Sydney, NSW, 23 October 2026, for immediate release.

Associations Forum has released the findings of the 2026 Association Board Survey, with 247 Australian associations and charities participating.

Conducted annually since 2008, the Association Board Survey provides a benchmark for understanding trends in association governance and Board composition. The survey offers valuable insights into Board structures, practices and priorities across Australian associations and charities.

As leading providers of governance training and advisory services, Associations Forum has identified the following key findings from this year’s survey:

• The size of Australian boards represented in the survey was slightly smaller in 2026. The average number of directors decreased to 8.5 from 8.9 in 2025, while the median decreased from nine to eight.

• Gender representation on boards was almost equal. Women now represent 49.6% of directors, up from 48.1% in 2025.

• Directors’ fees were paid by 15.0% of respondents, down from 16.2% in 2025.

• The CEO/Head of Staff undertook the Company Secretary/Public Officer role in 46.0% of organisations, while 8.1% outsourced the role. Overall, 48.6% reported that the role holder had formal qualifications.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Our Cat Herder for sponsoring the Association Board Survey 2025. Associations Forum and Governology would also like to thank all the organisations and individuals who invested their valuable time to complete this survey.

The Report is free for Associations Forum members or can be purchased for $200 (by NFP organisations only) by contacting the team at info@associations.net.au.

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About Associations Forum 

Associations Forum is one of Australia’s largest network of associations with over 500 members. Its mission of “bringing associations together to boost performance” is achieved through delivering information, training and advice. 

Media Contact

For enquiries regarding this release, contact:  
Duyen Cao, Marketing & Communications Officer,
duyen@associations.net.au
T: +61 2 9904 8200.