In this episode, Olena sits down with Stuart Lamont, CEO of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, to uncover the secrets behind building powerful advocacy and consumer campaigns that drive value for the entire industry. Whether it's holding direct conversations with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, garnering personal support for his campaign from Scott Morrison, or inviting John Howard to speak at his conferences, Stuart seems unstoppable.

His approach reflects a unique mindset: “The answer is always ‘yes’ until it’s ‘no’.” This relentless optimism fuels initiatives like the wildly successful “Road to a Million” campaign on Channel 7, incentivising Australians to explore the outdoors.

Stuart’s approach is refreshingly straightforward: “Give policymakers a reason to fund you. Don’t chase money; chase solutions that make an impact.”

From actionable advice on building authentic relationships with the government to unique member-value strategies, Stuart offers a practical roadmap for association leaders eager to elevate their influence.

This episode is packed with inspiration for those looking to amplify their advocacy, provide real member value, and make a lasting impact on their industry at a national scale.

And if you'd like to hear from Michelle Weston, CEO of the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland on how state associations put consumer-centric strategy into life, listen to our episode #29.

In this episode of the Association Hub Podcast, Olena sits down with Paul Zahra, outgoing CEO of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA). Known for his transformative leadership, Paul reflects on his five-year tenure, where he helped the ARA navigate a turbulent era marked by the COVID pandemic, economic shifts, and changing consumer behavior. He shares insights on the power of community in associations, the importance of understanding diverse member needs, and how tailored resources can drive engagement and value. Paul also offers valuable advice for association leaders on the keys to resilience and strategic growth in a fast-changing landscape.

As Paul moves on to new opportunities, he provides a glimpse into the ARA’s future as it transitions into the Australian Retail Council, a consolidation aimed at enhancing the industry's voice and impact.

Whether you're an association leader or a retail industry professional, Paul's insights on handling change, embracing challenges, and delivering member value make this a must-listen episode.

In this episode of the Association Hub Podcast, Olena chats with Rob Di Leva, Chief Operating Officer at Speech Pathology Australia, to explore the positives and challenges of exponential growth within associations.

Over the past decade, Speech Pathology Australia has doubled its membership, and Rob takes us behind the scenes to discuss the necessary changes driven by the recent remarkable expansion. He'll cover everything from adapting to external factors like the NDIS and increasing public awareness to enhancing internal strategies in advocacy, professional development, and strategic marketing.

While growth is often celebrated, it also brings its fair share of challenges. Rob opens up about the operational pressures that come with rapid scaling, how to manage resources effectively, and the pivotal role technology plays in supporting organisational change.

He also shares his experience balancing forward-thinking leadership with the practicalities of day-to-day management, offering advice on when to take bold steps and when to focus on preparation and risk management.

Rob also emphasises the importance of remaining true to your organisation’s core purpose, even when opportunities for expansion arise.

This episode is packed with actionable advice and thoughtful perspectives for association leaders at any stage of their growth journey. Don’t miss out – listen in, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues!

If you're looking for a leader in the association sector who has tackled it all—rebranding, skyrocketing membership, launching a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), and spearheading advocacy—you won’t find anyone better than Michelle Blicavs.

In this episode of the Association Hub Podcast, Olena chats with Michelle, CEO of Surveyors Australia, about her dynamic journey in transforming a long-standing association into a thriving, forward-thinking organisation. From an ambitious rebrand to hands-on member engagement and securing a seat at the advocacy table in Canberra, Michelle shares her recipe for success. Hear how she grew the association's membership by personally visiting hundreds of organisations across Australia and how that boots-on-the-ground approach led to remarkable growth.

Michelle also opens up about the bold decision to start a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to address Australia’s surveyor skill shortages, despite many peers in the sector advising against it. Plus, learn how she navigated the often daunting world of advocacy, proving that even small associations can have a big voice.

This episode is packed with real-world insights, actionable advice, and stories that showcase the power of passion and perseverance in the association sector.

In this episode of the Association Hub Podcast, Angela Shelton sits down with Nikki Walker, Global VP for Associations & Communities at MCI Group, to dive into the 2024 Association Engagement Index.

This episode dives into how associations can foster deeper connections with their members by moving beyond passive engagement and embracing innovative strategies like the Engagement Loop. Nikki shares actionable tips on personalisation, agile engagement, and multichannel outreach that can transform your association’s approach to strengthen member relationships. Whether you’re aiming to boost participation or drive co-creation, this episode is filled with valuable insights you won’t want to miss!

Connect with Nikki Walker here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-walker-34b8179/

Download the Association Engagement Index (2024) Report here: https://www.mci-associationengagement.com/register

It was International Podcast Day on September 30, and association podcasters from around the globe have come together for an epic mashup! Get ready for a fun, insightful, and slightly chaotic episode where top association podcast hosts share their stories, tips, and a few behind-the-scenes bloopers.

Featuring:

• Cecilia Sepp from Radio Free 501C
• Ben Muscolino from The Association Podcast
• KiKi L'Italien from Association Chat
• Mallory Mejias from Sidecar Sync Podcast
• Vy Le from Humans of Authenticity
• Elisa Pratt from Association Transformation
• David Coriale from Reboot IT
• Mike McAllen, the podcasting expert from Podcasting for Associations
• and of course Olena Lima and Angela Shelton from the Association Hub Podcast

Whether you're already a podcast enthusiast or thinking about starting a podcast for your association, this episode has everything—from inspiration and tech tips to future trends and hilarious bloopers.

Listen in for an engaging chat, unexpected moments, and some expert advice on making your association podcast stand out.

If you would like to learn more about the world of associations, subscribe to the Association Chat Top Pod Playlist on Spotify. Updated weekly, this list brings you the most engaging, insightful, and relevant podcasts from across the association space.

In this episode of the Association Hub Podcast, we look into the critical and often overlooked topic of cybersecurity. As technology continues to evolve, associations, like all businesses, face increasing threats that could jeopardise their operations and the sensitive data they hold.

With special guest Andrew Lawrence from de.iterate, we discuss the most common misconceptions around cybersecurity and explore essential strategies that associations can implement to stay secure. Andrew shares practical insights on fostering a security-first culture, password management, the role of cybersecurity insurance, and much more.

Episode Highlights:

• Cybersecurity Misconceptions
• Common Cybersecurity Mistakes
• Data Protection Best Practices
• Cybersecurity Insurance
• Practical Tools for Associations

Andrew also shared some hands-on tool and checklists you can use for your association's cybersecurity. Find them here: https://deiterate.com/data-privacy-cyber-security-for-associations/

Listen in and arm yourself with the knowledge to keep your organisation and your data safe - this episode is packed with expert advice on staying ahead of potential cyber threats!

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Imagine having an AI powerhouse transforming your association. In this episode, I sit down with AI expert Dawid Naude from Pathfindr to explore how AI is revolutionising organisational efficiency. We’ll dive into real-life case studies on CPD transformations, member onboarding, and more, showcasing how AI is streamlining operations and boosting productivity. If you’re ready to see how AI can drive efficiency in your association, this episode is for you.

Find out more about Pathfindr.ai: https://www.pathfindr.ai

Connect with Dawid Naude here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawidnaude/