[ { "post_id": "679", "post_category_id": "29", "post_title": "Four Things Every New Association CEO Must Know", "post_content_short": "The association sector is in the middle of a leadership handover.
\nAcross Australia and New Zealand, CEOs and Executive Directors are moving on. Some are retiring. Some have gone to larger organisations.\nSome have left because the relationship with their Board ran out of puff. The reasons vary, but the movement is noticeable, and Boards are\nappointing replacements.
\nThe encouraging part is the calibre of the people coming in. Many are genuinely well suited to the job — capable executives with strong\nrecords behind them. A good number are stepping into an association CEO role for the first time.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/679\/irritated-annoyed-woman-with-crossed-hands-looking-back-at-man-choosing-furniture-sigh-SBI-351246650.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/four-things-every-new-association-ceo-must-know\/", "post_date": "2026-07-26 09:46:35" }, { "post_id": "677", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Why Do People Really Join Your Association?", "post_content_short": "Most associations can provide a long list of membership benefits. They may include professional development, advocacy, networking, industry\ninformation, events, resources, accreditation, discounts and access to specialist advice. However, a list of benefits does not necessarily\nexplain why someone makes the decision to join.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/677\/bigstock-Business-Technology-Internet-397759532.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/why-do-people-really-join-your-association\/", "post_date": "2026-07-16 01:21:00" }, { "post_id": "676", "post_category_id": "33", "post_title": "How to manage the Association Director that takes up all your energy.", "post_content_short": "While every Board is different, the same governance issues appear time and again. One of the most common is allowing one person’s behaviour\n\tto dominate the Board table.\n\n

