Industry Associations Summit 2026
Whilst businesses operating in the same sector are commercially competitive with each other, they come together as members of their industry association. The representative body for any and every association is the united voice and tireless supporter of member interests.
This summit brings together volunteer leaders, chief executives, and senior staff to share insights, strategies, and best practices on strengthening their associations. While industries may differ, many peak bodies face similar challenges across member services, advocacy, communications, events, governance, and financial sustainability. This one-day event provides a unique opportunity to learn from peers, exchange experiences, and gain clarity and motivation to achieve greater outcomes for their members and industry.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Suitable for delegates from associations, industry bodies and not-for profit organisations ranging from CEOs, Board Directors, Events, Membership and Policy Managers.
MEET OUR SPONSORS
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8:30am |
Registration Opens |
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9:00am |
Welcome to the Industry Associations Summit |
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9:05am |
Welcome from the Venue |
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9:10am |
Setting the Scene: The Changing Role of Industry Associations Industry associations play a vital role in representing sectors, influencing policy, and supporting industry growth. However, changing member expectations, technological disruption, workforce challenges, and economic pressures are reshaping their role. Tony Gleeson will set the scene by exploring key trends in membership, advocacy, governance, technology, and sustainability, highlighting the challenges and opportunities ahead. |
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9:20am |
Beyond Membership: Creating Value and Sustainable Revenue Industry associations must maintain member relevance while ensuring financial sustainability. This session explores practical approaches to delivering value and adapting business models. Discussion points include: -Aligning services with member needs |
| 9:50am |
Sponsor Address: 2 Dam Creative Steve Brendish, Chief Executive Officer, 2 Dam Creative |
| 10:00am |
Building a National Association from the Ground Up Drawing on the Australian Sauna Association’s (ASA) experience, this session explores the challenges and opportunities of establishing a national association in a rapidly growing industry. Topics include: -How to build an association with limited resources |
| 10:30am |
Morning Tea |
| 11:00am |
Constitution, Competition, Tax: Key Legal & Governance Risks Industry associations are member-driven organisations, which brings unique governance challenges - from ensuring fit for purpose' membership structures, voting allocation and board composition, to avoiding competition law pitfalls that can arise even in well-intentioned member collaboration, to keeping objects clauses aligned with tax-exempt status. This session will examine these interconnected legal risks. |
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11:20am |
AI Opportunities, Risks and Governance for Associations Artificial intelligence offers opportunities for associations to improve operations and deliver member value. Drawing on ESSA’s experience, this session explores practical AI applications, risks and governance. Key points include: -Applying AI to strategic planning and board decisions |
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11:50am |
Amplifying the Collective Voice: Advocacy That Creates Influence Industry associations can strengthen their influence by bringing members together around shared priorities and engaging decision-makers. Drawing on experiences from the two respective associations, this session explores practical approaches to effective advocacy and measuring its impact. Discussion points include: |
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12:30pm |
Lunch |
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1:30pm |
The Agile Board: Governance versus Operations This session explores practical approaches to strengthening governance and supporting long-term organisational success. It includes: Dee Hardy, Chair, Australian Counselling Association |
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2:10pm |
Building Future-Ready Industries: Workforce, Skills and Innovation Industry associations play a key role in addressing workforce challenges and building industry capability. Drawing on TMAA’s experience, this session explores practical approaches to workforce development and advocacy. Key points covered include: |
| 2:40pm |
Roundtable Discussion: The Biggest Challenges Facing Industry Associations This interactive discussion provides an opportunity for delegates to share experiences, challenges, and practical solutions across key areas affecting industry associations, including membership growth, advocacy, board governance, technology adoption, and financial sustainability. Participants will gain insights from peers and explore approaches to navigating common challenges facing the sector. |
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3:00pm |
Afternoon Tea |
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3:30pm |
The Future of Industry Associations: Leading Through Change Industry associations must continually reassess their relevance, member value and long-term sustainability. This session explores how associations can adapt to change, strengthen advocacy and remain influential. Discussion points include: |
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3:55pm |
Closing Remarks & Prize Draw |
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4:00pm |
End of Summit |
Member Registrations: $550 
Non-Member Registrations: $750 (NFP only)
Buy One, Get One Free: Simply add the code ‘2ndFOC’ when registering to avail our limited time offer.
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.
Venue Sponsor
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
All the capability and technology needed for any kind of meeting, backed by BCEC’s 30 years of experience and depth of industry knowledge. Choose from purpose-built meeting facilities for conferences of 150 - 600 pax, or any of our 44 meeting rooms and plenary facilities for 8,000. If you are considering Brisbane for a future rotation of your conference, we would love to help.
Silver Sponsor
2 Dam Creative
Bronze Sponsor
Zentso
Zentso help membership organisations, associations and unions get strategic value from their tech and data investments, and to evolve digitally. We’re trusted iMIS partners and have a catalogue of award-winning add-ons that help you achieve your goals with clicks-not-code. Many associations don't get meaningful ROI from their technology because they’re stuck in a cycle of reactive support, spending too much money and effort maintaining legacy systems and technical debt. That’s why we created Digital Success, a programme designed to focus on technology returns and achieving strategic goals.
