ACE 2022 PROGRAM

Join us at ACE 2022 for a fresh, innovative and engaging program which aims to encourage discussion and debate and facilitate in-depth conversations with experts and peers!  

We share the program at a glance as we finalise our topics and speakers.

View the full ACE 2022 Agenda

DAY 1 - Thursday 1 December 2022

9:00am

Registration & Coffee

10:00am - 11:45am 

Association Masterclasses
Deep dive on topics relevant to Association Executives.

Strategy Masterclass | Freedom and Control

Lindsay McGrath CAE - CEO at Comasso

Culture Masterclass | Designing a workforce people can't say no to

Jo Brown and Louise Roper - Beaumont People 

Engagement Masterclass | Creating & implementing a year-round multi-touchpoint member engagement strategy that actually works

Banu Kannu - Chief Experience Officer at Uncommon Conferences

12:00pm 

Welcome Lunch - Picnic in the Park (Yarra Park - in front of the MCG)

Join Andrew Klein (MC) and the AuSAE team for a warm welcome and lunch. Celebrating the start of Summer, it's a chance to come together and connect with delegates in a relaxed environment. Learn how to make the most of your time at ACE, see old friends and meet new ones.

2:00 - 5:00pm 

ACE Experiences 
Choose your own adventure in these small group experiential learning activities - connect, share and discover some of Melbourne's best kept secrets while building relationships with kindred colleagues. Hosted by ACE Partners.

Street Art Mural Challenge

Get your creative juices flowing and try your hand at spray painting a New Zealand inspired mural.

Coached by a street artist you’ll learn their special spray-painting techniques. Then competing as a team you’ll use your new spray-painting skills to create your own street art mural. 

Hosted by Tourism New Zealand

Innovation in Associations: Single Malt Experience at Starward Whisky
An innovation-filled afternoon at Melbourne’s own Starward Whisky - a distillery that continues to be bold and look to new horizons.

Enjoy Starward’s single malt experience followed by a casual fireside chat hosted by ASI Managing Director Paul Ramsbottom and special guests on innovation in associations – being bold and looking to new horizons (just like Starward)! 

Hosted by ASI

Smartphone Photography Walking Tour 

Got a nice smartphone but not taking advantage of the amazing features on your camera?

Hosted by Higher Logic, this private photography workshop focuses on the incredible advantages of a small device to capture and edit your best shots for work and play.

Join us on this learning adventure as we walk around the iconic streets of Melbourne. 

Hosted by Higher Logic

The Association Networker: High Tea at The Windsor Hotel

Exclusive for Leaders in Associations Networking event at The Windsor Hotel. Held at the 5-star heritage hotel, you will network amongst fellow association leaders while enjoying a full High Tea experience with sparkling champagne. Known as the best High Tea in Melbourne, coupled with access to an intimate and private networker, this is not to be missed.

Hosted by Causeis

Monet & Friends Immersive Exhibit and Experience

Join Guild Insurance as we take you to the hugely popular exhibition centre, THE LUME, where you’ll be immersed in the works of Monet and many other French impressionists. THE LUME Melbourne’s state-of-the-art design combines sights, sounds, tastes and aromas to give visitors a unique chance to enter into the world of the artist.

Have your chance to walk through the Water Lillies.

Hosted by Guild Insurance

Secrets of Melbourne Walking Tour

Join us for a guided walking tour through Melbourne. Learn about Melbourne’s beginnings as you explore its laneways, arcades, architecture, and street art. Discover the best of its café culture and hidden bars.

Includes refreshments at one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets!

Hosted by FineHaus

Exclusive tour of the Street Art of Melbourne – the capital of the World’s street art scene!

Melbourne has fast become the envy of the World’s street art scene. As the fresh paint drips down the laneways of Melbourne, dedicated artists work into the night to create the world’s largest public gallery. On the tour, you will be led by a famous street artist and you will see a Melbourne that you never knew existed.

Hosted by Joyn

5:00pm

Associations Connect - ACE Happy Hour
Join your association peers to share your experiences of Day 1 and continue to network.   A celebration of our Association Influencers and CAE's will be conducted during the evening. 

Wrap up and close day 1.

8:00pm 

ACE After Party hosted by Higher Logic

DAY 2 - Friday 2 December 2022

8:00am

Plenary Breakfast - Women in Association Leadership

We are pleased to reintroduce our Women in Association Leadership series with a sit-down breakfast to commence the day. Join us for a panel discussion inspired by the 2023 International Women's Day theme - Toward a Gender-Neutral Future – through innovation, education and access

Sruthi Srikanthan, Partner at Deloitte Access Economics present their recently released Breaking the Norm report – a fascinating insight into the current attitudes and ‘gender norms’ in Australia.

Sruthi will be joined by panel members, Aleisha Amohia, Wellington Branch Co-President for the National Council of Women New Zealand, Brendon Ward, CEO Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia. Supported by: Tourism New Zealand.

9:30am 

10:00am

Focus on Governance
Sponsored by HR Assured 

Building your ESG Engagement Strategy

Jennifer Roberston, Board Matters

Focus on Engagement
Sponsored by Brancher

What years of data is telling us about what members really want.

Brenda Mainland – Survey Matters

Focus on Membership

Preparing for the future state of Associations.

Michelle Lelempsis - Causeis

 10:30am 

Building your ESG Engagement Strategy continued...

Taking a 365 approach to your member engagement strategy 

Banu Kannu, Uncommon Conference

A Practical Guide to Designing the right Membership Model for your association

Nicki Hauser - FineHaus
Samantha Hunter - Occupational Therapy Australia

11:00am 

Morning Tea

Tea and coffee is served!

Focus on Governance
Sponsored by HR Assured 

Fully Connected - Focusing on the Governance of you.

Mel Kettle

Focus on Engagement
Sponsored by Brancher

How to start acting in a truly innovative manner next week 

Oliver Matthews - Joyn

Associations Case Studies

Tales of Transformation - How two associations evolved under new leadership

Madeleine Culbert - CEO at Institute of Public Administration Australia, NSW
Jane O'Dwyer - CEO, Cooperative Research Australia

12:00pm

Creating a strategic Board agenda to focus the Board

Steven Bowman, Managing Director, Conscious Governance 

Engaging the next Generation of Members

Our 2022 Future leaders will take the stage in a panel discussion talking about what associations can be doing to engage the next generation of members.

Facilitated by Brett Jeffery, General Manger New Zealand, AuSAE

Lightning Sessions (12.00 pm - 1.00pm)

Hear from association leaders share real-life experiences of how they adapted, created and evolved. What worked, what didn't work and lesson learned along the way.

12:30pm  

Building Great Board Relationships - A President's Perspective

Stephen Liew, Australian Dental Association
Amelia Hodge, Australian Property Institute

Take 5 - LIVE !

Hear from 5 Association leaders on their key innovations that have strengthened their association for the future.

John Winter - ARITA
Samantha Hunter - OTA
Jon Bisset - CBAA

Hosted by Paul Ramsbottom, ASI

Lighting Session speakers ....

- Michelle Weston, Caravanning Queensland
- Matt Kealley - Canegrowers
- Robin Shepherd - RCSA
- Brendon Ward - ASCTA

1:00pm 

Lunch & Networking

Lunch is served on the Exhibition Floor

2:00pm

3:00pm

Closing Keynote

Closing keynote presentation - Impact Matters - Kim McDonnell

Supported by Saxton

4:00pm 

Close of Conference

Bus - Airport Transfers