Association CEO Index 2024
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Actionable insights for today's Association CEOs – shaping the future of leadership
Commissioned by Bespoken Agency and supported by Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), the Association CEO Index 2024 captures the realities, challenges, and rewards of leadership in a sector that is both demanding and deeply meaningful. From driving significant change for a whole sector to advocating for an entire profession, the role of an association CEO is both diverse and complex.
With this in mind, we felt it was time to get a snapshot of what was keeping our leaders up at night and what was exciting them for the future; sharing key opportunities, threats, trends and the roadmap to attract the next generation of leaders to take up the top job.
Unlock exclusive insights now
Read and download the Association CEO Index 2024 now for a detailed look at today’s leadership challenges and opportunities.
What’s inside the report?
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Critical insights from association CEOs in Australia and New Zealand into economic pressures, talent shortages and the complexities of leadership.
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Engaging in-depth stories from CEOs about what it takes to lead associations today and what tomorrow’s leaders need to know.
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Detailed exploration of key topics including career satisfaction, workplace wellbeing, and advocacy effectiveness.
READ THE REPORT
VOICES FROM THE TOP
Hear what association CEOs have to say
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“As a CEO, you’ve got to be able to answer two questions: why does your association exist and what would happen if it didn’t? If you can keep answering those questions, you will maintain relevance and you will understand your value proposition.”
Rachel Chambers
CEO, QFVG -
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“What really floats my boat, and the reason I have stayed in associations for so long, is that I’m shifting the shape of the Australian economy. That’s incredibly powerful to think about. I wake up every morning and go to work to make the world a better place because of our engagement in public policy.”
Megan Motto
CEO, Governance Institute of Australia -
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“I love building teams. If you enjoy leading and watching people grow and develop and do things they wouldn’t have thought they could do before, associations are incredibly rich places to find those opportunities.”
Graham Catt
CEO, Independent Schools Australia -
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“Younger people are looking very differently at what membership means. They are less inclined to join associations and they are much more transient in their career plans. We need to be adapting to that change and planning and evolving our organisations with a 10-year-plus lens.”
John Winter
CEO, Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) -
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“My biggest values are around family, support, care, respect and helping people. If opportunities arise in your life to do work you love and enjoy, that is true to your values, then it becomes a no-brainer. My work at the association fulfills a lot of my personal values.”
Dr Mo Amso
Chief Executive, New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) -
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“All I ever wanted to be was ‘best in show’ – to be really good at whatever I was doing. I never looked sideways, and I was always laser-focused on being the best I could possibly be. But you’ve got to do it with purpose and love.”
Paul Zahra
Former CEO, Australian Retailers Association -
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“Creativity and strategy are not unlinked.”
Sam Hunter
CEO, Occupational Therapy Australia
Elevate your executive profile
Your executive profile is essential for both your personal brand and your organisation’s success. Bespoken Agency have a strong track record in working closely with association CEOs and executives, expertly positioning them as industry thought leaders with personal profiles that capture their unique voice, personality and expertise.
36%
of association leaders feel that they have a strong and visible media presence.
28%
believe they need a stronger media presence.
Likewise, only half of the CEOs interviewed felt their association was effectively raising the profile of their profession or industry.
Ready to enhance your professional brand and amplify your influence?
Contact us today to strategically elevate your profile and position yourself as a trusted leader.
Want to find out more?
If you have any questions or want to learn more about this project, please feel free to reach out.
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The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) is the leading association for current and future association and not-for-profit (NFP) leaders in Australia and New Zealand. They are focused on fostering a strong and robust association sector in Australia and New Zealand through providing professional development, support and networking opportunities for existing and emerging leaders. As the only not-for-profit, member-based organisation exclusively supporting association professionals in Australia and New Zealand, AuSAE has a unique understanding of the opportunities and challenges association face and utilise this knowledge to strengthen the wider industry.
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Toni Brearley
Chief Executive Officer
The Australasian Society of Association Executives
toni@ausae.org.au -
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Led by former journalists, Bespoken is an integrated agency which covers marketing, engagement and communications. The team has a proud history working with industry associations and their leaders, using media to raise awareness about key issues advocacy teams are highlighting behind closed doors. Our expertise also extends to building the profile of new and current leaders at the helm of the association. Bespoken has worked on membership and national campaigns to raise awareness on key issues facing the membership body of various associations.
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Sarah Morgan
Managing Director
Bespoken Agency
sarah.morgan@bespokenagency.com.au -
This survey was undertaken by Survey Matters. At Survey Matters, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. We collect and use your data only for the purposes of delivering our services, improving user experience, and communicating with you. Your information is stored securely and is not shared with third parties without your consent, except as required by law. For more details, please review our comprehensive Privacy Policy.