Cohorts commence in February, May and September 2021.

The list of 21st Century macro and nano trends is extensive and almost exclusively interrelated: Associations are struggling to define their value propositions in the context of complicated socio-economic environments; and yet their need to advocate, influence and respond to circumstances has never been more urgent and necessary.

These are uncertain times and all professional associations, irrespective of membership demographic, geographic focus, or financial strength, are striving to operate at peak efficiency and effectiveness, and to support their members in increasingly fragile socio-economic and political environments. Now, perhaps for the first time in generations, membership associations must be wholly pragmatic in ensuring they add durable value to their members’ professions, industries and communities. This is a reality that transcends borders. Given these mounting challenges and expectations, volunteer board members are increasingly required to support association staff by playing more decisive, strategic, and generative roles within the organisations. 

Within the voluntary environment of association governance, it can be difficult to find time, resources or suitable avenues for personal development, and yet for directors to be successful as effective leaders, a commitment from associations to their directors’ continual professional development is critical.