AuSAE upcoming events

AuSAE CAE 10 Week Study Program for the May 2026 Examination (20 Feb 2026)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:00:00 GMT

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 between 1 May and 14 May 2026

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

AuSAE Virtual Demo Day - Association Management Systems (AMS) (30 Apr 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Association Management Systems

Are you considering a new Association Management System (AMS), upgrading your current one, or looking to maximise its potential? Join us for this complimentary online event where Association Management Solutions (AMS) providers will showcase their latest innovations designed to streamline operations, enhance member engagement, and drive efficiency.

Get a firsthand look at cutting-edge AMS solutions through live demos, with time to ask questions. Each session features a 20-minute presentation, giving you a quick and insightful overview of the membership management platform and best tools to support your association.

Date: Thursday, 30 April 2026
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm (AEST) / 12:00pm - 4:00pm (NZST)
Location: Virtual

Event Program

10:00 am - Welcome - Toni Brearley, AuSAE
10:15 am - Presentation
10:30 am - iMIS
11:00 am - Causeis Launchpad
11:30 am - Membes
12:00 pm - Glue Up
12:30 pm - Wave CRM
1:00 pm - Higher Logic
1:30 pm - Zentso

EXPLORE MORE

Add two hours for New Zealand time

Demo days are not open to suppliers of the sector in their respective fields

Don't miss this chance to discover the right solution for your needs.

Women in Association Leadership Retreat 2026 – New Zealand (05 May 2026)

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:00:00 GMT

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:

Association Skills Lab (Melbourne) – Build Your AI-Ready Member Journey Blueprint: A Practical Workshop for Future-Ready Associations (14 May 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

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.

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

AuSAE Open Access Webinar: The Overlooked Risks of Being ‘In Charge’: Governance decisions and personal exposure (19 May 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

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

Guild was born out of an Association, so it makes sense that Associations are at the core of nearly everything we do. For over 60 years we’ve partnered with over 140 associations to build an intimate understanding of their professions, resulting in competitive and industry-specific solutions that meet the changing needs of their members, executives and staff.

For more information, visit Associations Business Insurance and Public Liability Insurance

Association Skills Lab (North Sydney) – Build Your AI-Ready Member Journey Blueprint: A Practical Workshop for Future-Ready Associations (21 May 2026)

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

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

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

Attendees receive 3 ASAE CAE credits.* 

Meet our Host & Facilitator:

Proudly Sponsored By:

About Causeis

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

Executive Roundtable (Melbourne) - What’s Really Driving Member Results (03 Jun 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:45:00 GMT

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

The roundtable will be hosted by ASI, the developers of iMIS. ASI is a proud AuSAE Premium Alliance Partner.

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