FROM THE CHAIR
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Dear Members
It is my sincere hope that everyone is managing to stay well in these trying COVID 19 times. The signs that we have the virus in check and recovery is on the cards are strong. However the virus has had a big toll on our society, jobs and on our mental health.
With that in mind, I’d urge everyone to both look out of their own psychological well-being and keep an eye open for signs that your friends and colleagues might need a hand – we’re all in this together.
From my position as Chairman of itSMFA it has been very encouraging to watch the transition to our ‘Virtual Events’ and I am delighted to say this has been a real success for us. My congratulations and thanks to the State Branches and the National Office staff for making this happen. Like everyone, I viewed this necessary adjustment to ‘the new normal’ with some trepidation, but the strength of our community has driven this forward and I expect to see ‘Virtual’ become an accepted method of delivery in future.
I am very proud that our digital seminars captured the personality, sense of collaboration and camaraderie of our physical event in surprisingly effective ways. They also gave us the opportunity to experiment with new delivery models and extend our reach in our smaller states like Northern Territory and Tasmania.
As you may already know, we have moved the National Conference to December. We elected to push the date out so we could escape the worst of the travel and gathering restrictions
only just now being wound back. At the same time, we were always determined to stage this event, the most important in the national calendar and one of the key events internationally too.
Our sponsors remain committed and after last year’s success I have every reason to feel optimistic that this year’s Conference will be another terrific event – and what an achievement to stage a terrific National Conference against the backdrop of all that this year has dished up.
At the recent AGM I was able to point out that your board and office staff have been able to reap the savings of our new staffing structure and office location. This, aided by a fantastic result from the 2019 Conference, have flowed to the bottom line and enabled us to substantially bolster our financial sustainability.
By turns this has been a difficult year, but one marked by considerable success. It is a credit to us all as Members, along with the contribution of the staff, that we have managed the affairs of the Association so well. We remain viable, financially robust and well placed for the challenges of the year ahead.
Bradley Busch
Chair, itSMF Australia.