\n\tAlmost every Board has experienced it at some point. One director who seems to consume more time and energy than everyone else combined.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/676\/Board-Weakenesses.jpeg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/how-to-manage-the-association-director-that-takes-up-all-your-energy\/", "post_date": "2026-07-16 01:00:58" }, { "post_id": "672", "post_category_id": "28", "post_title": "Your renewal letter is asking members to invest in the future. Write it that way.", "post_content_short": "A renewal invoice is not a request for last year's money. It is a request to pay for next year's benefits. The moment a member — individual\n\tor corporate — opens that invoice, they make a decision: renew, or walk.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/672\/young-girl-working-with-documents-in-modern-office-skilled-professional-female-adminis-SBI-350990783.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/your-renewal-letter-is-asking-members-to-invest-in-the-future-write-it-that-way\/", "post_date": "2026-06-23 12:42:00" }, { "post_id": "671", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "When does an association need to rebrand itself?", "post_content_short": "If your association is thinking about a rebrand because the colours look dated or a Board member doesn't like the typeface, stop. That's not\nthe question worth asking. The real question is harder: does your organisation still represent the sector it claims to lead?", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/671\/Logo-bRAND.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/when-does-an-association-need-to-rebrand-itself\/", "post_date": "2026-06-23 12:25:27" }, { "post_id": "670", "post_category_id": "31", "post_title": "Your New Association Website Is Not an IT Project. It’s a Governance Decision.", "post_content_short": "A website project is a governance decision with a technology component, not the other way round. The associations that get it right are the\nones that invest in discovery, requirements, and contract scrutiny before a single pixel is designed. The ones that get it wrong skip\nstraight to the demo, fall for the referral, and find out about ownership, integration, and total cost when it is too late to do anything\nbut pay.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/670\/AI-WEBSITE.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/your-new-association-website-is-not-an-it-project-its-a-governance-decision\/", "post_date": "2026-06-22 11:33:49" }, { "post_id": "669", "post_category_id": "33", "post_title": "Why Every Association Needs an Independent Returning Officer", "post_content_short": "A Returning Officer is an independent individual appointed to oversee the election of Board Directors and ensure the process is conducted\nfairly, transparently and in accordance with the association's Constitution, By-Laws and any Board-approved election procedures.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/669\/Returning-Officer-1100x.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/why-every-association-needs-an-independent-returning-officer\/", "post_date": "2026-06-22 11:08:00" }, { "post_id": "665", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Member Magazine Worth the Trouble?", "post_content_short": "A lot of associations produce a magazine — hard copy or electronic — as part of the member benefits package. And for many of them, pulling\n\ttogether each quarterly edition feels arduous, thankless, and disconnected from any real return.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/665\/secretariat-services-260225.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/member-magazine-worth-the-trouble\/", "post_date": "2026-06-15 05:31:24" }, { "post_id": "664", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "What every membership manager must know before the next Board meeting", "post_content_short": "
Membership growth is not a membership problem. It’s a governance one.<\/blockquote>", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/664\/business-people-group-on-meeting-image.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/what-every-membership-manager-must-know-before-the-next-board-meetin\/", "post_date": "2026-06-15 05:04:00" }, { "post_id": "658", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "The Membership Fee Increase: A Conversation Most Association CEOs Avoid", "post_content_short": "The membership fee strategy is not an accounting exercise. It is a leadership decision. And if your Board is setting fees based on what\nfeels comfortable rather than what the organisation needs, you are already behind.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/658\/business-people-group-SBI-300808843-(2).jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/the-membership-fee-increase-a-conversation-most-association-ceos-avoid\/", "post_date": "2026-05-26 03:03:15" }, { "post_id": "657", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "The Members You're Missing", "post_content_short": "How to capture new members for your database ", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/657\/iStock-654019478.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/the-members-youre-missing\/", "post_date": "2026-05-25 11:26:33" }, { "post_id": "654", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Only one assessment tool tells you how your entire association is really performing. AES built it.", "post_content_short": "An overview of the self assessment benchmarking tool for assessing the performance of an association ", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/654\/review-increase-rating-performance-and-classification-concept-businessman-draw-five-gr-SBI-301984713.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/only-one-assessment-tool-tells-you-how-your-entire-association-is-really-performing-aes-built-it\/", "post_date": "2026-05-24 02:52:30" }, { "post_id": "651", "post_category_id": "5", "post_title": "Technology in Associations - AES 2026 Sector Report", "post_content_short": "This report aims to help associations better understand the technology landscape and make informed decisions about their digital future.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/651\/Screenshot-2026-04-24-163428.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/resources\/free-resources\/technology-in-associations-aes-2026-sector-report\/", "post_date": "2026-05-15 05:13:00" }, { "post_id": "647", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "The photo with the Minister is not an advocacy strategy", "post_content_short": "“Government doesn’t remember associations that show up. It remembers the ones that show up with something to say.”<\/em><\/strong>\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/647\/HUNT-PHOTO.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/the-photo-with-the-minister-is-not-an-advocacy-strategy\/", "post_date": "2026-04-24 01:43:59" }, { "post_id": "646", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Is your association actually talking to its members — or just invoicing them?", "post_content_short": "\"What an undecided member needs isn't another email — it's a conversation.\"<\/em>
", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/646\/office-workers.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/is-your-association-actually-talking-to-its-members-or-just-invoicing-them\/", "post_date": "2026-04-24 00:45:00" }, { "post_id": "640", "post_category_id": "28", "post_title": "Thinking About Increasing Your Membership Fees", "post_content_short": "There is one financial decision that shapes your organisation's future more than almost any other. And most association CEOs handle it badly\n— not because they lack the numbers, but because they lack the nerve.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/640\/business-woman-opening-the-floor-for-questions-SBI-328457388-(1).jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/thinking-about-increasing-your-membership-fees\/", "post_date": "2026-04-22 12:30:17" }, { "post_id": "638", "post_category_id": "34", "post_title": "Overview of Pay Day Super - The Basics for Associations", "post_content_short": "Watch our Pay Day Super webinar.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/638\/Screenshot-2026-04-22-135701.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/overview-of-pay-day-super-the-basics-for-associations\/", "post_date": "2026-04-22 03:58:03" }, { "post_id": "637", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "From Sponsorship to Partnership – Steps to increase your Association’s Revenue", "post_content_short": "One of the main revenue streams for many associations is their annual or biannual conference. Anyone who has planned one knows that securing\n\tsponsorship is often the most time-consuming and frustrating task.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/637\/Strategic-planning-MAY-2023.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/from-sponsorship-to-partnership-steps-to-increase-your-associations-revenue\/", "post_date": "2026-04-13 04:53:15" }, { "post_id": "632", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Engaging an Association Consultant to Drive Change: What Boards Need to Get Right First!", "post_content_short": "Hiring a consultant for a specific task is fundamentally different from engaging one to drive organisational transformation.\n