Moreton Hire
Moreton Hire is Australia’s leading exhibition and event supplier. With the most expansive and diverse range available, they service business and special events nationwide. Their complete products and services offering includes; marquees, furniture hire, linen, expo stands, custom fabrication, signage, audio visual, lighting, catering equipment, displays and event design.
SPEAKERS
Martin Stirling, Chief Executive Officer, Master Grocers Australia (MGA)
Martin Stirling is CEO of Master Grocers Australia, the national industry association representing thousands of small and independent businesses across the grocery, liquor, timber and hardware sectors. A lawyer and business leader, he has held senior roles across private practice, government and the not-for-profit sector. He has represented small and independent businesses before governments, parliamentary inquiries, courts and the Fair Work Commission, leading advocacy on industrial relations, competition, retail crime, illicit markets, payments and regulatory reform. As CEO, Martin combines organisational leadership and governance experience with direct exposure to the pressures facing independent businesses. He brings strong government and industry networks, legal and economic expertise, media experience and a record of translating frontline business problems into practical policy and regulatory outcomes. Martin is committed to ensuring Australia's small and independent businesses are heard early, taken seriously and treated fairly in national policy debates, supporting competition, investment, employment and sustainable growth.
Zara Lowien, Chief Executive Officer, National Irrigators' Council
Zara Lowien is a water policy leader with deep expertise in advocacy, strategy, and navigating complex regulatory environments, including at a national level. Zara is CEO of NIC, a role she has held since early 2024, bringing with her 13 years of experience as Executive Officer of the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association, where she led water policy strategy, risk management, and research and extension programs. She earlier worked in Natural Resource Management with the NSW Government and in consulting. Zara reshaped NIC, as interim CEO and continued this program as CEO, refocusing the organisation's strategy including sharpening what drives member value, reflected in a membership restructure to future proof the organisation. This has led to organisation growth as well as, improved credibility and a stronger, informed industry voice. Zara holds a Honours degree in Land and Water Science from the University of Sydney, is a graduate of the Peter Cullen Trust, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She lives in Bellata in North-West NSW, where her husband's family have a mixed farming business.
Steve Telburn, Director, Exercise and Sports Science Australia
Steve is a board director at Exercise and Sports Science Australia, where he chairs the Audit, Financial and Risk Committee. He has served as a non-executive director for ten years across the allied health, aged care and technology sectors. Steve leads Secret Sauce, an AI advisory firm that helps boards and leadership teams understand AI, govern its use and balance emerging risks with commercial opportunities. He has guided more than 50 small and medium-sized organisations to adopt AI, including redesigning workflows, and developing AI-enabled tools and products. As a Venture Partner at Antler, a global early-stage venture capital firm and the world’s most active investor in AI startups, Steve also brings direct insight into emerging technologies and the risks and opportunities they are creating. Earlier in his career, Steve served as CEO of several technology companies commercialising emerging technologies, including AI and telecommunications.
Matthew Bereni, Chief Executive Officer, Traffic Management Association of Australia
Matthew Bereni is the Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic Management Association of Australia (TMAA), the national peak body representing the temporary traffic management sector across some 30,000 workers, contributing an estimated $2 billion to the Australian economy. Over three years at the helm, Matthew has driven strong growth for TMAA, expanding membership, building robust operating surpluses, and elevating the association's influence with government. Under his leadership, TMAA has broadened its policy advocacy, workforce development initiatives, and industry recognition programmes, including the association's Excellence Awards. Matthew's professional background is in civil and transport engineering, having previously worked with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB/NTRO). Matthew is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors,
Phil Buckley, Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Timber Flooring Association
Phil Buckley is CEO of the Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA), representing more than 1,000 member businesses across Australia and New Zealand. With a background as a timber flooring installer, business owner and industry inspector, Phil brings a practical commercial perspective to association leadership. Since joining ATFA as CEO, he has focused on strengthening member value, improving operational efficiency and developing sustainable revenue streams that support the Association’s long-term objectives. His work has included expanding industry training and events, reforming ATFA’s national inspection service, developing new member benefits, strengthening technical and industry programs, and reviewing how associations can better use their existing expertise, services and networks to generate both member value and sustainable income. Phil’s approach is centred on ensuring associations remain relevant, commercially sustainable and genuinely useful to the industries they represent.
Carly Irving-Dolan, Executive General Manager, Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland
Carly Irving-Dolan is an experienced executive leader whose career has been defined by delivering meaningful outcomes for people, organisations, and communities. She began in early childhood education, and that grounding continues to shape a lasting commitment to environments where children, families, and educators can flourish. Carly's leadership has since spanned the energy, transport, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors, while she has maintained strong ties to the ECEC sector through mentoring emerging leaders and serving on the TSAC Board. Across community-based and large corporate environments alike, she has guided organisations through growth, transformation, and change — lifting business performance, transforming customer experience, and building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders along the way. A passionate advocate for high-quality early learning and care, Carly is recognised for bringing diverse groups together to solve complex challenges. Outside work, she is a proud mother of two and grandmother of three — a personal connection that reinforces her commitment to giving every child the strong foundations they need to succeed.
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.
Kathy Nguyen, Managing Lawyer / Head of Operations, 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.
