An Immersive Retreat for Women
in Association Leadership

5 - 8 May | Christchurch, New Zealand

Join us for an exclusive 3.5-day retreat set in Canterbury's breathtaking high country at Fable Terrace Downs Resort.

Over the 3.5 days you will experience a transformational leadership retreat facilitated by Lauren Parsons, CSP.

The WIAL Retreat includes:

• 3 nights accommodation in beautiful, tranquil surroundings (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suites. Single supplement available at additional cost).
• Facilitated leadership & personal growth program;
• Nutritious, locally inspired daily meals;
• Return Christchurch transfers.

What you'll gain:

• Strategic clarity to lead with sharper focus, purpose and impact;
• Stronger executive presence and communication to influence and inspire;
• Tools to prevent burnout and sustain high performance through busy seasons;
• Emotional intelligence and decision-making skills for complex environments;
• Brave boundary-setting to protect your time, energy and attention; and
• Proven culture-building frameworks to lift wellbeing and results.

Why This Retreat Stands Out

This is not a conference. It is an intimate, high-trust environment where learning goes deeper and breakthroughs happen faster.

You will work closely with Lauren Parsons – award-winning leadership expert, TEDx speaker and author of Thriving Leaders, Thriving Teams. Each participant will receive a personal copy of the book to reinforce long-term change.

Located at Terrace Downs – “a place that reinvigorates the mind and soothes the soul” – you’ll reset, recharge and realign with what matters most.

The Results

You will leave:

• Re-energised, centered and future-focused
• Equipped with a clear leadership roadmap and practical tools
• Ready to lead with greater energy, empathy, confidence and influence

Spaces are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-in, first-served basis.

* Open to women currently working in an association or not-for-profit organisation.

Earn CAE Credits

All education sessions at the Retreat are CAE-eligible and attendees may earn up to 10 CAE credits for attending the event. 

Click here for a draft program and timings.

Payment by installments is available - please email elaine@ausae.org.au and we can assist.

Proudly sponsored by:

Most associations do not have a visibility problem. They have an answer problem.

Members are no longer waiting to be engaged. They are actively asking questions through search engines, AI tools, and digital platforms, expecting immediate, relevant, and personalised answers. The question is: Is your association showing up as the best answer?

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• Map your current member journey and identify where value is gained and where it is lost
• Pinpoint the critical moments that influence member acquisition, engagement, and renewal
• Assess your organisation’s AI readiness across data, systems, and experience design
• Identify high-impact opportunities to use AI to improve conversion, engagement, and retention
• Define a clear 90-day action plan aligned to measurable outcomes

What makes this session different
This is not a theory session. You will work through a structured AI Readiness Workbook and leave with:

• A mapped and prioritised member journey
• A clearly defined AI use case tailored to your association including AI prompts ready to go
• A practical 90-day execution plan
• A clear understanding of where to focus for maximum impact

Who should attend

• CEOs and Executive Leaders
• Heads of Membership, Marketing, and Digital
• Teams responsible for member growth, engagement, and retention

What you will walk away with
By the end of this session, you will have:

• Clarity on where your member experience is underperforming
• A prioritised opportunity to improve a key business metric
• A practical, AI-enabled use case you can implement immediately
• A structured plan to drive measurable progress over the next 90 days

Included
All participants will receive the AI Readiness Workbook, a practical guide designed to help you assess your current state, identify gaps, and take action across every stage of the member journey. We recommend that participants bring their laptop with access to their preferred AI platform.

 Attendees receive 3 ASAE CAE credits.* 

*Causeis 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 3 credits 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.  

Meet our Host & Facilitator:

Michelle Lelempsis is the CEO and Founder of Causeis, a global, multi-award-winning digital consulting firm helping associations achieve digital success. Leading a team of more than 30 experts, Michelle supports over 80 association clients, impacting more than 600,000 members worldwide.

Michelle has consulted with and presented to hundreds of associations across Australia and globally on digital transformation, member engagement, and aligning technology with business strategy. A respected speaker and advisor in the association sector, she is known for her practical insights, energy, and passion for helping associations unlock the full potential of their digital ecosystems.

About Causeis

Causeis is a global, multi-award-winning digital consulting firm dedicated to helping associations achieve digital success. With a team of 30+ experts, Causeis supports more than 80 association clients, positively impacting over 600,000 members worldwide.

