruit, retain and engage members. This intensive one-day summit is designed to provide practical insights into the common membership including how to improve engagement and services, manage difficult member dynamics, strengthen the member experience and create a member-centric strategy for your association. Topics to be covered include:
• Membership Recruitment, Retention & Growth
• Member Engagement, Collaboration & Services
• Advocacy and Technology to Enhance Membership
• Constitutional and Legal Aspects of Membership
• Managing Challenging Members
"Understanding your members' specific needs and motivations is key to meeting expectations and attracting new members."
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
C-suites | Board | Membership | Policy & Advocacy | Marketing & Communications | Stakeholder Engagement
MEET OUR SPONSORS
WITH THANKS TO:
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8:30am |
Registration Opens |
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9:00am |
Welcome to Association Membership Summit Chair: Tony Gleeson, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum |
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9:05am |
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9:10am |
Association Membership & Services Survey – brief glimpse of the findings |
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9:35am |
Membership and Revenue Growth Journey A panel of seasoned leaders will share insights on how their respective associations achieved record profits and sustained membership growth. They will also explore strategies for navigating sector-specific challenges, engaging a specialised member base, and maintaining financial sustainability while upholding high professional standards and sector leadership. |
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10:20am |
Morning Tea |
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10:50am |
Driving Growth and Engagement: Insights from a Leading Association |
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11:35am |
Reimagining Membership Through Digital Innovation at ACA The Australian Counselling Association has undergone a major transformation over the past two years, leveraging technology to streamline operations, elevate member services, and significantly boost recruitment and retention. This session will cover how associations can reimagine their membership through strategic digital adoption to future-proof operations and drive sustainable membership growth from drawing on ACA’s experience. Jodie McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Counselling Association |
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12:05pm |
Advocacy-Driven Messaging to Boost Membership Recruitment and Retention James Goodwin, CEO of Accommodation Australia will demonstrate how targeted, impactful advocacy communications can directly enhance membership recruitment and retention. By leveraging strategic messaging across member channels, LinkedIn, mobile apps, and mainstream media, associations can assert their role as proactive policy champions. This approach not only amplifies their value proposition but also builds trust and loyalty by showing members they lead, rather than follow, critical industry debates. James Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer, Accommodation Australia |
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12:35pm |
Lunch |
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1:35pm |
Membership from Constitution and Legal Perspective This session will delve into membership engagement from the legal perspective: •Why constitutions are important and how they impact membership? Kathy Nguyen, Senior Lawyer, Governology |
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2:00pm |
Designing With Members, Not For Them: How Human-Centred Design Reframed Member Value at Osteopathy Australia This case study shows how Osteopathy Australia used Human-Centred Design to map member journeys and reshape its value proposition by involving members directly - asking, co-creating, gathering feedback, and testing ideas. Instead of assuming needs and designing internally, this collaborative approach ensured real member priorities shaped meaningful, high-value services. |
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2:40pm |
Interactive Session: Questions to Answers You Were Afraid to Ask! |
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3:00pm |
Afternoon Tea |
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3:30pm |
Conflict to Collaboration: Handling Challenging Members in Your Association Hear from Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, in this dynamic fireside chat as he shares how he manages challenging members. Discover practical strategies to turn conflict into collaboration, encourage constructive dialogue, and strengthen member relationships. |
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3:55pm |
Closing Comments |
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4:00pm |
Event Ends |
Wes Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association
Member Registrations: $650
Non-Member Registrations: $850 (NFP only)
Group discounts are available. For more information, contact our team.
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.
Accommodation - Book your discounted stay at QT Canberra via www.qthotels.com with code QTCONF
under ''Promo Code' at checkout
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Megan Spielvogel, General Manager, Australian Information Security Association
Megan Spielvogel is the General Manager of the Australian Information Security Association (AISA), where she brings over 20 years of experience in event management, membership, communications, and sales across both membership associations and enterprises. Since joining AISA in 2018, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening member engagement, driving growth, and enhancing the overall member experience. Megan recently achieved the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation - the highest professional credential in the association sector - demonstrating her commitment to excellence in association leadership. Her career spans senior roles with organisations such as RACV and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Over the past 7 years, Megan has become deeply embedded in the cyber security industry, championing diversity initiatives and shaping professional development opportunities that address the evolving needs of security professionals. With expertise in strategic planning, marketing, and project management, she works closely with AISA’s members, branches, board, and stakeholders to deliver impactful initiatives supporting its 14,000+ members.
James Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer, Accommodation Australia
A dynamic and strategic leader with experience as an Executive and Non-Executive Director. A skilled communicator with a background in media, communications, government relations, public policy and corporate affairs. A history of working in the transport, infrastructure, tourism, travel, aviation, automotive and education sectors. James joined Accommodation Australia as their new CEO in September 2024 and looks forward to nurturing and building on the strong relationships already created with key stakeholders, both in government and accommodation industry leaders. Prior to his role with the AA, Mr Goodwin was the CEO of the Australian Airports Association (AAA) for more than four years and before that was Chief Executive of Australia’s leading vehicle safety advocate, the ANCAP Safety from 2015 to 2020. James has held senior government relations, communications and stakeholder relations roles at industry associations and government agencies following a career as a journalist, including in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery. He has served on a number of Boards and is currently Chair of St John Ambulance ACT and a Board Director with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Solutions.
Jodie McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Counselling Association
Jodie McKenzie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), the largest peak body representing over 21,000 counsellors, psychotherapists and students in Australia. With a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling) and over a decade of project management experience in IT healthcare, Jodie brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and strategic, project-driven leadership. She has been instrumental in advancing and strengthening the counselling profession during a time of significant growth and the development of national standards. Under her guidance, ACA continues to lead the way in reimagining membership through digital innovation, using technology to empower practitioners and build a more connected professional community. Jodie is currently leading an international policy development initiative, extending ACA’s influence and collaboration beyond Australia. Her leadership is defined by vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to the future of the counselling profession.
Andres Rojas, Principal, Clientric
Andres is the founder and Principal of Clientric, a customer-strategy consultancy that helps organisations transform customer insights into strategies that drive engagement, retention and long-term member value. With over 2 decades experience across member-based organisations, superannuation, SaaS, media and digital learning, Andres has led major transformation programs with Osteopathy Australia, Australian Retirement Trust and ABC Digital News and Radio. Having worked in South America, the UK and Australia, Andres brings a nuanced, cross-cultural understanding of customer needs. His work blends Human-Centred Design, Customer Experience and User Experience to deliver strategies that are both practical and commercially grounded. Andres’ approach is driven by a commitment to making customer experience accessible, actionable and a genuine driver of growth for organisations of all sizes.
Chief Executive Officer, Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
Jonathon Miller is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in project, program, and business management across the government, private, and non-profit sectors. As CEO of EIANZ, Jonathon leads Australasia’s peak body for environmental professionals and the region’s leading practitioner certification program, providing governments and industry with assurance of quality environmental management. Before his current role, Jonathon served as the Chief Operating Officer at Life Like Touring & TES Live, where he managed large-scale events and experiences for globally recognised entertainment brands, and General Manager of Major Events for The Royal Agricultral Society of Victoria, where he led the delivery of Royal Melbourne Show. His introduction to environmental management came from leading the improvement of key tourism attractions and the development of Victoria’s largest conservation sanctuary at Wilsons Promontory for Parks Victoria, while studying an Executive MBA with Melbourne Business School.
Tony Gleeson, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Tony Gleeson MBA GAICD is Associations Advisor at Associations Forum. He has over 30 years of experience in the fields of association management and governance, leadership, project and change management, organisational integration and talent development. Tony has been Chief Executive of Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), and was an Executive General Manager with CPA Australia. Prior to his roles with membership associations, he held senior consulting roles in strategy, process re-engineering and change management with PwC, Deloitte and Terra Firma Consulting. Tony is an innovative and energetic leader, skilled communicator / team builder, and adept negotiator. He has significant experience in providing support and guidance to CEOs and boards in areas of governance, strategic planning, change management and more.
Claire Hewat, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Claire has over 20 years’ experience in senior executive positions including two successful roles as a CEO at Dietitians Australia and Allied Health Professions Australia. Claire has also had substantial non-executive governance experience on five national and one international board. She has extensive experience in professional self-regulation and is currently chair of the Conduct and Complaints Board for an Australian allied health profession. Claire has used her experience to provide support and mentoring to other NFP CEOs and boards in areas of governance, strategic planning, advocacy, complaints and disciplinary processes, change management and more.
Kathy Nguyen, Senior Lawyer, Governology
Kathy has extensive experience working with associations both nationally and in Asia-Pacific. Her speciality is association structure, governance and operations. She has over 20 years’ experience working for and with associations as a senior manager or advisor.In her work, she has reviewed hundreds of constitutions, and regularly presents to organisations on governance, membership and other topics relevant to associations. Kathy has worked for Associations Forum, the Governance Institute of Australia, Ernst & Young, the Trade Association Forum in London and for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Kathy holds Bachelors of Laws & Business. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
VENUE SPONSOR
QT Canberra![]()
Serious conferences, with a little swagger. QT Canberra hosts business events and conferences for up to 600 delegates, with flexible plenary spaces and multiple breakouts that keep big ideas moving. From keynote moments to off-agenda huddles, our venues flex around your program with seamless tech, sharp catering and service that’s on it before you ask. Add in discreet spaces for VIPs, speakers and side-eye negotiations, and you’ve got an event that runs smooth without feeling beige. Polished, playful and unmistakably QT — this is business, done with personality.
EXCLUSIVE CRM PARTNER
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.
SILVER PARTNER
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.
BRONZE PARTNER
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.


