Associations UK Congress 2024

The congress starts on Sunday 15 December with a drinks reception and registration at 6:30pm and a Networking Reception & Buffet Dinner from 19:30

Each session on Monday and Tuesday morning is half a day and includes:

  • Presentation from the Session Leader on the issues
  • Summary of the audience's association's situation
  • Discussions on core challenges faced and how to resolve them
  • Refreshment break
  • Presentation of 4-5 Case Studies
  • Q&A with presenters
  • In-depth round-tables on sub-topics
Monday 16 December
08:30 - 08:50
Plenary: Opening Session 

Welcome and introduction to the sessions

 

09:00 - 12:00
Working with your board for an Effective Strategic Partnership
  • Introduction
  • Examination of the challenges faced by Executive Heads
  • Critical approaches to keeping the board strategic and avoiding conflict with the executive
  • Ensuring the board's decision-making processes are informed and based on what's best for the association
  • Governance and board management challenges specific to the now-online era
  • Conclusions

 

09:00 - 12:00
How to create Transformational Association Events that have your delegates booking early, your sponsors signing up and your sector on fire

Associations have purpose hard-wired into their very existence. But if you build it they won’t necessarily come. 

As the world around us changes – cost increases, increasingly late registrations, geopolitical pressures, climate crisis, generational differences, shortening attention spans… how do you create an event that is both relevant to your audience, grows in size and is commercially successful

  • What is a transformational association event
  • Who is the transformation for
  • What journey are your participants going on
  • What change are your defining and driving in your sector
  • How can you use narrative storytelling models to express the journey
  • How to create an event narrative that succinctly articulates the change, the journey, the purpose and the difference your event makes
  • How to you design your transformation, journey and purpose into the participant experience
  • Case studies by delegates of transformational association events, presented to the room
  • Break into groups to discuss your individual association’s event transformation and purpose

 

09:00 - 12:00
Optimising Membership Engagement: Strategies, Metrics, and Real-World Insights

In today's rapidly evolving landscape, associations face significant challenges in maintaining and enhancing member engagement, as shifting member needs and the rise of digital platforms transform how interactions occur. Identifying what true engagement means and measuring it effectively remain elusive for many organisations.

This session delves into the complexities of member engagement, emphasising the critical role of adapting to digital trends and understanding evolving member expectations. It offers a comprehensive view of the hurdles and opportunities that lie ahead, providing actionable insights into how to navigate this changing terrain.

Session format:

  • Introduction
  • Challenges in member engagement and determining what it is, presented by the Session Leader
  • Analysis of the challenges specifically faced by delegates present, presented by the Session Leader
  • Critical issues: facilitated discussion on how to address them
  • Break
  • Case studies by delegates of how they have solved challenges and added value, presented to the room
  • Case study from the session leader, presented to the room
  • Break into groups to discuss: Measuring, Increasing engagement (Business Member Organisations), Increasing engagement (Individual Member Organisations)
  • Conclusions

 

12:15 - 13:30
Strategic Supplier Exchange Session

This time is set aside for appointments with strategic suppliers of services for membership, events, education as well as consultants. Although appointments are optional, we recommend every delegate to attend at least 5 over the two days.  Over 82% of delegates rate the suppliers appointments as valuable or very valuable for them and their organisation. You will be able to schedule appointments in advance in the mobile event app.

13:30 - 14:30
Lunch & Networking
14:30 - 17:35
Association Data Analytics

Data and analytics is essential to driving success. This session will address the use of data in your association, key technologies, what to measure and how to forecast. 

In this session, you will gain and understanding of:

  • Where your organisation sits on the Data maturity scale and the different uses of data – automation, reporting, prediction, compliance & audit
  • What you need to measure and how to grow membership – renewal, recruitment, service usage, engagement
  • Common technologies used for data analytics – PowerBI, Tableau, Dashboards, Google Analytics
  • How data can be used to predict the future and assess risk
  • AIs and ChatGPT and their use in membership - A brief look at the future
14:30 - 17:35
AI & Events:  How to get the most from AI for conferences & events

Generative AI is set to revolutionize the way associations engage with members, plan events, and conduct conferences. This session aims to demystify AI’s application, focusing on harnessing its power to innovate and enhance the association experience. The journey to AI-powered associations is still in its infancy, full of challenges and opportunities.

In this hands-on session, we explore AI from a practitioner's perspective, focusing on actionable insights rather than technology. This interactive session includes case studies from delegates, and a collaborative breakout for you to develop your organization's approach to effective and ethical use of AI, now and into the future.

