Chatter From The Chair – Autumn 2018

Agility and resilience continue to be key themes for 2018 with the constantly changing market we are operating in. This is something that ALUCA’s board reflected on at our recent business strategy meeting. We drilled into the insights from the latest ALUCA member research which showed how many of you are focused on the need for resources and new skills and, with the increased market competition, the mergers that are happening. Never before has it been as important to innovate and evolve and stay at the forefront of change. Something that we are all passionate about at ALUCA

This is a nice segue into the results from ALUCA’s recent Special General Meeting ( SGM) that was held last month in Sydney where we formally requested changing  a number of ALUCA rules specific to ALUCA’s Board structure.  I’m pleased to report that all were passed. These changes reflect the Australian Company of Directors best practice Board structure and guidelines and provide for a new staggered Board term of office that will ensure greater continuity and succession planning of Board positions whilst providing for new Board role positions in a more controlled manner. To my earlier point this is important to our Association as we need to continue to adapt and evolve to be as relevant and sustainable as possible.

This is another key theme that will be addressed at ALUCA’s flagship event later this year – our biennial conference on in Hobart from Oct 11th -13th where the theme is “Innov18 – life changing”. I think the name says it all.  We really hope you can join us for an event that is all about delivering to our three key words of Educate, Develop, Connect.    Early bird tickets are now available on ALUCA’s website.

I’m also pleased to share that we are continuing to forge strong strategic partnerships with our fellow associations. I have been invited to share insights with our NZ counterparts in April at their next LADUCA meeting in Wellington/Auckland,  and our American counterparts AHOU have also provided us with a spot at their conference next month too. As I’ve said before this is a fundamental part of our strategy for our association to connect our members with their counterparts around the globe.  We are also busy working on improving and deepening our relationships with key industry stakeholders locally, such as the FSC, who will  be a final judge for ALUCA’s Life Insurance Excellence Awards.

If you haven’t already taken a look at what it takes to enter a nomination for ALUCA’s Life Insurance Excellence Awards then you should. It’s so important that we recognise the great talent and positive contribution that our industry has on the communities we serve.  These awards are all about celebrating this. Nominations close on April 11th.  I encourage you all to enter or nominate your team, peers or leaders.  The Awards night itself is also shaping up to be a great night with guest speaker Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum – the first blind person to ever be awarded a professorship in Australia or New Zealand.  Tickets are also available now for the Awards night event at Darling Harbour in Sydney on May 24th.

ALUCA events have well and truly kicked off for the year. I’ve attended the 2 ALUCA  member complimentary events that have already been held in Sydney. These events could not have occurred without the unstinting hard work and dedication of all our subgroup committee members, many thanks to all of them and our sponsors. I’d also like to officially thank all of the retiring ALUCA committee members and Sub Group Chairs for their huge contribution to both ALUCA and our industry.

As always I welcome your feedback and comments at anytime.  Please feel free to contact me on chair@aluca.com

Jim Welsh
ALUCA Board Chair

Jim_Welsh@amp.com.au
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