CEO Welcome Address
I always find value in taking a moment to reflect on the year that has passed. Over the past 12 months, ALGA has continued to grow as a dynamic, inclusive, and well-connected professional community.
Two key highlights stand out for me. The New Zealand Conference in Auckland provided a meaningful opportunity to explore Māori and Indigenous engagement, while also showcasing strong local expertise.
Equally significant was the keynote delivered by our Board Chair, Anne Northway, at the ITRC Annual General Meeting in Kansas. This is a clear reflection of ALGA’s growing international reputation and strong relationships with global counterparts.
With the support of our amazing industry community, the team successfully delivered a series of high-quality events, including the Groundwater and Mining Symposium (Perth), Gas Vapour Symposium (Melbourne), the Northern Australia Conference (Darwin), a Regulator Forum (Port Macquarie), the Industry Excellence Awards (Sydney), and a wide range of training sessions and branch events across Australia and New Zealand.
Our reputation as a leader in contaminated land and groundwater has further strengthened through participation in RemTech Europe, Sustainathon, and our collaboration with Common Forum on a regulator-focused webinar series comparing Australian and European approaches.
In March, the ALGA Board came together in Sydney for our annual Strategy Day, where we reviewed progress and set key priorities for the year ahead. I am pleased that some of the key outcomes from that session are shared in this edition.
Our recent Membership Survey reinforced what we are doing well and highlighted areas for growth. Members expressed strong satisfaction with our webinars and branch events (a 30% uplift), and highlighted the value of professional development and our inclusive approach. At the same time, the feedback pointed to opportunities for improvement in areas such as cost, regional access, and topic diversity. Please be assured we have heard you, and we are acting on this feedback.
As we look forward to ecoforum in Brisbane this October, I remain grateful for our engaged and passionate member base. I look forward to connecting with many of you, virtually or in person, in the months ahead.
Thank you for being part of the ALGA community.
Matt.