From the CEO February – writing the pages of 2019
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day”
Edith Lovejoy Pierce
2019.
IAP2 Australasia turns the page to a fresh new year with much anticipation. The pages are yet to be written, but the story beginning to unfold appears to be one of growth, freshness and change.
We start 2019 with a new Board of Directors, a new International Change Project underway, new partnerships, new courses and programs, new networking opportunities, new member survey results to analyse and share, and so much more.
Our Member Relationship Manager, Michelle Caruso, shares an update on what we are up to in the areas of advocacy work, member services, research and how you can connect with IAP2 Australasia and members in 2019.
This week many are celebrating Chinese New Year – the Year of the Pig – which the Chinese Zodiac tells us is a time of joy, luck, good fortune, celebration and success in all areas of life. A year where projects come to fruition and we are rewarded with the results of the hard work of recent years.
Perhaps you will be rewarded in 2019 with an IAP2 Australasia Core Values Award! Entries are now open for our flagship awards program which recognise and encourage projects and organisations that are at the forefront of community and stakeholder engagement.
It is back -to-school time for many, and our Professional Development Manager, Fran Morris, reveals interesting learnings shared by those in the education sector during recent IAP2A courses.
Sometimes before we can create a new beginning, we need first to have an ending. Lachlan McKenzie from Transport for NSW – and a certified IAP2 practitioner – writes how effective engagement helped close a train linebefore undertaking a major upgrade. (And he also explains why Kenny Rogers is relevant to IAP2!)
The theme of new beginnings will continue throughout 2019 on as we celebrate Matariki – the Maori New Year –at the 2019 IAP2 New Zealand Symposium in Christchurch in July. Exploring new growth and new beginnings, IAP2 Australasia is welcoming abstracts for this event until 15 February.
Speaking of events, you will definitely want to pop these dates in your diary now – 29-31 October will see the 2019 IAP2 Australasia Conference in Sydney. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
Finally, we have another reason to celebrate this year: IAP2 Australasia turns 21! Throughout 2019 we will share retrospective stories, interviews and memories from the last twenty one years. I wonder how much has changed? And what themes remain? If you unearth any photos or memories of IAP2A past events, courses or happenings, please do send them on. We would love to show case them. Email info@iap2australasia.org.au.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and I hope to connect with you personally at some point in 2019.