Association Leaders - Can they make the difference? Changing the traditional leadership model

Following our ongoing theme of "Breakthrough to Excellence" In this session, the panel will discuss the crucial role of leadership in high-performing organisations, particularly within associations. Leadership at all levels of an organisation plays a pivotal role in driving success., fostering a positive work environment, and achieving organisational goals. Our distinguished panel includes an expert on organisational leadership, an experienced Association President and Chief Executive Officer who will share their insights, ideas and experiences on what leaders must do to make a difference. Delegates will also be updated on the latest research on what is effective leadership in Australia. 

Some key points from this session will include: 

• What are the Secrets of Exceptional Leadership: What Defines Great Leaders?  
• Inspiring Change - Personal stories of Association leadership from our panel members.  
• Understand your own leadership style and how you can make a difference ? 

Professor Peter Gahan - University of Melbourne

Peter Gahan is Professor of Management at the University of Melbourne and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Workplace Leadership, where he was Foundation Director from 2012 to 2017.

He has previously held academic and visiting positions at UNSW, Monash,  University of South California, The European University Institute, Cardiff Business School, New York University and Stockholm Business School.

Professor Gahan has also worked as a senior public servant as Director of Workplace Innovation in the Victorian Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development. He has undertaken commissioned research for both state and commonwealth governments on areas related to employment relations, regulatory arrangements to support workplace innovation, and the consequences of various regulatory labour market reforms.

Over the last 25 years, Professor Gahan has published widely on conflict and negotiations, employment relations and collective bargaining, high performance workplaces, labour markets and the future of work, and the consequences of labour market regulation.

His current research focuses on two major drivers of change at work: workforce ageing and how technology is transforming the nature of jobs. He is currently exploring how older workers are perceived by others (co-workers, managers and customers) in the workplace and how these perceptions influence hiring decisions, promotion and performance evaluations.

Josie Thomas

Josie holds qualifications including BMus Ed (Melb), Cert Teach (Primary), Cert Singing (Primary Teaching).

Josie grew up in a home where music making was ever present and was taught piano initially by her sister. She worked as a Primary Teacher for nine years, both as a classroom teacher and music specialist.

Josie was fortunate to have met the young Stephen McIntyre who accompanied the local parish choir for a while. Rehearsals were held in her family home. This exciting experience led Josie to a greater interest in developing her piano skills and further specializing in music education.

Wishing to further her music skills, Josie enrolled in a BMus Ed (Melb University). She majored in piano, studying with Vera Bradford, a pupil of Percy Grainger.

Josie also studied singing with Viola Morris. Upon completion of her degree, she joined the Melbourne Chorale Chamber Singers under Val Pyers and later Graham Abbott, in which she performed at the opening concert of Hamer Hall in 1982 and numerous concerts since then. Amongst the many notable conductors was Christopher Hogwood.

Over the years, Josie has taught classroom music and other subjects in many different schools covering all social backgrounds. She has held Music Coordination positions, initiated instrumental programs and has taught every level from Preschool to Year 12 in one capacity or another. In 2007, Josie opened her own successful private piano studio where she specializes in teaching beginners and intermediate students.

 In 2017, Josie was appointed to the then Victorian Music Teachers’ Association Council, now the VMTA Board, and became the President in March 2018 overseeing many changes to update governance and modernization of systems with the help of a skilled team which includes staff at AES.

Chiang Lim

Chiang joined ACA NSW in 2016. He brings over 25 years of senior executive experiences from government, not-for-profit, industry associations, fast moving consumer goods, business insurance, defence, information technology and telecommunications sectors.

He also serves as the ACA NSW representative at the NSW Department of Education’s Early Childhood Advisory Group, the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). ACA NSW’s advocacies include children's and preschool children's outcomes, quality ratings, child protection, qualifications, vocational and tertiary training, compliance, emergency/evacuation protocols in high-density buildings, transparency of reporting, legislative/regulatory reforms, funding, COVID, as well as planning and development.

Chiang’s past career highlights include contributing to NSW's up to 328% increase in preschool funding for long daycare services, NSW's $5.8b Universal Pre-Kindergarten, $5b Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund, negotiating the world’s highest remuneration arrangements for Australian lottery agents, the removal of over $1b annually in redundant labour-costs resulting from the globally controversial tobacco plain packaging legislation, project managing the then world’s fastest mobile number portability operation industry code and subordinate legislation across all Australian telecommunications carriers, installed engineering and US logistics databases as part of building our ANZAC-Class frigates and Collins-Class submarines, as well as producing Australia/New Zealand’s first national standard for IT security for businesses.