Fireside Chat
From Overwhelmed to Optimised:
An Honest Conversation About IT for Associations & NFPs
The Technology partner that's already thinking about your next step.
Overview
In February 2025, the Australian Privacy Commissioner issued an enforceable undertaking against Oxfam Australia following a data breach and used it to put the entire not-for-profit sector on notice.
Updated privacy obligations were issued directly to associations and NFPs, with expanded requirements around data security, retention, and destruction.
Your association's member data carries real legal exposure, and the IT model most associations rely on was not built for what regulators are now demanding.
This virtual live conversation tackles the reality head-on. It is an honest peer discussion about what it actually takes to run technology well inside an association, from ageing infrastructure and vendor sprawl to cyber risk, privacy obligations, and the quiet cost of doing nothing. Association leaders who have been through it will share what the journey looked like, what broke, and what they would do differently.
Built for CEOs, Executive Directors, Operations Managers, and Board Members overseeing technology investment, the session will explore how associations can build genuine IT resilience without an enterprise budget, secure technology decisions from a volunteer board, and move from reactive to strategic before the next crisis lands on their desk.
Key Takeaways
Why is doing nothing not the safe option? The hidden costs of legacy systems: staff time, risk exposure, and member attrition.
How to get technology investment approved by a volunteer board that meets four times a year and has no IT background.
The cyber threats associations are most exposed to in 2026. Why are regulators now watching the sector closely?
What does the strengthening of the Australian Privacy Act mean for how your association collects, stores, and deletes member data?
How can you build IT resilience when you have one generalist, a part-time contractor, or no dedicated IT person at all?
The vendor sprawl problem. Why twelve disconnected tools cost more than a consolidated stack and how to make the case for change?
The questions every association leader should ask before signing another IT contract. And the red flags that only become obvious after you already have
This Fireside Chat is For
CEOs, Executive Directors, and Board Members responsible for technology decisions and investment in member-based organisations
Operations and Association Managers carrying IT responsibility without a dedicated technology team
Finance, Risk, and Compliance Officers managing technology budgets, privacy obligations, and data governance
Membership, Events, and CPD Managers reliant on platforms that need to perform when it matters most
Peak Body Leaders accountable for the digital credibility and data security of an entire industry
This Fireside Chat is Not For
Large enterprise IT departments with dedicated security and infrastructure teams
Technology consultants and vendors seeking market intelligence
Technology providers looking to pitch in the chat
Fireside Chat attendees will receive
A complimentary 30-minute IT strategy session with Next Step
Our Association IT Health Check; a self-assessment tool built specifically for member-based organisations
Speakers
Josh Boniface
CEO,
Next Step
Brett Lindsay
Director, Solution Architect
Next Step
Evan Thomas
COO,
MFAA
Raul Kumar (RK)
CEO,
Nexus42
Secure your spot in the Fireside Chat
Join an honest, practical conversation about what it really takes for associations and NFPs to manage IT risk, privacy obligations, cyber security, ageing systems, and vendor sprawl without an enterprise-sized budget.
Register now to reserve your place. Attendees will also receive a complimentary 30-minute IT strategy session with Next Step and access to the Association IT Health Check self-assessment tool.