\n\tBoards often recognise the need for change when membership stagnates, governance weakens, strategy stalls, or momentum declines. Engaging a\n\tconsultant at this point is a sound decision.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/632\/business-people-group-on-meeting-image.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/engaging-an-association-consultant-to-drive-change-what-boards-need-to-get-right-first\/", "post_date": "2026-04-09 03:22:20" }, { "post_id": "630", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Want to Start a New Association? Here Are Some Key Steps", "post_content_short": "We’re seeing a growing trend. More and more groups are reaching out to start new associations.\n

In most cases, the reason is the same: \"Our current association isn’t delivering.\"<\/strong>\n

That may well be true. Starting a new association is a serious commitment, not just a reaction. Let me be clear:", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/630\/Image-Business-Meeting.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/want-to-start-a-new-association-here-are-some-key-steps\/", "post_date": "2026-03-25 04:32:39" }, { "post_id": "629", "post_category_id": "28", "post_title": "When New Members Join - Are you protecting your Association", "post_content_short": "One of the most common — and often unexpected — challenges faced by association boards and leaders arises when a member develops a grievance\n\tagainst the organisation. In the association sector, this is not unusual. Most grievances begin with a concern or disagreement, but if not\n\thandled appropriately, they can escalate into a prolonged and disruptive issue.\n", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/629\/iStock-1078149228.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/when-new-members-join-are-you-protecting-your-association\/", "post_date": "2026-03-19 10:17:01" }, { "post_id": "626", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Artificial Intelligence Is Already Transforming Australian Associations", "post_content_short": "Insights from the AES Technology Survey and Special Interest Group Discussion
\n\t
\n\tArtificial Intelligence is now part of daily work for many association professionals.
\n\t
\n\tAssociation Executive Services<\/a> (AES) are soon to release its\n\tannual report on technology in Australian Associations and recently facilitated a special interest group discussion on the use of AI in\n\tparticipants' organisations.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/626\/48.png", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/insights-from-the-aes-technology-survey-and-special-interest-group-discussion\/", "post_date": "2026-03-18 03:44:08" }, { "post_id": "624", "post_category_id": "28", "post_title": "The Challenge of Prorated Membership and Renewal Cycles", "post_content_short": "The Challenge of Prorated Membership and Renewal Cycles<\/strong>\n

Anyone responsible for membership in an association understands this tension:\n

\n\tDo we renew members on the anniversary of their joining date, or operate on a single annual renewal date?<\/strong>
\n\tAnd if we operate on a single renewal date, how and when should prorated membership apply?\n\n

Here is a deeper exploration of each model — with practical examples drawn from real-world association operations.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/624\/Image-finace.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/the-challenge-of-prorated-membership-and-renewal-cycles\/", "post_date": "2026-02-25 02:23:14" }, { "post_id": "614", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "AI, Websites and the Reality of Day-to-Day Association Operations", "post_content_short": "When associations discuss upgrading their websites, the conversation often starts with design, branding, and visual appeal.
", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/614\/software-developer-working-on-computer-at-modern-office-SBI-300809724-(1).jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/ai-websites-and-the-reality-of-day-to-day-association-operations\/", "post_date": "2026-01-28 00:54:26" }, { "post_id": "596", "post_category_id": "27", "post_title": "Planning Association Conferences: Essential Tips for Success", "post_content_short": "Business events in Australia contribute over $36B annually and are growing fast!
\nCheck out our latest article for essential tips on venue selection, security, insurance, and more—plus key stats like $21.4B in traveller\nspend and 11% projected growth.", "post_icon": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/media\/website_posts\/596\/young-professionals-collaborating-with-experienced-senior-executive-in-a-modern-office-SBI-322462558.jpg", "post_content_type": "page", "post_content_url": "https:\/\/www.associationexecutiveservices.com.au\/newsletter\/planning-association-conferences-essential-tips-for-success\/", "post_date": "2025-10-20 22:18:18" } ]