From the CEO September 2018 – Building a stronger IAP2
“Who you are is what you have been. Who you will be is what you do now.“
Buddha
I’m excited! For two reasons. Firstly, and significantly IAP2 internationally is carving out a vision for the future ‘Building a better organisation together – Our future’ – and I have the privilege of being part of the face-to-face conversations in Victoria, Canada. This happens as I celebrate my first anniversary with IAP2 Australasia (what an eventful year it has been).
As you read this I will be on my way to the IAP2 North American conference being held in Victoria, Canada – together with Kylie Cochrane and Mandi Davidson. Kylie and Mandi are the IAP2 Australasia directors that also serve on the IAP2 International Board, with Kylie being the presiding Chair: www.iap2.org.au/About-Us/Governance. They, together with the Change Committee have been working incredibly hard to build out the strategic recommendations to build a stronger IAP2.
I am looking forward to meeting IAP2 members from around the globe and my counterparts, putting faces to names and learning more about IAP2 internationally, plus I’ve been invited to share ‘how we do things’ in Australasia. It is going to be a full week.
A big agenda item is the discussion and decision around the International Change Project. IAP2 has been going through a critical change journey over the last twelve months. The IAP2 International Board launched a process of re-design to help us articulate and create the organisation we want to be – a sustainable and dynamic international association for engagement professionals. This has been a significant piece of work over a period of time and I would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of the Change Committee Members.
The consultation document that has been shared with IAP2 members around the world for consultation included a promise or guiding principles for the change process and seven key strategic directions with a number of recommendations.
The seven strategic directions are:
- A new model: strong international and strong regions
- Advocacy; advocating for P2/engagement
- Emerging practice; supporting emerging regions and evolving practice
- Member value: members belong to IAP2
- Brand: everyone is a custodian of the IAP2 brand
- Training: more inclusive and more flexible training framework
- Standards of practice: develop and international engagement competency framework
The International Change Project is the next step in building a strong and successful international IAP2, with strong and successful regions. There is still a lot of opportunity to build strategic collaboration to improve outcomes for all our members. To create a seamless member experience and deliver on strategic initiatives that are shared by our members, whether they live in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia – or anywhere else.
There is strong commonality internationally on IAP2 member priorities, which you can see in the IAP2 Australasia Strategic Plan to 30 June 2020.
It is an exciting time and I am looking forward to being part of the journey and making a contribution to creating sustainable and dynamic international association for engagement professionals.
Welcome to new staff
Roger, Caroline and Michelle
It has been a busy month recruiting new staff to support a growing IAP2 Australasia – and we welcome Roger Nicholls and Caroline Buckingham to the team. Plus we have replaced the lovely Cathy Moses with Michelle Caruso.
Roger is our Operations Manager who has come onboard to develop and implement the Business Improvement Plan (BIP). The priorities of the BIP are to improve the member-experience (predominantly online), create efficiencies, improve processes and reduce errors. Roger has a strong background in IT, working within complex stakeholder organisations and is based in Brisbane.
Caroline is a Yorkshire lass and has joined us in Membership Services. She will shortly be taking over our toll-free lines (which are currently answered by an external service provider) and is looking forward to getting to know you all. Caroline will also be supporting me in my role – and works along side me in Brisbane. Caroline and I have just moved into an office in Brisbane – so if you are in town – please come and see us.
Michelle joins us after six years with the NSW Business Chamber where she was the Regional Manager for Sydney Metro. She has the same warm and friendly nature as Cathy and brings significant skills and experience in membership and events; stakeholder engagement; member journey and experience; as well as project management. She is brimming with great ideas and keen to meet our members and help achieve our ambitious Strategic Plan.
I encourage you to join us this year on the Gold Coast for the 2018 Conference: Shake It Up! This year is shaping up to the be the biggest IAP2 Australasia Conference on record if the current number of registrations received are any indication. We will be joined by 50 (that’s right!) speakers over two and a half days and we wll be presenting the 2018 Core Values Awards winners at the Core Values Awards Gala Dinner. Last year we awarded the Organisation the Year Award to Lake Macquarie City Council. You can read the Project Spotlight here.
From time to time we ask our members to take part in community and stakeholder engagement research. This month we invite you to take part in research being carried out by Wendy Sarkissian and Maxine Schleger who are preparing an article for American Planning Association (JAPA) journal in 2019 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Sherry Arnstein’s landmark journal article “A Ladder of Citizen Participation” (1969). Please take a moment to complete the survey.