Registrations have now closed for this event.

Professions are core to the improvement of our community, society and quality of life. Through the experience and work of these experts in their field, professionals contribute to healthier lives, a better built environment, a stronger economy and leading-edge scientific advancements. Whilst professionals are individuals, no profession can contribute fully without an association dedicated to their particular profession. Associations Forum is holding a one-day summit examining matters impacting on professional associations. Topics to be covered include:

•    Becoming a ‘Must-Join’ Association of Professionals 
•    Career Pathways, Designation & Credentialing
•    Continuing Professional Development
•    Code of Conduct, Ethics and Disciplinary Procedures 
•    Case studies of Associations of Professionals

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
C-suites | Board | Education & Training | Professional Services | Member Services | Event & Conference | Policy & Advocacy

MEET OUR SPONSORS

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

GOLD SPONSORS

Sydney Masonic Centre - The perfect venue for your event of any size

The Sydney Masonic Centre, perfectly located in Sydney's CBD can cater to your association event of any size. Start on level 4 for up to 150 people with registration and catering spaces, plenary and break out rooms all on the one level. Move to ground level for conferences of up to 250 people, or then add in Level 1 with a large plenary auditorium, banquet hall and spacious entry foyer and you have a conference for 600 pax with numerous breakout and foyer spaces to choose from. 

SJ & People and Jenbro Human Resources

SJ & People and Jenbro Human Resources help organisations save time, money and stress by getting their people strategy right from the start. We show that good HR strategy isn’t an expense — it’s an investment that pays for itself. Getting people decisions wrong is expensive — the cost of getting HR wrong is always higher than doing it right. Investing in HR from the start is like taking out insurance — protecting member dollars and ensuring accountability from day one. Our partnership helps leaders strengthen their business foundations through people — creating workplaces that perform better and cost less to run

SILVER SPONSOR

My eQuals

My eQuals is Australia and New Zealand's official tertiary credentials platform. Professional Associations across the region use it to issue and verify certified credentials online. 

BRONZE SPONSORS

Our Cat Herder

Does managing your Association's board and meeting administration feel like herding cats? We're here to help you streamline and simplify your board administration. Our Cat Herder is a cost effective, easy-to-use board portal for purpose driven organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

Survey Matters

At Survey Matters, we are dedicated to providing professional associations, industry bodies and member-based organisations with information and insights to guide your strategy and grow your business. We provide the evidence you need to attract, retain, and engage members and stakeholders. Contact us for an independent and practical approach to your research requirements.

SPEAKERS

Kathryn Zeitz, Chief Executive Officer, Australian College of Nursing

Dr Kathryn Zeitz commenced as Australian College of Nursing’s (ACN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in late September 2024 and is an accomplished and respected health executive, academic, researcher, and nursing leader. Dr Zeitz came to ACN from her previous role as Deputy CEO of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN), where she led the Clinical Governance portfolio since 2019. Her extensive acute hospital operational management background has included many roles in Adelaide and at St Vincent’s Health Network in Sydney. Her career is marked by a dedication to improving healthcare delivery and outcomes with a commitment to patient-centred care. She completed her PhD thesis in clinical nursing at the University of Adelaide in 2003 and has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Dr Zeitz is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Adelaide and an Adjunct Associate Professor with Flinders University. She is a Board Director of St John Ambulance Australia. 

Magriet Raxworthy, Chief Executive Officer, Dietitians Australia

Magriet is a dietitian with clinical dietetic experience as well as extensive executive and senior leadership experience spanning over 25 years internationally including Australia. Magriet completed her dietetic training in South Africa and holds qualifications as a company director and in innovation, leadership, and organisational change. Magriet brings a wealth of knowledge in healthcare, business management, policy influence and innovation and operates with a strong passion and conviction for nutrition and dietetics. Outside of work, Magriet loves the outdoors, cooking and entertaining, spending time with family and friends and exploring new cultures and places.

Bronwyn Heys, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Marketing Institute

Bronwyn Heys is CEO of The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), a CMO/senior marketer, board director and advisor known for big brand reinvention. With 35+ years of experience, she has transformed global food brands across FMCG and QSR, including McDonald’s Australia, Kellogg, Mars, Tip Top, and Smith’s Snackfoods. As Global Marketing Director and CMO at YUM Brands – KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut – she led brand growth across Canada, Europe, and Asia. Bronwyn excels in turning insights into innovative products with commercial success, driven by bold strategy and communications. Her expertise spans brand transformation, customer experience, digital, and AI, especially in Retail/QSR. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Certified Practising Marketer/Fellow of AMI (FAMI/CPM), she champions brand purpose, innovation, and marketing leadership. Her mission is to ensure marketers lead with relevance, impact, and connection in a rapidly evolving profession.

