New year, new opportunities, same inclusive community
Patrick Armstrong’s welcome message for 2026
Welcome to 2026 with IABC NSW. I hope you enjoyed the holiday season and that it’s not too distant a memory now!
The new board held our kick-off meeting in late January. I was really energised to hear these passionate volunteers share ways they can collaborate to bring value to you, our members.
There are 13 board members spanning all stages of their career in our Chapter. From a student Board Associate to early career professionals and seasoned practitioners, together we have a breadth of industry experience to offer. It’s also important for us as a Chapter to ensure diverse voices are represented on the Board and reflect the inclusive culture that we uphold at IABC NSW.
As I think back to 2025 – my first year as President – what really stood out is the level of engagement from our community. Across each of our events, there were some wonderful, connecting conversations held with communication professionals. Members want to gain professional development opportunities, build their career, expand their networks, and contribute to our profession.
We have listened. So, this year you can expect an exciting program of events, workshops, mentoring, GCCC certification study group, thought leadership, practical communications resources, networking and industry leading speakers, both in Sydney and our growing community in Newcastle/Central Coast.
If you’re interested in certification, our IABC APAC colleagues are holding a 1 hour webinar information session, featuring one of our own board members, Lucy Hose, who became certificated in 2025. Find out more by visiting LinkedIn. This session is an exclusive benefit for IABC members.
As always, if you have ideas and thoughts on what we can do to enhance your member experience, reach out to me any time at president@iabcnsw.com. I’m always up for a coffee and a chat.
Putting the ‘I’ in IABC
On top of your experience with our IABC NSW community, there is something you’ll often hear me say. Don’t forget the ‘I’ in IABC.
IABC is a truly international organisation and the value you can get as a member is global access to the latest and the best in our sector. I encourage you to explore the IABC website, resources and webinar opportunities.
Beyond our NSW Chapter, there are many opportunities to build your career globally. This includes the IABC World Conference being held this year in Toronto, Canada from 14-16 June. If you haven’t been to a World Conference for communications practitioners, you must add this to your professional bucket list. It’s a world-class event for our profession.
Closer to home, this year’s Asia-Pacific Fusion Conference, under the IABC Asia Pacific region’s umbrella, is coming to Brisbane in 2026! After a sold-out event in the Philippines last year, it’s exciting to have Fusion return to Australia. Save the date for 19-20 October.
So, an exciting year ahead. Keep a look out for emails from IABC NSW and follow us on LinkedIn for details on our first event of the year. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks, Pat Armstrong