ASSOCIATIONS FORUM NATIONAL CONFERENCE
In my first leadership role within the associations sector, the conference provided me with an excellent understanding of the key issues and how others are approaching them, as well as the opportunity to meet and network with my peers. I will attending the next conference, and encouraging my leadership team to attend too.
Susan Davidson- Australian Diabetes Educators Association
Peter J. O'Neil, CEO, American Society for Industrial Security International, Washington DC
Peter J. O'Neil, FASAE, CAE, is the Chief Executive Officer of ASIS International, the largest global membership organisation for security management professionals that crosses industry sectors, embracing every discipline along the security spectrum from operational to cybersecurity. O’Neil, an accomplished association management executive, joined ASIS in January of 2016, bringing a broad scope of strategic leadership experience and business acumen. Prior to joining ASIS, O’Neil served as CEO of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), an international professional society representing occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. He is past Chairman of the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) and the ASAE Foundation, and he has served on numerous committees and boards throughout his twenty-seven years of association leadership.
Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group
Innes Willox is Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, a leading industry organisation representing businesses in a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, construction, transport, Defence, ICT and labour hire. Innes was appointed Chief Executive in May 2012. Innes is Deputy Chair of Australian Super, Chair of the Migration Council of Australia, and President of the Global Business Coalition. Prior to joining AiGroup in 2008 he served as the Australian Consul General to Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008, Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, from 2004 to 2006 and earlier was Manager of Global Public Affairs for Singapore Airlines based in Singapore (2000-04). Innes began his career as a journalist. His positions included Chief of Staff at The Age newspaper in Melbourne and Chief Political Correspondent for The Age in Canberra.
Zena Burgess, CEO, Australian Psychological Society
Dr Zena Burgess has a doctorate in psychology and is registered as a clinical and organisational psychologist. Dr Burgess holds a Master of Business Administration and Education, is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has worked in health for over two decades, delivering front line services to regional and urban communities.
Dr Burgess is currently CEO of the Australian Psychological Society and focuses on system-wide linkage of mental health outcomes through reform of psychology service delivery. Dr Burgess has a reputation for leadership during periods of change and is committed to health equity through a social determinant’s framework. She has been a member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT), the Victorian Disability Review Board and the Victorian Psychologists Registration Board. Dr Burgess is currently a Director on the Board of Victorian Farmers Federation and Bully Zero.
Stephen Durkin, CEO, Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy
Stephen is the CEO of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Since being appointed CEO in May 2017, the AusIMM has embarked on a major reform to be a more contemporary, inclusive and externally focused organisation. Stephen has extensive experience in association management and business leadership as both an Executive and Director. Stephen has been named on several occasions as one of Australia's 100 most influential engineers and was Monash University Civil Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2014. He has been on the Prime Minister's Taskforce on Industry 4.0 and is a Victorian Government Club Melbourne Ambassador. Before joining the AusIMM, Stephen was CEO of Engineers Australia for five years, leading the 100,000-member association through a widely-applauded transformation that saw a new National Engineering Register and a ten-fold increase in EA's media profile.
Dr Daniel Mulino, Federal Member for Fraser, Australian Parliament
Representing the Australian Labor Party, Dr Daniel Mulino was elected to the Australian Parliament at the 2019 Federal Election as the first Member for Fraser, a new electorate in Melbourne’s growing western suburbs. Daniel is an economist by profession, with degrees from the ANU and University of Sydney and a doctorate from Yale University. He has lectured at Monash University and was economic adviser to the Minister for Financial Services in the previous federal Labor Government. Before entering the Australian Parliament, Daniel served the Victorian community as a member of the Victorian Parliament. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer between 2014 and 2018. Working closely with the Treasurer, Daniel helped deliver major new infrastructure projects across Victoria and developed innovative new financing structures for community projects.He is a member of the House of Representatives Economics Committee and the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth.
Ken Griffin, CEO, Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association
Ken has more than 20 years of marketing, communications and government affairs experience in the healthcare, not-for-profit, pharmaceutical, beverage and logistics sectors. He has held multiple leadership roles and directed high-profile campaigns for large companies, patient groups and industry organisations.