  • Introduction
  • Session Leader's vision for the future of AI and events - with the challenges
  • A walkthrough of the practical applications of Generative AI (such as ChatGPT)
  • Facilitated discussion on areas of opportunity in events and conferences
  • Case studies by delegates showcasing effective and reliable use of AI
  • Breakout groups to develop an action plan for AI utilization and envision future possibilities.
  • Conclusions

 

14:30 - 17:35
From pain to gain: Strategies for success in CRM

In this session you will learn how to get the best out of your CRM for association success. Ben Sturt, a leading digital and data consultant with deep expereince in the Membership sector, will facilitate, inform and educate.

You'll uncover the foundations to setting up a successful CRM project, get to recognise common pitfalls and how they can be avoided.  As you assess your business and review your CRM and whether to replace or improve, you'll almost certainly start to notice key themes where improvements can be made, both quick wins and longer term strategies. In the session we'll pick up on some of those key themes and how you can make some quick wins and planned longer term strategic improvements. 

Session format:

  • Introductions
  • Presentation on the issues by the Session Leader
  • Analysis of the delegate's situation by the Session Leader
  • Issues and facilitated discussion
  • Break
  • Case studies presented by delegates
  • Group discussion on key themes
  • Conclusions

 

14:30 - 17:35
Online Communities: Their value and effect and the effort to create and maintain them
  • Introduction
  • Challenges of Online Communities presented by the Session Leader
  • Challenges faced by delegates in the room, presented by the Session Leader
  • Critical issues, facilitated discussion on how to address them
  • Case studies by delegates of their successful communities
  • Case study from the session leader, presented to the room
  • Break into groups to discuss: Private Communitiy technologies, Setting up a community from scratch, Volunteer-run communities, Legal issues
  • Conclusions

 

19:30 - 22:30
Congress & Awards Dinner

Enjoy a drinks reception with three-course dinner, networking with your peers, speakers, delegates and other participants. 

The UK Association Success Awards Ceremony will take place during the dinner, with a chance for everyone to recognise the people and organisations driving associations forward.

Tuesday 17 December
08:30 - 11:30
AI in Associations and Membership
  • Introduction
  • How can AI be sucessfully adopted and in which areas
  • Reducing costs and increasing output
  • Minimising the risks
  • Communicating how you adopt AI to your members
  • Conclusions

 

08:30 - 11:30
Effective Conferences & Events Sponsorship & Exhibition Strategies
  • Introduction
  • Challenges with providing value presented by the Session Leader
  • Challenges faced by delegates creating and delivering what sponsors want, presented by the Session Leader
  • Critical issues, facilitated discussion on how to address them
  • Case studies by delegates of their successful approaches and offerings
  • Break into groups to discuss: Sponsor packages, Exhibitor value, Online event packages, Pricing policies
  • Conclusions

 

08:30 - 11:30
Understanding member's needs, the board's priorities and executive's focus: Resolving disparities
  • Introduction
  • Challenges with ascertaining member needs presented by the Session Leader
  • Challenges faced by delegates with determining needs and the mismatching expectations, presented by the Session Leader
  • Critical issues, facilitated discussion on how to address them
  • Case studies by delegates of their successful approaches and offerings
  • Case study from the session leader, presented to the room
  • Case studies from delegates, presented around the table
  • Conclusions

 

11:45 - 13:00
Strategic Supplier Exchange Session

This time is set aside for appointments with strategic suppliers of services for membership, events, education as well as consultants. Although appointments are optional, we recommend every delegate to attend at least 5 over the two days.  Over 82% of delegates rate the suppliers appointments as valuable or very valuable for them and their organisation. You will be able to schedule appointments in advance in the mobile event app.

13:00 - 14:00
Lunch & Networking
14:00 - 16:00
Successful Leadership Projects

Presentations from multiple associations on projects relating to Digital Transformation, DEI and other areas

  • Introduction
  • Presentations of Success Stories to the room
  • Q&A with the project leaders
  • Presentation of Success Stories around the table with Q&A
  • Conclusions

Chaired by:

 

14:00 - 16:00
Successful Conference & Events Projects

Presentations from multiple associations on New events, New Online formats, Event Developments

  • Introduction
  • Presentations of Success Stories to the room
  • Q&A with the project leaders
  • Presentation of Success Stories around the table with Q&A
  • Conclusions

Chaired by:

 

14:00 - 16:00
Successful Membership Projects

Presentations from multiple associations on membership & engagement projects

  • Introduction
  • Presentations of Success Stories to the room
  • Q&A with the project leaders
  • Presentation of Success Stories around the table with Q&A
  • Conclusions

Chaired by:

 

16:00
Congress Closes