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A Message from the IAP2A Chair and CEO

Tony Clark, Chair and Marion Short, Chief Executive Officer

The last 12 months have seen one of the greatest global challenges our generation has faced. Borders have closed, industries shut down and people’s lives and livelihood threatened by COVID-19.

As a member-focused organisation our priority has been to support the most important people. You, our members.

Like so many organisations in Australia, and globally, IAP2 was dramatically affected with our core business of face-to-face activities – including member events, conferences, professional development and training – suddenly halted.

I am immensely proud to report that IAP2 has not only faced these challenges head on, but has stepped up and focused on how we support our members by shifting to forge and set the benchmark through innovation, hard work and embracing engagement and collaboration.

Following the election of the new board in October 2019, and the completion of the 2019 IAP2A Community Survey, IAP2A’s priorities were to:

  • Accelerate our Advocacy Strategy
  • Build Local Area Networks, and
  • Develop a post-nominals program

Of course, late 2019 and early 2020 saw the devastating bushfires throughout Australia. IAP2 put out the call to the engagement community, and you responded generously with resources to share and offers of pro-bono support. Read more on page 10 in the Annual Report.

COVID-19 surfaced in March 2020, and the world changed. The Board took the bold decision to effectively move to a war footing, focusing all resources on shifting our business to deal with this challenge which had no end date. I cannot complement the Board, Trainers and staff of IAP2 enough for their courage, determination and hard work to ensure that IAP2 survived, and I am proud to say, now thriving. There can be no better example of when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Read more about our COVID-19 hub on page 11 of the Annual Report.

By May 2020 the first digital training was launched in IAP2 Learn – our new virtual facilitated classroom – and was quickly embraced by members (read more on page 28 of the Annual Report). In addition, member events and webinars were also made available online. If we can look for a silver lining in the pandemic cloud, it is that IAP2A training and member services are now even more accessible and affordable.

COVID-19 meant that strategic priorities agreed on earlier were put on hold, but the good news is that growing confidence in IAP2A’s ability to remain sustainable and serve our members means that we expect to deliver on the post-nominal project and continue to accelerate the implementation of the Advocacy Strategy in the next 12 months.

With the progress of the Global Harmonisation Project of IAP2 Training well underway, the future for IAP2 is looking bright. Marion Short headshot

 Our thanks

The significant progress made over the past year would not   have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Board members. Thank you to Tony Clark (Chair), Mandi Davidson (Deputy Chair), Lance Brooks, Kylie Cochrane, Nathan Connors, Amy Hubbard, Joel Levin, Allen Rodwell, Penny Townley and Jo Wilkins. A special thank you to Mandi Davidson and Allen Rodwell who step down from the board, we  appreciate and value your hard work, knowledge and contributions made during your time served as directors.

Many thanks also to the vast number of members who volunteer their time as Ambassadors, Core Values Awards Judges, IAP2A Research Working Group and other working group members.

Thank you to the IAP2 Trainers who contribute to the ongoing success of IAP2 through strengthening and advancing the practice, and our Local Networks and Communities of Practice for their work into building and strengthening member networks.

A sincere thank you is extended to organisations who have sponsored and partnered with IAP2 Australasia on important initiatives and projects throughout the year. Thank you to our Chief Executive Officer, Marion Short and the IAP2 Australasia team for their dedication, enthusiasm and hard work in supporting IAP2 Australasia to achieve a great deal in 2019-2020.

Tony Clark, Chair, IAP2 Australasia | Marion Short, Chief Executive Officer, IAP2 Australasia