August 2026

Good research does more than describe what members are experiencing - it creates evidence that can be used by media, industry and policymakers. COSBOA’s 2026 Small Business Perspectives Report shows what happens when robust research moves beyond the organisation that commissioned it and becomes part of a wider conversation.

August 2026

Recent scrutiny of Australia’s accounting and audit sector has raised a broader question about professional self-regulation: what happens when confidence in the standards system begins to break down? In this article, we look at why associations need evidence that their standards are understood, trusted and working, and what is at risk for both self-regulation and membership when that trust is lost.

August 2026

Members are more likely to give you honest answers when they trust what will happen to their responses. And decision-makers are more likely to use research when they trust how the findings were produced. From confidentiality and sampling to identifying questionable responses, protecting data from inappropriate AI use and closing the loop with members, trust needs to be built into every stage of the research process. We look at some of the practical disciplines that turn survey responses into evidence people can rely on.

August 2026

As trust becomes more selective and information harder to assess, associations have an advantage that is difficult for competitors to replicate: their standing as a credible voice for their profession or industry. We look at why that trust matters to the association value proposition - and why associations should be measuring it rather than assuming it.

July 2026

‍Marketing General Incorporated's Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report is the most widely cited membership benchmark in the world, and the 2026 edition makes sobering reading. Membership growth has fallen to one of the lowest levels since the report's inception. Renewal rates are softening, and confidence in the value proposition is slipping.

July 2026

In AuSAE's most recent Open Access Webinar, Brenda Mainland from Survey Matters unpacked what the latest Australian research really tells us about AI's impact on the workforce, and made a compelling case for why associations, not training providers, are best placed to guide members through this transition.

July 2026

A newer research tool is starting to close that gap. AI-assisted, or AI-moderated, interviews use conversational AI to run open-ended, adaptive interviews with far more people than a human research team could manage in the same timeframe, or with the same budget.

July 2026

Australia's National AI Standards will be mandatory. This article looks at what the new framework and Office of AI mean for associations, what association leaders can learn from the peak bodies shaping the new AI rules and how to be heard before rules are set.

May 2026

New Australian research is challenging the assumption that AI will simply reduce jobs. Instead, firms adopting AI are often hiring more workers and placing greater value on adaptability, judgement and communication skills. This article explores what the latest CSIRO findings could mean for professional associations, workforce planning and the future of knowledge-based professions in Australia.

May 2026

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the Australian workforce faster than many professions are prepared for. As both a researcher working closely with professional associations and a parent watching young adults enter a changing workforce, I created the AI Skills Readiness Index to help professions understand where they stand today and how we can ensure Australians are equipped to thrive in the world of AI without leaving people behind.

May 2026

Most associations run member research internally at some point. We understand why. On the surface, surveys can appear straightforward. The challenge is that good research is not defined by how many responses were collected, but by whether the evidence is robust enough to support confident decision-making.

May 2026

After fifteen years of working with Australian associations, the question most associations ask us - and almost none can answer with evidence - is whether members value what they offer. Almost every association we have worked with has some form of member value gap, and our benchmark data suggests that understanding it is key to avoiding attrition.

April 2026

Member retention is no longer just a renewal‑time issue. Artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty and global instability are changing how members assess value and relevance - with clear implications for risk management in associations.

April 2026

Member retention is an important benchmark for associations.   Drawing on our research with association members over the past decade, this article examines members’ likelihood of renewing and the reasons why they may not renew.

March 2026

AI is already embedded in how work gets done, but capability is not keeping pace. New research from RMIT and Deloitte Access Economics reveals a growing generational divide between those who are supported to build AI skills and those left to work it out alone, with real implications for productivity, wages, and professional standards. For associations, this shift raises a sharper question: how do you keep your whole profession moving forward, not just parts of it?

March 2026

If your advocacy isn’t backed by credible data, it’s built on opinion. And opinion doesn’t hold up when decisions are on the line. Most associations know they need better industry data, but it often gets pushed aside for more immediate priorities. This piece outlines a practical way to build industry data you can stand behind, strengthening your position with government, your board, and your members, without overloading your team.

March 2026

There is a growing gap between the role associations are expected to play and the data they have to support it. In a rapidly changing environment, relying on fragmented or external data is no longer enough. This article outlines the five measures that underpin meaningful industry intelligence, and why owning this data is critical to leading your industry.

February 2026

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping your members’ jobs, not in theory, but in task lists, promotion criteria and entry-level pathways. Yet many associations are still focused on how AI can improve internal efficiency, rather than what it means for the professions you represent.

The real strategic question is not how you use AI, but how prepared your members are for it.

February 2026

Drawing on analysis of more than 20,000 unprompted member comments, our latest article reveals a subtle but important shift in what members now see as the true value of belonging. CPD remains central, but advocacy has surged and expectations around information and support have sharpened in ways many associations may not yet fully appreciate.

If you want to understand how member priorities are evolving, and what that means for your strategy in 2026, this is essential reading.

January 2026

The latest PwC Global CEO Survey reveals a growing disconnect at the heart of AI adoption in Australia. Closing this gap will require coordinated, evidence-based action, and professional and industry associations have a central role to play.