Association executives strengthen their profession in the Philippines

The Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives (PCAAE)* was created in 2013 to facilitate the work of association executives in managing their organizations, and to advance their profession through knowledge delivery, recognition and collaboration initiatives. The PCAAE is the only platform in the Philippines that puts associations and other membership organizations such as chambers; societies, foundations, cooperatives and the non-profit sector at large under one umbrella.

Last December, PCAAE held its annual flagship event, the Third Association Executives’ Summit (AES3), in Manila gathering association professionals, managers, and leaders. The Summit focused mainly on membership-management and governance issues under the theme “Compass to Excellence” and drew 120 delegates to the Philippine International Convention Center, an impressive turnout considering how many Philippine associations’ event calendars were disrupted by the nation’s hosting of APEC 2015.

For the first time, aside from the learning tracks, a table-top exhibition on association services was concurrently held as were the “Ang Susi Awards” that recognized the achievements and contributions of associations in national sustainable development.

Evelyn Salire won the Association Executive of the Year Award for her work as the secretary general of the Philippine Retailers’ Association. In the Institutional Category, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines won the Environmental Impact Award for its EU Due Diligence Guidebook, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines won the People Empowerment Award, and the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines took the Community Service Award. Hewlett Packard won the Technology Information Award for e-Health Center, a Cloud-enabled primary healthcare solution; while the Philippine Institute for Supply Management’s project won the Change Catalyst Award. For the first time, too, delegates from Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore are attending the summit.

PCAAE is first and foremost a community of like-minded individuals and institutions sharing a common goal of making associations in the country more sustainable through a structured and professional approach to association governance, leadership, and management. This shared goal emanates from PCAAE members who are passionate to learn, share experiences and network with each other in a more relaxed and friendly environment.

Beyond what the AES3 delivered in terms of learning and networking, the PCAAE offers continuing education and retooling programs all year round at affordable rates that are not available in schools and other learning institutes. The AES is the “marketplace” for these program offerings that enhances professionalism in the association community in the country.

The PCAAE’s next annual summit will be held at the PICC in Manila on November 23-24, 2016.

*On December 3, 2015, during the 3rd General Council of Members Meeting also held at the PICC in conjunction with the AES3, the members ratified the change of name of PCAAE from the Philippine Council for the Advancement of Association Executives to the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives to be more inclusive and to respond to the needs of the time. With this change, however, the acronym, PCAAE and its logo, remain the same.

This article was written by Octavio “Bobby” Peralta is President & CEO of PCAAE.