Sarah Malcher, Legal Education Manager, The Law Society of New South Wales

Sarah Malcher is a solicitor and the Legal Education Manager at The Law Society of New South Wales. In this role, she analyses and develops strategies for CPD and leads the Education Development team that drives the design, programming and curation of legal educational services to solicitor members, non-members and legal support staff. Prior to joining the Law Society in 2019, Sarah worked in various legal commercial roles, including as a Practice Area Manager with LexisNexis leading the content management team, as well as private practice lawyer and conveyancer. She has a keen interest in best and emerging practices in professional development and education, as well as in the arts. Sarah also holds a Masters of Arts (M.A.) in English from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication (Media Arts and Production) from the University of Technology, Sydney. 

Jonathan Jones, Head of Education, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia

As Head of Education at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), Jonathan Jones is a seasoned leader with nearly two decades of experience driving transformative educational initiatives across diverse sectors, including finance, not-for-profit, and higher education. His strategic vision and expertise have advanced learning outcomes within organizations such as Commonwealth Bank, the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM@UNSW Sydney), and Sydney School of Entrepreneurship. Jonathan’s career began in corporate recruitment, where he gained valuable insights into talent acquisition and workforce development. This foundation informs his approach to education, enabling him to design innovative programs that align with organizational goals and foster continuous improvement. Under his leadership, IPWEA has implemented a globally accessed micro-credentialed development pathway for Infrastructure Asset Management professionals. Jonathan remains committed to cultivating a culture of excellence and lifelong learning, positioning individuals and organizations for success in a rapidly changing environment.

Sam Wilson, General Manager - CA Program, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand

Sam is the General Manager responsible for the delivery of the CA Program at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. The program builds transferrable skills while maintaining technical excellence, is digitally focussed and provides relevance and choice to ensure CAs are equipped with the capabilities required for the future. Sam is passionate about accounting education having worked in the field for the past 25 years after qualifying with EY in the UK and with her expertise, passion, and dedication, Sam is continuously working towards shaping the future of accounting education.  Sam is Co-Chair of the Global Accounting Alliance Education Directors workgroup facilitating information sharing and collaboration to lead the advancement of the accounting profession on a global level.

Gagan Cheema, Executive Director, Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

Gagan Cheema is Executive Director at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), where she leads strategic initiatives in medical education and continuing professional development (CPD). She focuses on ensuring programs meet regulatory standards while supporting the evolving needs of members. Over the years, Gagan has overseen the development of training programs for the Australian healthcare workforce and educational resources for health professionals and patients. With extensive expertise in women’s health, she is also a strong advocate for equity and access to care. She holds a Master of Educational Leadership, a Diploma of Training Design and Development, and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics. Before moving fully into medical education, Gagan worked for more than a decade as an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), specialising in chronic disease prevention and management. Gagan has applied her experience to support not-for-profit organisations in advancing lifelong learning, fostering professional growth, and building systems that align compliance with culture and collaboration. 

Sandra South, Ethics Officer, Hearing Professional Conduct & Complaints Body

Sandra has been working in health, social and disability service policy and regulation for over 15 years. Sandra is currently the Ethics Officer and Company Secretary of the Hearing Professional Conduct and Complaints Body Ltd and a consultant in health, allied health, and aged care policy. Originally an academic researcher and statistician, Sandra transitioned being a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Knowledge-Based Policy and Guidance at the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden. Since returning to Australia in 2016, Sandra has worked in policy team management and consultant roles for various allied health, health and interdisciplinary professional bodies. Sandra was on the founding Board of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions as an Audiology Australia representative and worked with the hearing professional bodies to establish an independent complaints process that was consistent across all hearing professional bodies.

Kathy Nguyen, Senior Lawyer, Governology

Kathy has extensive experience working with associations both nationally and in the Asia-Pacific, on association structure, operations and governance. She has reviewed hundreds of constitutions, and regularly presents to organisations on membership, governance and events. 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.

Takis Diakoumis, Senior Director of Engineering, My eQuals

A technology evangelist with 25 years of experience, Takis Diakoumis has built and led high-performing technical teams across diverse sectors, from finance and government to healthcare and higher education. Notably, he spearheaded the initiative for Australia's first open MOOC platform.Takis thrives on building innovative and disruptive solutions that deliver exceptional user experiences. With a passion for emerging technologies like self-sovereign identity, he excels at translating complex concepts into compelling narratives. Driven by intuition and an authentic desire to drive innovation, Takis is dedicated to making significant contributions to the global digital credentialing ecosystem with Parchment.

Lewis Kaplan, Associations Advisor, Associations Forum

Lewis has over 30 years’ leadership and management experience in public and primary health including over 20 years in CEO roles in peak consumer and health organisations including Diabetes Australia, Australian Red Cross NSW, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and Huntington’s NSW ACT. He has governance, management, policy and lobbying expertise across a range of sectors including primary health care, ageing, aged and community care, public health, health promotion, community development, international development and mother and child health. Lewis has a proven track record in initiating new organisations and concepts and bringing together diverse stakeholders to achieve outcomes which individually are unattainable. He has been a key member of the leadership team for a number of successful association mergers. He has extensive experience (some successful, some not) of advocating to federal and state governments. He holds academic qualifications in Social Anthropology (BA Hons1) and International Public Health (Master of Health Sciences), as well as being a former Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a Fulbright Scholar.

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.