From the CEO April – filling the pages
“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress”
Barack Obama.
In my article at the start of this year, I considered 2019 to be a fresh notebook with pages yet to be filled.
Well, with April underway I can report back that IAP2 Australasia has certainly filled several pages. It has been an incredibly busy few months, and with enormous thanks to our many member groups, we are making great progress in a number of areas:
Member Survey Report
Our Research Group are crunching the numbers and analysing all member recommendations, comments and feedback from our recent Member Survey which has already begun to inform our Strategic Review. The Member Survey provided some interesting insights – of those who responded:
- 65% have been working for five or more years in engagement
- 56% are from state and local government
- 56% are working in public administration and safety; and construction and engineering
- 50% were from New South Wales and Victoria
- 72% were likely to recommend IAP2 Australasia products and services
Stay tuned as we will release more complete findings soon. The report will also guide our leadership team who at this time are finalising business plans and budgets for the next financial year to support new and existing projects for members.
Strengthening Engagement Networks
The Young and Emerging Professionals have hit the ground running, introducing and presenting Lunchbox Learning sessions – with more planned later this year. Our three Communities of Practice groups (Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainability and Emergency Management – an initiative which came out of the winning projects from IAP2A’s Pitch for the Practice meetings are also well underway.
Additionally, advisory and working groups including the Conference Program Working Group, NZ Symposium Working Group and the newly formed Marketing Advisory Group are providing invaluable support to our leadership team to shape our actions in these areas.
Advancing Professional Development
It is now officially our “peak” training season – April, May and June is a busy time for our courses, and if you have been thinking of updating your skills, then now is a great time to take advantage of course offerings in both metro and regional areas.
Despite this busy schedule, our trainers and trainer candidates recently came together in March at a Forum to explore ideas and concepts for current and new course offerings.
Partnership with UNESCAP
IAP2’s partnership with UNESCAP continues, with UNESCAP translating and delivering IAP2 training in Russian in Kazakhstan, with plans to also translate course materials into Laotian and Arabic.
Major Events and Awards
If you haven’t already, it is time to mark the following dates in your diary:
- Entries close 26 April 2019
- Finalists announced late August 2019
- Winners announced 31 October 2019
IAP2 Australasia New Zealand Symposium
- 1-2 July 2019, Christchurch
- Abstracts open soon!
- Conference will be from 29-31 October 2019, Sydney