Ann Davey, CEO, Massage & Myotherapy Australia
Ann Davey is the CEO of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, the leading not-for-profit association and peak body for Massage, Remedial Massage and Myotherapy, spanning Australia nationwide with a membership of over 8,600 professionally qualified practitioners. With over 20 years of leadership experience across NFP, university and commercial organisations, Ann holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Human Resources and Administration Management. Whilst Ann has worked at the Association for over a decade, she took up the role of CEO in April 2020, at the height of the first wave of COVID-19.
Jodie Long, CEO, Australasian Sonographers Association
Anja Nikolic, CEO, Australian Physiotherapy Association
Anja Nikolic is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), the peak body for the physiotherapy profession in Australia, representing the interests of 39,000 physiotherapists and their patients.
Prior to becoming the CEO, Anja held a number of leadership positions at the APA in marketing, membership and professional development. Anja was also the General Manager of Professional Development at CPA Australia, one of the largest international membership bodies for the accounting profession, and was responsible for an $18m revenue operation.
Lindsay McGrath, CEO, Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia
Philip Armstrong, CEO, Australian Counselling Association
Dianne Dayhew, CEO, National Apprentice Employment Network
Dianne Dayhew is the CEO of the National Apprentice Employment Network (or NAEN), the member body representing the network of group training organisations that employs some 25,000 apprentices and trainees around Australia. Dianne spent more than six years with the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council, first as the NSW ITAB contract manager for construction and property services and then as the General Manager of Policy. She later worked for high-profile organisations such as SOCOG, SPOC (for the Paralympics), and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she was a Senior Executive in the Human Resources Division.
Dianne commenced her CEO role with NAEN in late 2018. The Associations Forum awarded NAEN the 2021 External Campaign of the Year Award for effective campaigning for apprentice employment. Her advocacy work has led to regular news media appearances and radio, online and print media interviews.
Michelle Blicavs, CEO, Association of Consulting Surveyors
Nello Marino, CEO, Australian Podiatry Association
Hilary Shelton, CEO, Australian Council for Health, Physical Education & Recreation
David Jenkins, CEO, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
John Winter, CEO, Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association
John took on the role of CEO of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (formerly the Insolvency Practitioners Association) in February 2014. He was previously the Head of ACCA Australia and New Zealand. ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, is the global body for professional accountants with close to 600,000 members and students throughout 183 countries.
Prior to taking on the role as Head of ACCA ANZ, John worked as a senior marketing and communications professional across the recruitment industry, membership organisations and the banking and finance sector. John was also previously Director of Communications for the NSW Rural Fire Service – an organisation with 69,000 volunteer members. He was also, separately, a director of the NSW Rural Fire Service Association. He has an extensive background in media including having been a weekly columnist in major metropolitan newspapers and, for several years, regularly appeared on the news review program The Paul Murray Show on Sky News.
Scott Williams, Chair, General Practice Registrars Australia
Scott Williams is the CEO of Police Health, caring for both the Police and Emergency Services community. Scott has worked within the healthcare industry for 28 years, having commenced his career as a Registered Nurse and holding many clinical and management roles in both the community and hospital setting. Scott has also held a variety of senior executive roles within public and private health across both Australia and the United Kingdom.
Scott is currently serving as a Director on the Adelaide Primary Health Network, Chair of General Practice registrars Australia and member of the iFHP Clinical Effectiveness & High Cost Drugs Expert Panel.
John Bruning, CEO, Australasian College of Paramedicine
Executive and business leader with more than 20 years of experience and success across the not-for-profit sector having worked in a variety of national, state, and local roles in sport and health.
John has led the College of Paramedicine since 2013, initially as General Manager of the Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedicine, and now as CEO of the Australasian College of Paramedicine. The College is the peak professional body representing and supporting more than 10,000 paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and New Zealand. The College champions the role of paramedics in emergency, urgent and primary care, with a commitment to enhancing patient-centred care.
James Goodwin, CEO, Australian Airports Association
James Goodwin was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Airports Association in June 2020. Prior to this, Mr Goodwin was the Chief Executive of Australia’s leading vehicle safety advocate, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) since 2015. Before joining ANCAP, Mr Goodwin held the position of Director – Government Relations & Communications at the Australian Automobile Association and held a high-profile senior community and corporate affairs position at AirServices Australia.
