Join us for a dynamic panel discussion where experts from Higher Logic and AuSAE come together to explore what matters most to members heading into 2026.

This session will unpack what members really want from their associations. Drawing on data from thousands of association professionals, we’ll compare trends in member engagement and community behaviour to highlight what’s unique about the Australian landscape and what lessons we can learn globally.

Key Takeaways:

• Insights about what members value most from associations 
• Success stories from associations meeting evolving member needs.
• Practical strategies to use data for improving retention and satisfaction.

Join us for a complimentary 1-hour webinar and gain insights and strategies for 2026!

Meet Our Presenter

Kelly Whelan 
Content Marketing Manager at Higher Logic

Our Panel Members:

Toni Brearley, CAE
Chief Executive Officer at AuSAE

Toni Brearley is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), the peak professional membership body for professionals working in the Association sector.

AuSAE believes that Associations strengthen every industry and every profession every day, having a critical and enduring impact on the economy and society as a whole.

Clementine West 
Community Engagement Manager, Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi)

Clementine brings hands-on experience in community engagement and management across member organisations, having worked with Higher Logic at both Engineers Australia and the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. She is particularly focused on creating connected, engaged member communities that deliver real value.

About Higher Logic
At Higher Logic, we empower organisations to build meaningful connections through community engagement and advanced marketing automation. With over a decade of experience, we help associations, nonprofits, and member-based groups enhance relationships, drive growth, and boost retention. Our platform supports personalised communication at every stage of the member journey, turning engagement into long-term advocacy and success.

CAE Exam between 1 - 14 May 2026 This course is for the May 2026 examination *Please note that the exam registration through ASAE is separate and is the delegates responsibility. AuSAE is here to help

Course cost - AuSAE Member $750 

Non member / Business partner  $950 includes  

• Course material ( Professional Practices in Association Management, 4th Edition)

• Cliff notes with practice exam questions for each domain

• Study group learnings and exam questions

• Practice exam exam

The Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential is an International marker of a committed association professional who has demonstrated the wide range of knowledge essential to manage an association in today’s challenging environment.

Have you got what it takes to go to the next level, AuSAE is here to help you!!
Applications close with ASAE 20 February 2026 for the exam

Program Starting Friday 20 February 2026

Week 1 20 February : CAE Orientation session and Systems thinking

Week’s 2 - 9: Covering the eight domains 1 hour each week (Friday)

• 27 February: Domain 1 Governance
• 6 March: Domain 2 Executive Leadership
• 13 March: Domain 3 Organisational Strategy
• 20 March: Domain 4 Operations
• 27 March: Domain 5 Business development
• 2 April: Domain 6 Member and Stakeholder Engagement and Management
• 10 April: Domain 7 Advocacy
• 17 April: Domain 8 Marketing and Communications

Week 10: Wednesday 22 April Practice exam in exam conditions (100 questions) 2 hours
Friday 24 April Open forum (1hour 30 mins)

• CAE Exam fee is separate and paid through ASAE when applying for the exam. Member cost $500 USD

Associations are constantly launching, refreshing and promoting products, programs, campaigns and advocacy initiatives, however achieving consistent cut-through across members and stakeholders remains a challenge.

This practical, hands-on skills lab is designed for association professionals responsible for engaging members and stakeholders through communications, events, marketing and campaigns. It is particularly relevant for those working across membership, advocacy, education and events.

Key takeaways:

1. How to clearly articulate the value of your association: Learn how to market who your association is, what it offers and why it matters so members and stakeholders better understand the value of engaging.
2. How to apply that value to marketing campaigns that perform: Understand how effective association campaigns position education, advocacy, membership and events to drive engagement, uptake and relevance.
3. How to improve campaign messaging to increase response: Learn how to assess whether campaign messaging is connecting with audiences and refine it to improve engagement, attendance, retention and participation.
4. How to deliver integrated marketing campaigns across channels: Learn how to promote campaigns consistently across websites, events, newsletters and social media so audiences receive a clear, joined-up message.
5. How to focus marketing effort where it drives the most impact: Gain practical insight into simplifying marketing activity, reducing noise, and prioritising the campaigns and messages that deliver the greatest return.

Using real association examples and practical frameworks, you will leave with tools and approaches you can apply immediately within you own organisation.

This workshop helps you market your value more clearly and run campaigns that drive stronger engagement, uptake and member connection.

Meet Our Presenter

Debbie Bradley, Group Account Director, Zadro
Debbie is a strategic communications and campaigns specialist with extensive experience delivering integrated marketing, advocacy and engagement initiatives for associations and purpose-led organisations. She works closely with clients to translate strategy into practical, high-impact campaigns that connect with members and stakeholders and drive meaningful outcomes.

Session Overview:
AI is moving quickly from experimentation to expectation. For association leaders, the real question is how to be ready to use it in ways that genuinely improve member engagement and decision-making.

This session explores what AI readiness looks like in a practical association context - focussing on the data foundations, systems alignment, and organisational habits that make smarter engagement possible. Using familiar scenarios across membership, events, education, and communications, we’ll examine how better-connected data enables more meaningful networking, more relevant learning experiences, and more timely engagement, and why fragmented data limits insight and impact.

Rather than focussing on tools or trends in isolation, the discussion connects strategy to day-to-day reality, helping association executives understand where to focus their attention first and how to build momentum over time. Participants will leave with clearer priorities, shared language for internal conversations, and actionable yet simple next steps.

Key Learnings:

• A clearer view of what AI readiness means in an association environment
• Insight into how connected data supports more relevant and timely member engagement
• A practical way to assess the strength of their current data foundations
• Guidance on where AI can add value now - and where it’s not yet realistic
• Clear next steps to strengthen data, systems, and engagement outcomes

Meet Our Presenter

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.