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Opening a business bank account should be straightforward, yet for many membership bodies, trade associations, charities, clubs, and professional societies it has become anything but. Over the past two years, an increasing number of organisations have reported long delays, outright refusals, or sudden account closures. For bodies whose very survival depends on secure banking facilities, this is more than an inconvenience. It threatens credibility, financial stability, and mem

Princess Leia remains more than a sci-fi heroine. She is a case study in resilience, compassion, decisiveness, and the realities of leading in a complex and often hostile environment.

Delegation is not abdication. It's a discipline of trust, supported by oversight. When done well, it creates space: space for leaders to lead, space for staff to act, and space for the organisation to keep moving no matter who is away. When authority is restricted to one individual however, everyday transactions become dependent on their availability. That might look like control, but in reality it’s a bottleneck. Business continuity falters. What should be routine becomes co

Talk of new models isn't new. Before COVID-19, the sector buzzed with talk of subscriptions, micro-payments, and modular benefits. Then came the pandemic, which forced experimentation but also prompted many to retreat to safe ground once events resumed. The result is paralysis. Organisations know they need change but fear the perceived risks. Adjusting the business model means rethinking the very systems that underpin income. It feels dangerous, even existential. Yet risk

Associations and professional bodies increasingly face the same dynamics. Membership today is borderless, always on, and profoundly portable. For associations and professional bodies, the challenge is to build systems and cultures that reflect this reality, so that no matter where your members are, they feel their community is right there with them.

We’ve just wrapped up our very first Association Transformation Governance as Leadership Retreat , two days immersed in the messy,...

One of the most persistent challenges I encounter in association governance is the member who insists that, by virtue of paying their annual subscription, they are entitled to see everything: board minutes, confidential contracts, draft strategy papers, detailed management accounts, even notes from development meetings.

Membership bodies matter. They represent professions, influence policy, regulate standards, and serve communities. They deserve professional leadership, not amateur compromise. The subconscious assumption that “I’ve done it, so I can run it” might feel comfortable, but it is a false economy which boards and appointments committees must resist. Credibility with members is important, but without leadership capability, it crumbles quickly.

Star Trek Day is upon us, and while some may be celebrating by quoting “Live long and prosper” or revisiting their favourite episodes, I’ve been reflecting on a character who has quietly shaped my own understanding of leadership: Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Every interaction builds or erodes trust. Every conversation either strengthens a professional relationship or weakens it. The details get forgotten, but the feeling lingers. People remember how you made them feel far longer than they remember what exactly was said. That’s why leaders need to take their own communication so seriously. It’s not about being endlessly polite or sugar-coating everything. It’s about being intentional. It’s about understanding that the how is as im

What does Tony Stark teach about leadership? Not that he is a model to emulate wholesale, but that leadership is inherently messy, contradictory, and human, even in the Marvel Universe.

The association sector is full of grand strategies, slick digital platforms, and promises of “the next big thing” in member engagement; but when economic turbulence hits and budgets are tight, the organisations that thrive aren’t necessarily those chasing the shiny and new. Instead, they are the ones doubling down on the fundamentals, i.e., the “back to basics” essentials of recruitment, retention, and relationships.

The technology gap between native apps and mobile websites has closed. Today’s responsive sites scale beautifully across devices, offering smooth navigation, embedded video, and interactive features. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) go further: they allow offline access, background updates, and even push notifications, all without the friction of app downloads.

Shared leadership is not a shortcut to inclusivity. It is a demanding model that requires clarity, trust, and discipline. Done well, it can harness complementary strengths and broaden reach. Done badly, it confuses, divides, and weakens.

I recently completed an Independent Non-Executive Director (iNED) recruitment process for a client. As part of closing the loop, I...

Professional membership bodies exist to uphold high standards, represent their members with integrity, and embody the values of good...

When did membership become a countdown? In many (most?) organisations, belonging is framed as a one-year transaction, neatly packaged...

One of the most common phrases you hear around association and professional body board tables is: “We need to be careful, this is...

Membership organisations all face a familiar challenge: how do you deliver value to a wide range of people whose needs, motivations, and...

I’ve spent the majority of my career in the association sector, as a staff member, as a Chief Executive, and now as a consultant. Like...