Categories

Executive Director of the Year

This category recognises leadership, expertise and innovation at the most senior level in an Association. The nominee should have obtained outstanding achievements while demonstrating the qualities of a true leader, a visionary, an innovator and with know-how in the sector. Nominees should illustrate excellence in leadership and innovation in their contribution to the organisation and the sector. This nomination is open to: Executive Directors, Secretaries General, Managing Directors, Chief Executive Officers, All Executive Heads of a membership organisation, where the nominee has held the position for at least two years.

Association Executive of the Year

This category recognises strategic and innovative managers in all areas of an Association. The nominee should have attained success in their field of expertise and be a strategic manager who has made a substantial impact and/or brought substantial contribution to the association. This nomination is open to association employees or volunteer executives of membership organisations, in the specific role, who have held their position for at least two years.

Best Association Team

This category is for a team working together for the last 18 months. The team should have made a substantial impact for its department / association. Measurable achievements may be related to projects with their specific goals and corresponding achievements or results for improved day-to-day activities related to running the association / department. This category is not open to temporary teams created with the purpose of working together on a specific project, however the project can be nominated in its appropriate category and some considerations about the team can be included in the objective and achievements sections.

Association of the Year

This category is for membership organisations, be they for individuals, for businesses or for federations of associations, for their successful achievements in the last 18 months. Measurable achievements could include notable and successful projects such as events, campaigns and development of services and products; income generation; membership growth, retention, engagement and satisfaction; leadership within the association; contribution to the advancement and success of the organisation and sector, and other results.

Best Digital Transformation

This category is for the digital transformation of an association’s systems and services, substantially developed or launched in the last 18 months. Transformation elements may include and are not limited to website re-think; moving services to online; re-think of how the services are delivered; adoption of innovative technologies; complete integration of all systems; highly functional and pleasing user interfaces; ease of use by members / community, uplifting the performance of digital media e.g. integrating media sources, improving ROI. Measurable achievements could include statistics such as: site analytics, logins, users returning, number and length of sessions, user interactions, responses to a call to action, user experience evaluations, personalisation, optimisation, and other results, measured against stated goals. This category is not open to association mobile apps or the creation of new member services, which have their own categories.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative

This category recognises either a NEW or a substantially developed EXISTING equity, diversity and inclusion initiative, developed and implemented in the last 18 months. Elements may include membership or volunteer recruitment, processes and management of membership or volunteers, products and services, pricing, editorial content, etc. Measurable achievements could include statistics related to the equity, diversity and inclusion within the organisations’ membership, measured against stated goals.

Best New Event

This category is for a NEW in-person event, such as a conference, congress, convention, exhibition, seminar series, showcase, careers show or other event, which has taken place in the last 18 months. Measurable achievements could include statistics such as number of attendees, exhibitors, sponsors; revenue, education evaluations, net promoter score and other results, measured against stated goals. This category is not suitable for online or hybrid events, which have their own category.

Best Long-Standing Event

This category is for a long-standing (4 or more years) in-person event, such as a conference, congress, convention, exhibition, seminar series, showcase, careers show or other event, which has taken place in the last 18 months. Measurable achievements could include statistics such as number of attendees, exhibitors, sponsors; revenue, education evaluations, net promoter score and other results, at the latest edition and over a period of time, measured against stated goals. This category is not open to new or existing events for less than 4 years, which have their own categories.

Best Association Podcast

This category recognises a podcast, including podcasts available in video as well as audio format, or an audio series or channel, primarily produced or released / lunched in the last 18 months. Measurable achievements could include statistics such as listener analytics, response levels, reviews and listener rating of podcast or audio series, social media shares and reach, as well as the production and quality of the podcast or of the audio series and other results, measured against stated goals. This category is not suitable for submitting event recordings.

Education & Professional Development Categories

Best Education or Professional Development Offering

This category recognises a NEW or a significantly updated, EXISTING professional development or education offering, primarily planned and implemented in the last 18 months. It includes certificate programmes, training, e-learning or other professional development activities or digital services and products, designed to provide professional development or education. Measurable achievements include statistics such as number of participants, users or subscribers, revenue from sales, education levels and scores, login frequency / number of sessions, session duration, engagement, etc. measured against stated goals.