You are invited to make an investment in your professional development by actively participating in ADAPE Australasia's International Conference 2008.

Hosted by the Queensland Chapter of ADAPE, the Conference seeks to provide you with a valuable, invigorating and professionally rewarding experience. The Conference also aims to give speakers a sense of accomplishment, recognition and an increased profile among their peers. For sponsors the Conference offers business opportunities and a higher profile with delegates. The Conference is certainly about enjoying the professional and social interaction between delegates.

With the changing dimension of the profession in education we refer to as "Development or Advancement" there has never been a time when ADAPE membership has spanned such a diverse group of positions, roles and responsibilities. No longer is this profession just about fundraising and alumni, but it has an increasing emphasis in areas such as marketing, enrolments and community engagement. Added to this change is the fluctuating funding regime offered by governments that seek greater accountability in return for funding support.

With Conference 2006 hosted by the New Zealand Chapter, with membership that spans Asia, as well as recent positive discussions concerning an alliance with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education - CASE (US) and early conversations with the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA), the Association has reached a level of maturity that places it as the leading Association for the advancement of education in Australia, New Zealand and Asia spanning both Schools and Universities.
In recognition of this present level of maturity, ADAPE Australasia's Biennial International Conference 2008 will not only feature specific areas of interest that reflect the Association's membership diversity and levels of experience, but also as a new initiative, feature a specific and focused element of the conference program, The Leader's Forum that has been particularly developed for organisational leaders and experienced development practitioners.

It is in this area of institutional leadership where ADAPE seeks to provide an excellent opportunity 'raise the bar' in terms of dialogue and knowledge enhancement for these leaders who seek to advance their institutions to the next level of distinction.

Conference 2008 promises to be a rewarding, professional experience that all levels of professionals engaged in the Development or Advancement of their organisations should attend, as a duty to themselves to be all they can be in their profession.