Causeis is the creator of Causeis Launchpad and Smart Suite, trusted solutions designed to transform operations and elevate the member experience. Causeis Launchpad powered by iMIS®, is a preconfigured AMS built by association experts to accelerate implementation, fast-track your ROI and digital success.

Causeis is the current ASI Global iMIS Partner of the Year, an award received five times in the past six years. Learn more at www.causeis.com

AI in your association: opportunity or overwhelm?
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how associations operate, from automating administrative tasks to personalising member communications and generating content at scale. But for many association professionals, the pace of change feels more overwhelming than exciting. This session cuts through the noise with a grounded, honest conversation about where AI is actually being used in the sector right now, what's working, and what associations need to think about before they invest time and money.

What members can expect

• An overview of the current AI landscape for associations
• Facilitated open discussion drawing on member experience and questions
• Real examples of AI use cases already operating in the sector
• An honest conversation about risks, ethics, and what a responsible AI approach looks like

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.  

Leadership in an association comes with responsibility AND personal exposure. This practical webinar explores how board, committee and executive decisions can create personal risk for directors, officers and volunteers, often in ways leaders don’t expect. Learn where governance exposure typically arises, why timing matters when issues surface, and the simple governance habits that help reduce risk.

Key learnings: 

• Understand how everyday board, committee and executive decisions can create personal exposure, even without wrongdoing
• Identify the most common governance blind spots for associations, including volunteers and employment matters
• Learn why timing and escalation matter when issues, complaints or investigations arise
• Gain practical, governance-focused habits that help reduce risk and strengthen decision making
• Leave with a clearer view of where responsibility sits for association leaders and office holders

Meet Our Presenter

Danial Mullin
Client Partnership Executive, Guild Insurance

Danial Mullin is a Client Partnership Executive at Guild Insurance with more than 25 years’ experience across claims, underwriting, broking, risk, compliance and strategic partnerships. He has held senior leadership roles across major insurers and brokers and works closely with associations, boards and executive teams to strengthen governance, risk awareness and decision making. Danial is known for his practical, commercially grounded approach to managing complex leadership and liability risks.

About Guild Insurance

Most associations do not have a visibility problem. They have an answer problem.

Members are no longer waiting to be engaged. They are actively asking questions through search engines, AI tools, and digital platforms, expecting immediate, relevant, and personalised answers. The question is: Is your association showing up as the best answer?

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• Map your current member journey and identify where value is gained and where it is lost
• Pinpoint the critical moments that influence member acquisition, engagement, and renewal
• Assess your organisation’s AI readiness across data, systems, and experience design
• Identify high-impact opportunities to use AI to improve conversion, engagement, and retention
• Define a clear 90-day action plan aligned to measurable outcomes

What makes this session different
This is not a theory session. You will work through a structured AI Readiness Workbook and leave with:

• A mapped and prioritised member journey
• A clearly defined AI use case tailored to your association including AI prompts ready to go
• A practical 90-day execution plan
• A clear understanding of where to focus for maximum impact

Who should attend

• CEOs and Executive Leaders
• Heads of Membership, Marketing, and Digital
• Teams responsible for member growth, engagement, and retention

What you will walk away with
By the end of this session, you will have:

• Clarity on where your member experience is underperforming
• A prioritised opportunity to improve a key business metric
• A practical, AI-enabled use case you can implement immediately
• A structured plan to drive measurable progress over the next 90 days

Included
All participants will receive the AI Readiness Workbook, a practical guide designed to help you assess your current state, identify gaps, and take action across every stage of the member journey. We recommend that participants bring their laptop with access to their preferred AI platform.

Attendees receive 3 ASAE CAE credits.* 

*Causeis 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 3 credits 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.  

Michelle Lelempsis is the CEO and Founder of Causeis, a global, multi-award-winning digital consulting firm helping associations achieve digital success. Leading a team of more than 30 experts, Michelle supports over 80 association clients, impacting more than 600,000 members worldwide.

Michelle has consulted with and presented to hundreds of associations across Australia and globally on digital transformation, member engagement, and aligning technology with business strategy. A respected speaker and advisor in the association sector, she is known for her practical insights, energy, and passion for helping associations unlock the full potential of their digital ecosystems.

