AuSAE Association Knowledge Program In Practice
Real insights. Real experiences. Real progress for your association career.

Are you ready to move beyond theory and see what actually works in association management?

The AuSAE Association Knowledge Program: In Practice is designed for association professionals who want practical, relevant learning they can apply immediately. This isn’t about polished presentations or generic frameworks — it’s about hearing directly from peers who are doing the work, navigating challenges, and finding solutions in real time.

And the best part? It’s included in your AuSAE membership or digital subscription, at no extra cost.

A Different Kind of Learning Experience

From May through December, this 10-session webinar series gives you the flexibility to engage when it matters most to you. Join the sessions that align with your goals, your challenges, and your stage of career.

Each session is built around one simple idea: You’ll get more value from real stories than perfect slides.

That’s why every session includes a live, interactive element — giving you a reason to show up, contribute, and learn alongside your peers.

What You’ll Experience

Hot Topics
We explore emerging issues in the sector, followed by open, facilitated discussion on how associations are responding.

How We Did It
Hear how they tackled a real challenge — what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently next time.

Ask Me Anything
Just honest answers from experienced association leaders and subject matter experts.

Panel Showcases
Hear quick-fire insights from peers, then dive deeper through discussion and shared learning.

Elevate Your Credentials

  • Stay ahead of what’s happening right now.
  • Go behind the scenes with a member association.
  • No slides. No scripts.

Why Join the AKP: In Practice?

Gain Practical, Actionable Insights
Walk away with ideas you can apply immediately — whether you’re working on membership growth, governance, events, marketing, or advocacy.

Strengthen Your Skills Across Key Areas
Build capability across core areas of association management aligned to CAE domains, helping you grow with confidence in your role.

Learn From People Who Get It
Connect with peers who understand the realities of association life — the challenges, the constraints, and the opportunities.

Be Part of the Conversation
This isn’t passive learning. It’s interactive, relevant, and shaped by the people in the (virtual) room.

AuSAE is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider.  
By completing this program, you’ll earn 1 CAE credit per webinar, applicable toward your CAE application or renewal requirements. Learn more about the CAE credential at www.asaecenter.org/cae.  


Registration Options

Included with Your AuSAE Membership
AuSAE Members and Digital Subscribers receive complimentary access to the full program.

  • 10 live webinar sessions
  • Flexible attendance — join what’s relevant to you
  • Practical, peer-driven learning experiences
Register for the sessions you’d like to attend and build your own learning journey.

Not a Member Yet?
Digital Subscriber – $169
Unlock access to the full webinar series and gain practical insights to support your professional growth. BECOME A DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Become an AuSAE Member
Join AuSAE to access this program and a wide range of additional benefits designed to support your career in association management. JOIN NOW



    Upcoming events

    • AuSAE Digital Subscription introductory offer

      • 24 Sep 2026
      • 10:00 AM
      • 14 Dec 2026
      • 11:00 AM
      • AuSAE Webinars - 10:00am- 11:00am AEDT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm NZDT
      Register

      AuSAE Digital Subscription Introductory Offer

       For a limited time, you can access AuSAE's Digital Subscription for just $44 and join all five upcoming live AKP: In Practice webinars between now and the end of 2026, plus our library of on-demand webinars.

      Each session is designed to give you practical ideas, honest lessons from association practitioners and approaches you can adapt within your own organisation.

      Your $44 AuSAE Digital Subscription includes:

      • 5 live AKP: In Practice webinars 
      • Access to the webinar recordings if you can't attend live
      • Practical insights from association leaders and experts
      • Opportunities to ask questions and learn from your peers
      • Access to the our library of on-demand webinars
      • 1 CAE credit per webinar attended
      It’s a great way to experience AuSAE’s practical, association-focused learning and get a taste of what’s included with a Digital Subscription.
      Show details

    • AuSAE Webinar: How we rebuilt our membership model

      • 08 Oct 2026
      • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
      • AuSAE Webinars - 10:00am- 11:00am AEDT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm NZDT
      Register


      Membership models that worked five years ago are under pressure across the sector. Flat renewal rates, changing member expectations, the rise of free alternatives, and post-pandemic behaviour shifts are forcing associations to rethink their value proposition from the ground up. In this session, a member association shares their experience of doing exactly that — what prompted the review, what they changed, what they tried that didn't work, and what has made a measurable difference.

      What members can expect

      Membership is at the heart of every association, but evolving your model can feel high-stakes and complex. This session offers a transparent look at what it really takes to make change stick.

      • A candid 20 minute presentation from an association CEO who has led a membership model transformation
      • Real metrics and outcomes, including renewal rates, acquisition performance, and member engagement trends
      • The full story including what didn't work, not just the wins
      • A 30 minute interactive Q&A allowing you to explore how these insights could be applied within your own organisation

      Meet Our Presenter

      Paul Ritchie
      Chief Operating Officer, AUSactive

      Paul Ritchie is the Chief Operating Officer at AUSactive, Australia's peak body for the exercise and active health sector. Paul leads a broad portfolio spanning finance, risk, governance, technology, marketing, and strategic initiatives.

      Paul has played a key role at AUSactive in driving innovation, strengthening governance frameworks, and supporting growth initiatives.

      AUSactive is the peak member association for the exercise and fitness industry in Australia, representing over 18,000 businesses, registered exercise professionals and industry stakeholders. AUSactive works to promote physical activity, support industry standards, provide education and accreditation pathways, and advocate for the essential role exercise professionals play in improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. Visit ausactive.org.au for more information.

      Attendees receive 1 CAE credits.

      AuSAE is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider. As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this event may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.  