A former journalist and news presenter, James worked for major network news outlets in Sydney and Canberra including several years in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Jon Bisset, CEO, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
Jon is passionate about associations having spent more than 30 years as a Chief Executive and non-executive director. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) who’s members broadcast to over 5 million listeners per week; CEO for RPH Australia, the peak body for the Radio Reading Network, community media empowering Australians with a print disability; and Chair of the Local and Independent News Association, a recently established association providing support to hyperlocal publishers. Jon is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Shenal Basnayake, CEO, Australian Science Teachers Association
Shenal is CEO of the Australian Science Teacher Association, a federation representing the interests of school science educators. Shenal has held diverse roles in Australia and overseas. Shenal spent over a decade in regional Australia, with the bulk in Northern Australia supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, farming, mining, and tourism communities. Shenal holds a number of Board roles and was the founder and inaugural Chair of Young Shipping Australia - Australia’s only young professionals network in the maritime sector. Shenal has a number of degrees and is an Australian Institute of Company Directors NFP sector scholarship recipient.
Geoff Gwilym, CEO, Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce
Geoff Gwilym is the Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and brings with him a long history and expertise in the automotive industry. While initially gaining his automotive body trade qualifications in the UK, Geoff went on to become a qualified teacher, achieved a master’s degree in education and proceeded to manage large curriculum and commercial projects in the TAFE sector.
Geoff has managed large training provisions in industry, and this has led to him holding a central role in the development of automotive qualifications and skills forecasting for the automotive industry. More recently Geoff has been a key driver in national industry policy initiatives including advocating for a new mandated code for access to vehicle repair information, a new code, or additions to the national franchise code, to better protect new car dealerships, and improved code protections for body repairers in their engagement with insurers.
Michelle Rose, CEO, Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia
It all started with a Degree in Hotel Management and then working my way through different hotel departments until I jumped to the other side. I worked in the events industry as a Professional Conference Organiser and then as a Deputy Executive Officer in my current organisation, Association of Rotational Moulders Australia (ARMA). With over 20 years of experience, thousands of delegates, sponsorship in the millions and over 18 countries, I have organised conferences, exhibitions, masterclasses, and study tours.
At the start of 2021 I stepped into the role of CEO and Company Secretary of ARMA.
Kym de Britt, CEO, Australian Dental Industry Association
Kym is an experienced Executive with a proven track record across the hospitality, not for profit, and franchise industries. Kym has a wealth of business; financial and strategic planning knowledge combined with extensive operational experience and currently runs three of the largest oral health exhibitions in Australia.
Judith Fox, CEO, Stockbrokers and Investment Advisers Association
Judith Fox is CEO of the Stockbrokers and Investment Advisers Association (SIAA), representing professionals providing securities and investment advice, execution services and equity capital-raising for Australian investors. Prior to this she was CEO of the Australian Shareholders’ Association (ASA), representing retail investors. Judith has extensive experience in capital markets and corporate governance and developed a body of guidance on good governance practice when head of policy at Governance Institute of Australia. She has been a member of the ASX Corporate Governance Council since 2005 and was named one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence for her work in public policy in 2014.
Shaughn Morgan, Co-CEO, eastAUSmilk
Shaughn is an experienced leader & manager, having been involved in the not for profit and corporate sector for over 30 years. Currently, he is the co-CEO of the recently merged Farmers Group of NSW based Dairy Connect and Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation to form eastAUSmilk (with core values of 'Advocacy', 'Unity' and 'Service' as illustrated by the 'AUS' in its name). Key skills and attributes range from corporate governance, policy, advocacy, stakeholder and media engagement to current positions on Boards and external committees. His previous leadership roles have included CEO of NSW Farmers Association and Dairy Connect; government and community engagement with AGL Energy and GR firm Barton Deakin; as well as senior roles at the NSW Law Society. Shaughn is legally qualified and continues to hold a current practising certificate. He was also Senior Policy Adviser to the NSW Attorney General, building an understanding of government public policy and political engagement.