Proudly Sponsored By:

About Causeis

Causeis is a global, multi-award-winning digital consulting firm dedicated to helping associations achieve digital success. With a team of 30+ experts, Causeis supports more than 80 association clients, positively impacting over 600,000 members worldwide.

Causeis is the creator of Causeis Launchpad and Smart Suite, trusted solutions designed to transform operations and elevate the member experience. Causeis Launchpad powered by iMIS®, is a preconfigured AMS built by association experts to accelerate implementation, fast-track your ROI and digital success.

Causeis is the current ASI Global iMIS Partner of the Year, an award received five times in the past six years. Learn more at www.causeis.com

Good Intentions Aren’t Driving Member Results: What High-Performing Associations Do Instead

Across the sector, membership numbers are up, retention is improving, and confidence is growing. But those results aren’t coming from enthusiasm, intent, or good ideas alone. This executive roundtable explores what’s really driving member results right now.

Drawing on current benchmark insights and peer experience, the discussion will focus on how some associations are translating effort into outcomes - while others are working just as hard without the same lift.

Through facilitated roundtable discussion, participants will compare notes on how leaders are seeing what’s working, identifying friction early, and acting consistently across the member journey. The conversation is practical, candid, and designed to help leaders sharpen where to focus next to sustain results.

Key Learnings:

• Why improved membership results aren’t happening evenly across the sector
• What helps leaders clearly see which initiatives are delivering impact
• How early friction in the member experience shows up - and why it’s often missed
• What enables faster, more consistent action across the member journey
• How confidence in outcomes changes strategic focus and decision-making

Our hosts:

• Paul Ramsbottom, Managing Director at ASI
• Marla Nelson, Marketing Manager at ASI

Event details:
Date: Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Time: 8am to 10am AEDT
Venue: Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street
Breakfast will be included (please advise of special diets)

Who should attend: Association leaders who are seeking to achieve sustainable membership growth and improved association’s performance through the implementation of a digital transformation strategy and looking to learn from their Association peers. Attendees receive 1.5 ASAE CAE credits.* 

*ASI 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 1.5 credits 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.  

Meet our Host and Faclitator

Paul Ramsbottom,
Managing Director at Advanced Solutions International (ASI)

Over the last 30+ years Paul has worked with more professional bodies, industry associations, charities and fundraisers than most people would gather in several lifetimes. He is passionate about helping Not-For-Profits and Associations reach their goals, through adopting new and innovative solutions to help them run more efficiently. He is Managing Director of ASI Asia-Pacific which has more than 600 Not-For-Profit clients in the region. Paul enjoys working everyday with great staff and great clients and is rewarded by seeing great things ASI clients do in and around the community and knowing that ASI is able to contribute to that.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Advanced Solutions International (ASI) is a leading global provider of cloud software and services for associations and non-profits. ASI helps clients digitally transform, streamline operations, and grow revenue through industry expertise, best-practice advice, and high-quality solutions. Its portfolio of solutions includes iMIS for association and non-profit management, TopClass LMS for learning management, OpenWater for application and review management, and Clowder for year-round mobile app management. www.advsol.com/solutions

How we turned our advocacy from invisible to influential

Many associations know they should be doing more advocacy but struggle to translate good intentions into consistent, credible influence. Building a government relations strategy from scratch — identifying priorities, establishing relationships, developing a policy voice, and mobilising members — takes time, resources, and organisational courage. In this session, Graham Catt from Independent Schools Australia walks through exactly how they did it: the starting point, the missteps, the moments that worked, and what they would do differently.

What you'll gain from the session
This session unpacks what effective advocacy really looks like in practice.

• A detailed 25–30 walkthrough of a real advocacy journey
• Practical insights into government engagement: who was approached, how the message was framed, and what made it resonate
• A candid reflection on what didn’t work, and the lessons associations can take from it
• A 30 minute interactive Q&A, giving you the chance to test how these approaches could translate to your own sector and priorities

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.  

Most associations do not have a visibility problem. They have an answer problem.

Members are no longer waiting to be engaged. They are actively asking questions through search engines, AI tools, and digital platforms, expecting immediate, relevant, and personalised answers. The question is: Is your association showing up as the best answer?

