17 September 2020

Dear colleagues,

 

I came into the TEFMA presidency last September on the back of what was arguably the most successful TEM Conference in Adelaide, a growing number of annual workshops, and with a burning desire to grow engagement and networking.

 

In my acceptance speech I used a quote from Jack Walsh, CEO of General Motors who said “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, then the end is near!”. This quote really resonated with me and helped me shape what I believed the Board needed to focus their efforts on through the delivery of several significant strategic projects, as well as laying the groundwork for the governance changes required to place TEFMA in the strongest position to face the challenges of the future.

 

Then life happened! 

 

Amongst the turmoil caused by drought, significant weather events and the worst recorded bush fires, to now as we continue to navigate the daily challenges of the global pandemic, we seemed to roll from one disaster into another. Despite those challenges I witnessed inspired leadership from all members of the Board who somehow found time to actively participate in key Board activities while helping lead their own institution's response to the disruption and chaos.

 

In response to all these challenges the TEFMA Board was able to respond by:

• Pivoting our support staff and Board meetings to a remote work environment;
• Facilitating a parallel webinar programme dedicated to COVID-19;
• Converting important annual meetings with IM’s into a virtual event;
• Offering our valued Business Partners options to renew membership; 
• Work through an important governance change proposal; and 
• Extending deadlines for critical surveys, awards and scholarships to help members. 
  
  

I would like to highlight the following Board activities: 

 

Executive Group: I would like to thank Glenn Mowbray, President-Elect, (UC), Trevor Humphreys, Vice President (UWA), Hilary Kavanagh, Secretary/Treasurer (JCU), Rob Beck, Executive Officer and Bree Blackwell, TEFMA Secretariat for the passion, insight and friendship they exhibited during this difficult time that allowed important Board activity to move forward between Board meetings.

 

A special thank you to Hilary who continues to bring new rigor and insight to the management of the Association’s financial position.

 

Membership Services Committee: I thank Chris Hewison (RMIT), Glenn Mowbray (UC) and Kathleen Packer (Uow) for the client centered manner in which they worked through innovated approaches to easing the financial pressures for our members and business partners while keeping them engaged with TEFMA.

 

Information Services Committee: I would like to acknowledge the great work by Iona Beauly (USC), Dominic Marafioti (UniSA) and Jon Peacock (UoM) to improve our on-line member collaboration capabilities and progress the key initiative to create a narrative to interpret key outcomes from the TEFMA Annual Benchmarking Survey.

 

Education Services Committee: Emmett Mackle (UoA) really impressed me with his passionate approach to ensuring TEFMA successfully pivoted from face-to-face workshops to enhancing the webinar offering. He was ably supported by Nick Moore, GJK Facility Services, our Premier Corporate Partner, who provided a great insight to the Committee and was also an MC in several webinars where colleagues freely share their knowledge and expertise, case studies and stories, and lessons of success and failure. All have provided an insight and learning not found anywhere else.

 

Knowledge Services Committee: A new committee I recommended to the Board that was aimed at delivering major amendments to TEFMA’s Strategic documentation. I was inspired by Matt Smith (UTas) and his enthusiastic approach to the major rewrite required of the Asset Management Guideline. While faced with some earlier time challenges, Trevor Humphreys has also impressed me with his collaborative and structured approach to the long awaited major review of TEFMA’s Space Management Guideline.

 

Board Support Services: I must also acknowledge the two individuals that are the backbone of the Board’s activities, with a special thank you to Bree Blackwell from Leishman Associates for her tireless efforts. Bree also has a significant coordination role across TEFMA’s many activities.

Our new Executive Officer, Rob Beck, has demonstrated the value of having a professional EO, and from the day he commenced in this new role has empowered the Board’s capacity to develop and action critical decision making as well as bringing continual improvement to the Association's administrative guidelines.

 

Other Significant Achievement this year:

• Helping to support the majority of our domestic staff and students move to remote working and learning;
• Created and adopted TEFMA’s Value Proposition and Strategic Direction document that articulates TEFMA’s four strategic priorities and the value we bring to our sectors;
• The Board has researched, debated and proposed a significant change proposal for acceptance at the AGM/ The recommendations will focus on refreshing TEFMA’s governance and organisational structure on the back of TEFMA’s new strategic direction, value proposition and the outcome of the AICD review;
• We have identified and are actively pursuing strategic partnerships to strengthen our Association as follows:
  

• International Partners: We are working with HEFMA, AUDE and APPA to develop more meaningful outcomes from our partnerships and I am hoping to be able to announce an exciting opportunity for members to participate in an international on-line conversation about COVID-19 and other critical issues our associations face.
• Pre-eminent Stakeholder: The Board is actively working to develop an enduring strategic relationship with Universities Australia’s, DVC Corporate Group and Universities New Zealand, Facilities Management Committee. I am very pleased to report that UA, DVC Corporate Group has appointed Mr Darren McKee as their liaison representative and Darren has already attended several Board meetings. We look forward to working closely with Darren and the UA, DVC Corporate Group to ensure we stay aligned with contemporary challenges and help lead the conversation associated with the physical environment as well as facilities and property services. 

• Unable to run the 2020 Directors' Forum, a virtual meeting was created to ensure our Institutional Members (I.M.) were informed on the reasons for the governance changes that they would be voting on during the AGM.
  Note: I.M’s, your input is critical to ensuring TEFMA stays relevant so we thank you for taking the time to vote at the AGM and I ensure those who provided feedback that it will be seriously considered.
• To our valued Business Partners, I would like to especially acknowledge those of you that have decided to renew their TEFMA membership.  I am confident we will all come out of this global issue in a stronger position to work together to deliver critical services to our members.

As Iona Beauly and Chris Hewison leave the Board I would like to recognise them for their dedication and service to TEFMA during their time on the Board.

 

I am truly honoured to have been TEFMA’s President during this turbulent and challenging time and I wish the incoming President, Glenn Mowbray, the new TEFMA Board and all our members all the very best for the future.

 

Finally, to all the members and partners that I have had the great pleasure to know and call friends I wish you all the very best for the future and I hope you and your families stay safe through these chaotic times.  

 

 

Wayne Millar

 

TEFMA President

 

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