Message from Simon Tengende, CEO of AWCI Australia

   Dear Members and Colleagues,

   I want to thank everyone who attended the 76^th Annual Conference! I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to connect with members, partners, and industry colleagues from across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States in the     first few months of being in this role. These interactions reinforced the importance of Industry connections, collaboration, and vision as we continue our journey toward building a unified and robust national association.

During the conference, I had the privilege of addressing attendees about the significance of focusing on the little things that form the foundation of a thriving national organisation. These "little things" are often what define who we are and what we stand for as an organisation. They include cultivating the right culture within our team—one that reflects inclusivity, openness, and mutual respect. By fostering these cultural elements, we ensure that our interactions with members are grounded in genuine care and understanding of their business challenges and needs.

A cornerstone of this approach is the commitment to having the conversations—even the difficult ones. Open dialogue is key to building and sustaining great relationships with our members, partners, and the wider industry. Our goal is to ensure that every member feels valued, heard, and supported as part of this association especially considering the challenges of the last few years.

Valuing life-work balance is another small yet critical aspect that enables us to serve you better, we hope this extends to our members as it is critical to our mental and physical wellbeing. By maintaining balance, we create a predictable and consistent working environment that enhances our ability to deliver reliable services to you, our members. We have partnered with Wellness Guru Kyah O’Connor from Everything in Balance to develop a wellness program informed by common injuries and challenges faced in the trade including Musculoskeletal injuries. The program will focus on 5 key pillars of wellness– Mindfulness, Nutrition, Movement, Breathwork and Social supports. 

As we approach the final stages of transitioning our state members to a national membership model, the excitement is palpable. The calibre of partners joining us to enhance our member proposition is truly inspiring, and their involvement further validates the strength and potential of our organisation. Some of you might have had the opportunity to listen and interact with our member services partners Marsh Insurance and Doyle’s construction lawyers at the Conference, these are just some of the service providers who stand ready to deliver business solutions to our National members. Keep an eye out as we will begin to introduce some of these services as members are transitioned to the national model.

Look out for your State President’s final report to members too, which will detail the transition phases to the national structure. As always, if you have any questions or wish to discuss any industry subject, my door is open—your input is invaluable as we navigate this exciting phase of consolidating the foundation of our national Association for growth.

Finally, as we approach the holiday season, I want to extend my warmest season’s greetings to you, your teams, crews, and families. Please take this time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the company of loved ones. Look after each other during this festive season, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.

A quick reminder: our offices will be closed from December 23rd to January 6th. While you’re enjoying those hot summer days, don’t forget to check out the latest edition of On the Surface—a great read for the beach!

As always, I’m open to any suggestions to make our industry and your association stronger. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to what we will achieve together in 2025.

With Compliments of the Season,

Simon Tengende
CEO, AWCI Australia

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