WMRR Board Communiqué – March 2026

The WMRR Board met for the first time this year on Friday 6 March 2026 with a full agenda including a review of the feedback from the 2025 Member Survey, and a strategy focused session, which included a reveal of the recommendations for the WMRR brand refresh and preliminary discussions ahead of the review of the Strategic Business Plan for the 2027-2029 period.

I am pleased to report that the “business as usual” matters are tracking well. WMRR remains in a strong financial position enabling the start of delivery of several key initiatives that will be completed in 2026, including the State of Industry report.

The Board reviewed the feedback from the 2025 Member Survey which assessed perceptions of WMRR’s value and effectiveness across events, training, communications and advocacy, as well as members’ industry priorities. The results show continued strengthening of WMRR’s impact, with a record 98% of respondents indicating they would recommend WMRR membership, event participation increasing to 87% (up from 80% in 2024), and 92% agreeing that WMRR represents the best interests of the industry. Satisfaction with communications also continued to improve year-on-year.

Members identified networking opportunities, policy and advocacy updates, events, webinars, training and information sharing as the most valuable aspects of membership, with an increased emphasis on industry networking. Feedback on event timing and locations is already informing new initiatives, including plans to trial a regional forum (i.e. Cairns) and lunchtime networking events, while survey insights are also guiding improvements to communications alongside the launch of WMRR’s refreshed website and CRM later in 2026.

Looking ahead, this year will see WMRR continuing to deliver a strong calendar of events and professional development initiatives across Australia. The first event of the year, the SA Women of WARR Leadership Breakfast attracted more than 140 attendees -  a record for the event in SA. Planning for the Tasmanian Forum and the WA Women of WARR events in May 2026 is now well underway, and of course, the ENVIRO Conference in Adelaide in June 2026, which will open for registrations next month.  This month we will launch the new Bite Sized Learning Series, and this year will also see some new offerings in WMRR’s training program.

I was very excited to see the results from the work done to refresh the WMRR brand. Feedback from 2024 Member Survey and specific brand feedback showed there was appetite to strengthen and modernise the WMRR brand, while maintaining its strong recognition within the sector, and I am pleased to say there was consensus from the Board on the updated WMRR logo. Members can expect to see the refreshed logo in the second half of the year. Templates and updated visual materials will be progressively rolled out in coming months, ahead of the new WMRR website development.

WMRR’s activities are guided by its Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles and Priority Advocacy Areas within the Strategic Business Plan, which will undergo a comprehensive review ahead of the 2027–2029 strategic period. A Strategy Day has been scheduled for Thursday 3 September 2026 in Sydney, following the 2026 AGM and the appointment of State Presidents and Directors to the 2026–2027 Board.

It might also interest you to know that this year will see the WMRR Board refreshed. Nominations are now open for three (3) director positions, including the Vice-President, with candidates needing to lodge their nomination by 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026 – so you could actually be at the WMRR Strategy Day if successful! The new directors will take office for a term of two (2) years, commencing at the WMRR AGM, which will be held on Monday 22 June 2026 ahead of the ENVIRO Conference in Adelaide.  If you share a passion for our sector, understand the significance of governance and strategy, and have leadership experience in the WARR sector, I strongly encourage you to consider nominating.