       Register today!
      The AKP: In Practice webinar series is exclusively available to AuSAE members and digital subscribers.        Not a member? Join AuSAE or Become a Digital Subscriber today.  

      Show details

    • AuSAE Webinar: The future of association marketing: what's changing

      • 22 Oct 2026
      • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
      • AuSAE Webinars - 10:00am- 11:00am AEDT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm NZDT
      Register

      The future of association marketing: what’s changing

      Association marketing is in a period of genuine disruption. Email open rates are shifting, social platforms are changing their algorithms, content expectations are rising, and AI is beginning to reshape how organisations produce and distribute communications. At the same time, the fundamentals, knowing your audience, telling compelling stories, building trust, matter more than ever. This session is a live, facilitated conversation about what's actually changing in association marketing, what's working right now, and where members are placing their bets for the next 12–18 months.

      What members can expect
      This session focuses on what’s actually happening on the ground.

      • A short 10-minute provocation from the host to frame the key shifts underway in association marketing
      • Open, facilitated discussion drawing on experiences from associations of different sizes, sectors, and maturity levels
      • An honest conversation about what's not working as well as what is, and why
      • Practical, current insights designed to be applied immediately, not theory


      Attendees receive 1 CAE       credits. 

       AuSAE is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider. As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this event may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.  

      Our presenter
      Matthew Connor, CAE 
      Head of Communications & Corporate Services, Australian Water Association

      Matt has more than a decade of senior leadership experience across both professional and industry associations, including the Australian Water Association, Australian Dental Association and the Motor Traders’ Association of NSW. His career has spanned all core association functions, with a consistent focus on strengthening member value, embedding effective governance practices, and driving digital transformation.

      He is currently Head of Communications & Corporate Services at the Australian Water Association, where he leads strategy and operations across finance, IT, marketing and communications. As Executive Sponsor of the Governance & Audit Subcommittee, he works closely with the CEO and Board to ensure strong governance, effective corporate services, and a positive member and employee experience.

      A Certified Association Executive (CAE) and long-standing AuSAE member, he has spoken at AuSAE events, mentored emerging leaders, and championed the CAE credential as a recognised career pathway for association professionals. He brings to the Board a strong sector network, practical governance expertise, and a passion for the role associations play in building community and impact.

      Register today!
      The AKP: In Practice webinar series is exclusively available to AuSAE members and digital subscribers. 

      Not a member?       Join AuSAE or Become a Digital Subscriber today.  

      Show details

    • AuSAE Webinar: How we approached strategic planning differently this year

      • 12 Nov 2026
      • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
      • AuSAE Webinars - 10:00am- 11:00am AEDT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm NZDT
      Register

      How we approached strategic planning differently this year

      Strategic planning in associations is often done out of obligation rather than genuine strategic intent, a board weekend away, a familiar SWOT analysis, and a document that gets filed until next year. But some associations are doing it very differently: shorter cycles, more member involvement, stronger links between strategy and operational decisions, and real accountability built into the process. In this session, a member CEO shares how they changed their approach to strategic planning and what difference it made, to the quality of the plan, to board engagement, and to execution.

      What members can expect

      • A brief walkthrough of the shift from a traditional strategic planning process to a redesigned approach
      • Specific detail on process: who was involved, how long it took, what tools, frameworks, or methods were used
      • An honest reflection on what the board found challenging and how competing priorities and tensions were worked through
      • A 30 minute interactive Q&A to explore how this approach could be adapted to your own strategic planning cycle


      Attendees receive 1 CAE       credits. 

      AuSAE is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider. As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this event may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.  

      Register today!
      The AKP: In Practice webinar series is exclusively available to AuSAE members and digital subscribers. 

      Not a member?       Join AuSAE or Become a digital Subscriber today.  

      Show details

    • AuSAE Webinar: Year in review: what the sector learned in 2026

      • 03 Dec 2026
      • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
      • AuSAE Webinars - 10:00am- 11:00am AEDT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm NZDT
      Register

      Year in review: what the sector learned in 2026 

      The final session of the year is both a celebration and a forward look. A panel of three to four members, drawn from across different association types, sizes, and career stages, reflects on the big themes that shaped the sector in 2026. What changed? What didn't change as much as expected? What's the one thing they'll carry into 2027? This session closes the year with a sense of community and shared experience, and plants the seeds for what's coming next.

      What members can expect
      This session brings together practical reflections from across the sector,  highlighting what’s shifted, what’s stuck, and what’s emerging for associations.

      • Three to four association leaders share their biggest professional insight or shift from the year
      • Reflections drawn on themes emerging across the AKP: In Practice program throughout the year
      • A forward-looking close exploring what association professionals are watching as they move into 2027

      Attendees receive 1 CAE credits. 

      AuSAE is proud to be a CAE Approved Provider. As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this event may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements. For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.  

      Register today!
      The AKP: In Practice webinar series is exclusively available to AuSAE members and digital subscribers. 

      Not a member?       Join AuSAE or Become a Digital Subscriber today.  

      Show details

    Your People. Your Place. Your Learning.

    It’s your opportunity to learn from those who are doing the work, and to be part of a community that’s shaping the future of associations.
    Explore the program. Register for sessions. And start learning with AuSAE now.


    The Australasian Society of Association Executives

    Contact us:

    Ask Simon - AuSAE's AI Knowledge Assistant
    Email:     info@ausae.org.au
    Phone: 1300 764 576 (within Australia)
    Phone: +61 7 3268 7955 (outside Australia)
    Address: Unit 6, 26 Navigator Place, Hendra QLD 4011, Australia

                        
            


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