WA President’s Report / Welcome

There is a palpable buzz at the beginning of a new academic year. As the students arrive, the air is bursting with hope and optimism for the year ahead. In many ways it is the same for us, returning to work with renewed energy after a blissful festive period with our loved ones, a time that will now be a distant memory. While some staff may be able to ease into the New Year, advancement staff often have to hit the ground running, otherwise the year can quickly get away from us.

This is where Educate Plus can help, to assist you with not only keeping on top of your annual program, but also finding clever ways to make a bigger impact or to increase productivity.

The Educate Plus Board has identified the need for standardised, high-level professional development suitable for both tertiary and school-based professionals. With this in mind we have engaged Nick Jaffer, President and CEO of Global Philanthropic, who will visit all chapters in early 2018 and provide a Masterclass on top-tier initiatives in fundraising and alumni relations, and how to engage your leadership to secure their support. WA’s turn for this exceptional opportunity will be at 1.00 pm to 5.15 pm on Friday 23 March, at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

The International Conference, in Auckland on Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 September, is shaping up to be a monumental event. The event’s progress has been discussed at a Board level, and the Conference Committee have put together an absolute show-stopper, ensuring the Conference will be at the zenith of professional development opportunities in Australasia. I remind you that in recognition of the challenges WA faces with regard to the tight economy and high travel costs, the Board has approved a 30% discount for all WA members that register during the Early Bird application period, bringing the Early Bird rate of $1240 down to $868, so book soon to take advantage of this rate before the Early Bird period expires on 30 April 2018 (use the code “EPAID2018”). As in previous years, 8 x $500 scholarships are also available for regional institutions and/or those who require financial assistance to attend the Conference. This is a separate needs-based process administered via a simple application form HERE and is available to every Chapter (scholarship applications close 30 March 2018). To read more about the International Conference, the WA discount and scholarships, CLICK HERE.

Keep an eye out for information on SIGs for Fundraising, and Marketing and Communications.

While on the subject of Marketing and Communications, Margo Bastow, our Chapter Vice President, has written an informative piece on the recent changes to Facebook’s algorithm and how this affects your reach.

In this edition we also pay tribute to one of our sensational Chapter Sponsors, Trinity Residential College. Click here to read more about Trinity’s wonderful facilities for meetings, seminars and conferences, as well as their comfortable accommodation.

Finally, I wish to remind you that we are a member-driven organisation and I invite you to contact me if you ever would like to discuss Educate Plus and what it can do for you. We deeply appreciate member feedback as it ensures we remain relevant, and I thank everyone who participated in our member survey at the end of last year. It is not too late to have your say, and I encourage you to complete the survey if you haven’t already done so, COMPLETE SURVEY.

I look forward to seeing soon at one of our professional development events!

David Williams F.Edplus
WA Chapter President

Tel: 9377 8522

Email: david.williams@ggs.wa.edu.au