The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has appointed Dr Vanessa Findlay as the new Independent Chair of the peak industry body. Dr Findlay has a strong background in both the public and private sector, having previously held a number of senior positions including Chief of Staff in the Turnbull government in the trade, tourism and international education portfolios as well as working as a Division Head in the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Dr Findlay…

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Kathy Nguyen, Manager - Client Services  Associations Forum The spread of the novel coronavirus has already impacted all associations around Australia. During these times of rapid change, it is important to be prepared to respond in the best interest for your staff, volunteers and community. 1. Communicating with staff As we are constantly being updated on the situation regarding COVID-19, communicating with your staff and prioritising health…

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Offering Event EngagementTM, a Free Event Community, to Organisations Dealing with the Cancellations of In-Person Events17 March 2020 Higher Logic, the industry-leading SaaS engagement platform of associations and B2B organisations with more than 2.7 billion community interactions annually, announced today that it will offer Event Engagement for free to current and prospective customers facing the challenge of delivering meaningful experiences and engagement…

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The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has released new guidelines for meeting upcoming AGM and financial reporting requirements due to the impacts of COVID-19. For associations that are companies limited by guarantee with December year end, ASIC has confirmed that it: Will take no action if the AGMs are postponed for two months; that is, until the end of July Supports the holding of AGMs using appropriate technology. ASIC…

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The Society of Australian Genealogists has welcomed Ruth Graham as its new Executive Officer. Ms Graham became interested in genealogy when as a child she wondered why there were so few around the table for Christmas dinner and continuous family speculation regarding which women her great-grandfather had actually married. Ms Graham has pursued this interest which has complemented her management roles in academic professional services roles at some of the leading educational…

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By Randall Pearce, Managing Director, THINK: Insight & Advice Many national associations in Australia have a federated governance structure, modelled on the Australian Federation of States and Territories.  However, federal structures are brutal in their simplicity; they assume that all State and Territory Organisations (STOs) want the same rights and obligations from their national counterparts.  In modern-day Australia, nothing could be further from the truth.  In my work with…

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The Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) and the Australasian College of Health Informatics (ACHI) have merged to form the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH). AIDH was officially launched on 24 February 2020, following an 89% positive vote from HISA and ACHI members and Fellows in December 2019.  The new peak body will represent the broad digital health community, including health informaticians, clinicians, researchers and healthcare organisations. Institute…

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Pictured: MIA Chairman Andrew Chapman and MIA CEO Suzanne Davies.  The Marina Industries Association (MIA) has announced the appointment of Suzanne Davies as the next CEO of the MIA. After a thorough recruitment process, Ms Davies was selected based on her high-level business and club marina management track record and her clear vision for the MIA. She will commence in a project role with MIA July 1 and then commence in the CEO role October 1 with current CEO Colin Bransgrove…

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Thursday 5 March marks the occasion of SMC’s Venue Showcase. General Manager Paul Davison and Director of Sales Scott Cooper extend a warm invitation to associations and business events professionals to explore the luxurious interiors of all 13 refreshed event spaces and get a taste of the world-class catering, creativity and customer service excellence for which SMC is renowned.  Running from 4-7pm, attendees can choose to stop by briefly or enjoy the full Venue Showcase with expert guided…

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The SMSF Association has announced the appointment of Andrew Hamilton as its new Chair. Hamilton, who joined the board in February 2011 and was Chair from February 2012 to February 2014, takes over from Robin Bowerman, who will remain on the board as Deputy Chair. Bowerman assumed the Chair in September 2019 after Professor Deborah Ralston stood down (her term was due to end at this conference) to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest after being appointed to the Retirement…

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