In this practical, hands-on workshop, you will:

• Map your current member journey and identify where value is gained and where it is lost
• Pinpoint the critical moments that influence member acquisition, engagement, and renewal
• Assess your organisation’s AI readiness across data, systems, and experience design
• Identify high-impact opportunities to use AI to improve conversion, engagement, and retention
• Define a clear 90-day action plan aligned to measurable outcomes

What makes this session different
This is not a theory session. You will work through a structured AI Readiness Workbook and leave with:

• A mapped and prioritised member journey
• A clearly defined AI use case tailored to your association including AI prompts ready to go
• A practical 90-day execution plan
• A clear understanding of where to focus for maximum impact

Who should attend

• CEOs and Executive Leaders
• Heads of Membership, Marketing, and Digital
• Teams responsible for member growth, engagement, and retention

What you will walk away with
By the end of this session, you will have:

• Clarity on where your member experience is underperforming
• A prioritised opportunity to improve a key business metric
• A practical, AI-enabled use case you can implement immediately
• A structured plan to drive measurable progress over the next 90 days

Included
All participants will receive the AI Readiness Workbook, a practical guide designed to help you assess your current state, identify gaps, and take action across every stage of the member journey. We recommend that participants bring their laptop with access to their preferred AI platform.

Attendees receive 3 ASAE CAE credits.* 

*Causeis 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 3 credits 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.  

Meet our Host & Facilitator:

Governance in practice: what I wish I'd known

Governance is one of the most consistently challenging areas for association professionals at every career stage. New practitioners are often thrown into board support roles without adequate preparation. Experienced managers find themselves navigating board dynamics, conflict, and constitutional complexity with limited peer support. And CEOs regularly manage the tension between board oversight and operational autonomy. This open Q&A session puts members directly in front of an experienced CEO who has seen it all, and is willing to talk about it honestly.

What members can expect
This session is designed to surface the realities; the challenges, grey areas, and lessons that come with experience.

• No slides or presentation, just direct access to hard-earned governance experience
• You can submit questions in advance that will be covered in the session.
• A safe space to explore real issues, from the fundamentals to the more complex or sensitive challenges. 
• All questions welcome, no topic is too basic or too sensitive

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.  

Building your financial resilience: three approaches

Financial sustainability is a strategic priority for almost every association — and the approaches being taken vary widely. Some organisations are diversifying revenue streams, others are cutting costs, and others are renegotiating their partnerships and event models. This fast-paced panel session brings together three members who have each taken a different approach to building financial resilience, giving the audience three distinct perspectives in one hour.

What members can expect
Financial resilience looks different for every association, but learning what others have actually implemented can spark practical ideas you can act on.

• Hear from three association leaders, each sharing insight on one initiative they’ve implemented
• Clear, practical perspectives — what they did, why they chose that approach, and what changed as a result
• A facilitated discussion to unpack the ideas, compare approaches, and explore real-world application
• Practical and honest — this is about practical learning, not perfect case studies

What I took away from ACE26 — member reflections

ACE26 brought together association professionals from across Australia and New Zealand for three days of learning, connection, and conversation around the theme of Driving Impact. This session is the bridge between the conference and the broader member community, bringing the best of what was discussed at ACE back to members who couldn't attend, and giving those who did a space to consolidate and share what landed most. Three to four members will each share their biggest takeaway and, importantly, what they are actually doing with it.

What members can expect
The real impact of a conference often happens after the event — when ideas are tested, applied, and shared. This session brings those insights to life.

• Hear from 3–4 association professionals who attended ACE26, each sharing one key insight and one action they’re taking as a result
• Short, focused contributions to share practical takeaways
• Members who didn't attend ACE get the highlights and relevant ideas
• A facilitated discussion that creates space for shared reflection, connection, and collective learning across the community

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.  

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.  

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.  

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 25–30 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

Revenue beyond membership: what’s actually working

Non-dues revenue has moved from a nice-to-have to a strategic necessity for many associations. But the gap between identifying the opportunity and successfully implementing new revenue streams is significant — and littered with programs that consumed more resource than they generated. This Ask Me Anything session puts members in direct conversation with a CEO who has successfully diversified their association's revenue base, and is willing to talk through the detail of what worked, what failed, and what they would caution others against.

What members can expect

• No slides — just an open Q&A with an experienced association CEO
• A focus on real-world revenue approaches, what’s delivering results, and what’s proving harder than expected
• Questions collected in advance and answered during session. All questions welcome.
• Particularly useful for members actively exploring or reviewing their revenue model
  
  

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

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.