David Helmers, Executive Officer, Australian Men’s Shed Association
Employed initially by Catholic Care Newcastle as the Coordinator for the Shed at Windale in 2006 for a 12-month term. 15 years later, David has dedicated his career to developing the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA). Creating an Association to collectively represent Men’s Sheds National and freely share information between sheds was conceived at the 2nd National Conference in Manly 2007. Since then, AMSA has grown from strength to strength to what is now the largest Men’s Association in the country. David has represented AMSA and the Men's Shed movement at all levels of government both here in Australia and abroad. An estimated 3000 Men's Sheds operating in 12 different countries are based on this uniquely Australian concept. David continues to pursue the further development of Men's Sheds. He advocates for social health and the prevention of social isolation that many men are vulnerable to following the loss of employment.
Deb Hull, Executive Officer, History Teachers Association of Victoria
Deb has always worked in education, and she is currently the Executive Officer of the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria (HTAV), the President of the Council of Professional Teaching Associations in Victoria, and a Director of the Australian Professional Teachers’ Association. Previous roles include Director of Learning at Ormond College (University of Melbourne), independent strategy and evaluation consultant to the education sector, and multiple positions in the Department of Education and Training. Deb has a PhD in History and a deep interest in organisational leadership and culture. In recent years, the buoyant, resilient, and positive culture of the HTAV Board and staff has enabled transformations in membership numbers, income generation, governance, financial systems and reporting, workplace flexibility, event management, publishing, online retail services, IT, communications, and consultancy.
Warwick Vale, President, Australian Veterinary Association
Jocelyn Martin, Chief Executive - Business Services, Housing Industry Association
Louise Wightman, Chair, Maternal, Child & Family Health Nurses Australia
Louise currently works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her prior career was Midwife, and Child and Family Health Nurse in a variety of regional, rural and remote nursing and community services in QLD and WA before moving to NSW in 2008. Louise has a keen interest in research related to parenting, education and the health and wellbeing of families and is currently enrolled in a PhD at Flinders University, SA.
Matthew Fisher, Former CEO, Australian Chiropractors Association
Matthew is described by colleagues as an astute and transformational leader of people and organisations. This capability has been demonstrated in a variety of organisations including most recently at the Australian Chiropractors Association where he restructured the entity from a federation to a national business. During his tenure, he dealt with many complex issues and proudly implemented the inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan of the Association which was launched in 2019. Matthew resigned as CEO in late January 2022 after 7 1/2 years in the role. All businesses have benefitted from sustainable improvements in strategy, systems, reputation, financial performance, and operations. Colleagues describe Matthew as having an ability to enhance an organisational vision and outcomes by bringing people along a journey of collective and individual achievement. He has attended both Harvard and London Business Schools for executive education and is a member of the AICD. Matthew gained a PhD from Deakin University and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University where he was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Health Studies for his work with the University in improving regional healthcare services.
Christina Yiakkoupis, Chair of the Board of Directors, National Association of Women in Construction
Christina has been involved in NAWIC since 2011 at a QLD chapter level. In 2017 she was elected to the National Board of Directors and became the Chair in 2022. Christina has worked in construction for over 10 years having entered the industry as a Graduate Engineer. She is passionate about making young girls aware that construction is an industry they should consider for a career and making their pathway more accessible. She also loves to celebrate the amazing achievements and hearing the stories of women and the men and organisations that support them in this ever-changing industry.
Chris Champion, Secretary General, International Federation of Municipal Engineering
Chris Champion was CEO of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) for 15 years from the year 2000. He then established IPWEA’s international business including appointment as Founding Executive Chair of its NFP Affiliate, NAMS Canada. Chris was appointed Secretary General of the International Federation of Municipal Engineering in 2015. He capped off his engineering and association professional career as Board Chair, Director, and National President of Engineers Australia. Chris has had a career-long interest in using technology to grow and engage membership.
Clare Murphy, Human Resources Director, EACH (Community Health)
Clare Murphy is the Director of Human Resources at EACH, a not-for-profit social and community health organisation that provides an integrated range of health, disability, counselling, and community mental health services across Australia. EACH operates across 70 sites and has a comprehensive range of services that address physical, mental, and psychosocial needs at a community and primary care level, and we are committed to integrated and coordinated service provision.
