President Welcome & AGM Report
Educate Plus, as an association has had its most successful year on record in many ways, with one metric being it’s 1,892 members. However, once again, it is the QLD Chapter that distinguished itself and continued to ‘shine’ now having 312 members. Attendance at all events this year has been enormous and across the SIGs, PDs, International Conference and today’s Christmas Lunch we’ve seen 394 of you attend, present and participate! I am thrilled that you have joined me, in choosing Educate Plus as your professional association.
As a truly exceptional year, members should feel very confident with the current position of our organisation. With a strong balance sheet, growing membership and an outstandingly successful International Conference, the future for Educate Plus looks very bright. The committee continue to volunteer their time to ensure they provide leadership and stewardship to our members. As a Chapter Committee we are dedicated to ensuring that your membership provides you with the advancement resources you need to be successful.
The QLD chapter will be remembered this year for contributing to an extraordinary International Conference in Auckland. I particularly acknowledge the 74 QLD members who attended and those who presented because your support of, and contribution to, the success of the conference was outstanding. I’m sure we all look forward to the 2020 International Conference in Adelaide.
The 2018 Excellence Awards celebrates the highest achieving individuals and institutions in Advancement. The awards showcase best practice, leadership and set new benchmarks for schools and Universities across Australia and New Zealand.
Congratulations to John Collins being awarded the prestigious Trevor Wigney Award which is the highest honour in our association. Congratulations also goes to Jeff Buchanan (AskRight) for being inducted as a Fellow of Educate Plus.
Awards were received by Citipointe Christian College and Churchie acknowledging the outstanding work of those within our chapter. With regional schools being offered the opportunity to attend the conference through applying for a scholarship it was heartening to see more schools than ever attend. It is encouraging that our own regional initiatives in Toowoomba and Rockhampton were so well supported. Thank you to Chapter Committee member Claire Grlj (Leading Marketing Solutions) for organising these and the Committee members who helped facilitate them.
Our 2019 QLD Conference is already well-planned with Early-Bird registrations now open all thanks to a talented and diverse committee. Save-the-Date for 5-6 September 2019, The Grand Chancellor Hotel, Brisbane.
To assist members ‘educate’ their bosses and boards day one has been targeted towards providing Principals, Business Managers and Board members with a deeper understanding and appreciation of, the advancement roles so get it into their diaries now (they receive a 50% discount when joining you).
We thank our QLD sponsors MGM wireless, MMG Education and Australian Catering Serves a well as the member institutions who hosted events during the year – St Laurence’s College, Brisbane Boys College, University of Queensland, St John’s Anglican College, Lourdes Hill College, St Joseph’s College (Nudgee), St Ursula’s College (Toowoomba), Rockhampton Grammar School, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, and All Hallows School. These contributions ensure we minimise the costs of offering professional development to our members and is very much appreciated.
I’d like to acknowledge and thank Neil McWhannell, Educate Plus CEO, and Tina Fleming, Operations Manager in ‘Head Office’ for the incredible level of support and professionalism provided throughout the year. Thanks also to Bruce Wright and Tiffany Hardy for their time on the Committee during the first half of this year. I’m pleased (and relieved) that all current Committee members are continuing with the addition of Lara Pickering. I sincerely thank you all for your outstanding service on the committee, your patience with me, and for the portfolio you’ve not only served in, but developed and grown. Special mention of Sue Russell and Glenda Fitz-Payne who are the ‘ying to my yang’ in keeping everything running in our Chapter so smoothly.
To all members may I take this opportunity to thank you for the support and encouragement I have received in my first year as Chapter President. I look forward to continuing to serve you as a member of the QLD Chapter Committee and member of the Educate Plus Board.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas break.
Lea Walker-Franks FEdPlus
President, QLD Chapter Committee
Educate Plus
