AGDA is Australia’s peak body for professional communication design. I became a member in 2017, was appointed Chair of the Queensland Council in 2018 and joined the national board as President in 2021.

Post-COVID, both the design industry and membership landscape had shifted significantly. AGDA needed to evolve beyond its event-led legacy and reposition itself as a more sustainable, nationally relevant industry association with stronger governance, clearer direction and greater long-term impact.

Working closely with the General Manager and Board, we led a strategic transformation of the organisation during a period of significant financial and structural instability. Together, we developed AGDA’s first three-year strategic plan, focused on strengthening national engagement, evolving the awards and professional development offering, improving member value and elevating the role of design within business, culture and society.

This included refining AGDA’s membership model, improving operational systems, strengthening governance and expanding opportunities for professional development, industry connection and national participation.

Over the past several years, AGDA has evolved into a more sustainable and strategically focused national organisation, supporting 32% membership growth over two years, an 81.4% renewal rate and significant national audience growth.

As President, I work alongside the General Manager and Board across governance, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, national programming and long-term organisational direction.

This experience has deepened my understanding of governance, stakeholder management and organisational growth within a lean national organisation, reinforcing the importance of practical, collaborative leadership and long-term thinking.