Clare is a strategic, results driven Human Resources professional with 20 years’ experience in a range of industries, including social and community health, hospitals, education, hospitality and legal. Clare is a Fellow and Certified Practitioner of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and holds a Masters of HR Management. Clare was the winner of the AHRI Dave Ulrich HR Leader of the Year Award and a recipient of the AHRI medal for service to the industry.
Damian Falkingham, General Manager - Industry Engagement, Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance
Geoff Barbaro, Executive Manager, Industry Engagement, Skills Impact
Geoff is Executive Manager, Stakeholder Engagement with Skills Impact. Skills Impact works on skills, education and training standards with the agribusiness, food, and fibre industries. He worked on the development of the Agricultural Workforce Digital Capability Framework and is currently contributing to the pilot of the VET digital capability framework. He holds a Graduate Certificate in eLearning and has worked in education with associations, universities, and VET. He has previously been a CEO and Board member of associations and developed education frameworks and eLearning plans for professional member organisations.
Ariel Tate, Marketing & Communications Manager, Australian Chiropractors Association
Chris Dayson, Manager, CPD Events, Australian HR Institute
Josie Gruber, Marketing & Sales Manager, International Association for Public Participation Australasia
Adrian Plumb, Director - Corporate Services, Australian Airports Association
Adrian Plumb has held senior finance positions in the private sector across a range of industries including infrastructure, higher education and more recently in the not-for-profit association space. Adrian brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of financial management and corporate governance. At the Australian Airports Association (AAA), Adrian has been tasked with reinvigorating the Association’s finances and modernising the constitution to ensure the AAA remains relevant and sustainable and setting itself up to be COVID confident into the future.
Sarah Stedman, Director Membership and Professional Services, Australasian College of Dermatologists
Julie Hood, Director Membership Relations & Events, Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Julie is responsible for ensuring APPEA delivers maximum engagement and information sharing for its members. She also directs the APPEA events team, delivering top-quality oil and gas industry events, directing the flagship APPEA Conference & Exhibition since 2001. The APPEA Conference is the largest upstream event of its type in the southern hemisphere – attracting over 2500 attendees each year. Prior to APPEA, Julie’s background was operations – primarily for 5 years with the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on the floor and then as an Event Manager.
Deb Foreman, General Manager, Australian Culinary Federation
Deb is the second longest serving member on the ACF board having held several positions, including appointment as treasurer in 2003. In 2009 Deb was employed as the ACF Office Manager part time and since December 2012 full time as the Secretary / General Manager. Deb manages and coordinates the day-to-day aspects of the association office including the membership and marketing. She coordinates all the national events, conferences and competitions & has been the director of The Nestle Golden Chefs Hat Award since 2009. With an illustrious career as a chef, Deb has worked in establishments ranging from cafes to 5-star restaurants and kitchens throughout Australia. In 2018 in Kuala Lumpur at the Worldchefs Congress Deb was awarded the Presidents Medal from Worldchefs President Thomas Gugler in recognition of her services to the industry.
Susan Davies, Project and Communications Officer, Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association
Elaine Abery, Principal, Unravelling Red Tape
Elaine has worked in and closely with the Associations sector since 2000. In 2011, she left the Federal Government and worked for the Property Council of Australia, then as General Manager, Strategic Policy at Private Healthcare Australia before setting up Unravelling Red Tape to help a broader base of clients with government relations, policy, and advocacy. Before that, she worked in law design at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), conducting regular consultations with the associations sector.
Elaine is passionate about working with associations and government to inform and improve government decision-making and create win-win-win solutions… a win for the industry/profession, a win for government and a win for the Australian community.
Dr Joe Power, Immediate Past President, Australasian Society of Medical Perfusion
Joe is a specialist anaesthetist with a special interest in Cardiac anaesthesia and medical perfusion (the operation of a heart lung machine). He is the immediate past president of the Australasian Society of Medical Perfusion and has in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, developed an online training course for medical perfusion. He also has extensive experience dealing with the Department of Health in relation to issues in volving perfusion. Currently he is a VMO anaesthetist working as part of the Wesley Anaesthesia and Pain Management Group in Brisbane.
Guest Speaker: Jelena Dokic, Former Professional Tennis player, TV Commentator and Author