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June 2017 Speak Out 3
WELCOME TO THE June edition of
Speak Out . This edition is packed with
information on current Association events
and priorities, with a focus on a range of
speech pathologists working across a range
of sectors.
For those of you who attended conference,
I hope that you were able to return home
and put into practice the “bite-sized”
pieces of information that you gained
to get yourself moving towards 2030. I
took away with me many “bites” (maybe
my mouth is now overfull?), so I am now
prioritising. It was lovely to see so many of
you at conference, and to share the best
bits through social media such as twitter.
I hope that those of you who were unable
to attend this year could follow the news
through the conference hashtag #SPAConf.
My congratulations to Harmony Turnbull,
Conference Convenor, Andy Smidt, Scientific
Program Convenor and the conference
planning committee together with Pam
and Colleen our NO staff - the conference
really was fabulous with high calibre papers,
inspiring keynotes and the opportunity to
network with our peers, and with exhibitors. I
am really looking forward to Adelaide in 2018,
and I hope that this conference has inspired
you to consider submitting an abstract when
papers open from Wednesday 14 June.
A further wrap-up of the Sydney conference
will be in the August edition of Speak Out.
The Annual General Meeting and awards
ceremony were held during the conference.
My congratulations to our award winners this
year – it was exciting to have so many! More
information on the award winners will be
provided in the August Speak Out .
At the AGM the Board for the next 12 months
was also announced. The following people
will be on the Board of Directors of the
Association:
• Tim Kittel- Vice President
Communications
• Belinda Hill- Vice President Operations
• Chyrisse Heine- Director
• Brooke Sanderson- Director
• Lee McGovern- Director
• Marlene Westerveld- Director
• Gaenor Dixon- President
My thanks to all the people who stood
for election to the Board of Directors this
year. It was exciting to see so many high-
calibre applicants wish to volunteer for
the Association on the Board. If you are
interested in the strategic direction in which
our profession is travelling, and wish to help
steer that direction, then I encourage you to
consider nominating for the Board in January
2018.
I also want to take a minute to thank Robyn
Stephen who has stepped down from the
Board after 6- years of service as a Director
and as Vice-President. Robyn has been a
tireless, committed and hard-working Director
over her time on the Board, and she will be
missed.
The Association recently launched its
strategic plan for 2017-2019. The 3-year
strategic plan starts the Association, and
its members, on the journey towards 2030.
There are many exciting initiatives built into
the plan. I hope you can take the time to read
it.
So, time to get started on the next strategic
plan - I look forward to updating you on its
progress over my two-year term!
From the President
Gaenor Dixon
Gaenor Dixon
National President