From the WA Chapter President

Welcome to your latest WA Chapter eNews. 

One of the things I continue to reflect on in our sector is how much the role of Advancement continues to evolve. 

Whether you are working in Admissions, Marketing, Alumni Engagement, Fundraising, People & Culture or leading these functions, there is a growing recognition of the value that you bring to your organisation. Work that has been aligned to strategic priorities, informed by insight, and focused on impact is now being more clearly understood and valued at a leadership level. Not every organisation is there yet, but the direction is encouraging. 

At the same time, the environment we are operating in continues to grow in complexity. Our communities are busier, expectations are higher, and attention is harder to earn. With that comes an opportunity for us to be more intentional in how we engage, moving beyond activity to creating meaningful, relevant connection. 

Which is exactly why being part of a professional community like educate+ becomes even more important. 

What continues to stand out in this network is the willingness of members to share openly, to support one another, and to contribute to a collective lifting of practice across schools and tertiary institutions. Whether it is through formal professional learning, events, or simply conversations between peers, there is a generosity of spirit that underpins this community. That is a real strength of our profession, and unique when set against other professions.  

Although our contexts may differ, many of the challenges and opportunities we are navigating are shared. We are all working to build stronger relationships, communicate value more clearly, and deliver outcomes that matter to our communities. 

I would encourage you to continue to engage with the opportunities available through educate+. Attend an event, join a conversation online, have a coffee with us at one of our ed+connect Thirsty Thursdays and contribute your perspective, or celebrate something that has worked in your context through nominating for an Excellence Award. A defining moment this year will be the educate+ International Conference in Brisbane this September. This is a significant opportunity to connect nationally, strengthen networks and bring leading practice back to your institutions. With the ‘Grace Period’ for Early Bird registrations closing on 17 April, I strongly encourage you to secure your place as soon as you can!   

I also encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to contribute to the broader Advancement conversation, including participation in our sector surveys and initiatives that help build a clearer picture of our profession. These insights are invaluable in strengthening our collective voice and supporting strategic conversations within your own organisations. To complete the State of the Sector Survey, (which closes on Friday 10 April) click here. 

Our strength as a sector is not just in the work we do individually, but in how we connect and learn collectively. 

Thank you for the role you play in that. 

Laura Kendall  F.EdPlus
WA Chapter President | educate+ 

Director of Community and Sustainability
Guildford Grammar School