Acting PIAA president Kieran May has told members the association has reached a ‘turning point’ and admits to the challenges that lie ahead.

In a correspondence sent to all industry members, May defends the way the PIAA had been previously run and says ‘the early structure of the association suited the times’.

May says the PIAA will soon enlist a ‘new look Board’ which will result in an increased commitment to communication and consultation with its members.

The acting president says the association will endeavour to amend its past, but asserts there is a difficult road to be followed.

“Will we always get it right? Will we all agree on every course of action? The answer, I suspect is no, but with open communication around what we are trying to achieve and why, we want to be seen to be on the right path. In the long term, we will be judged on results,” says May.

A meeting to fill Board vacancies is set to take place today, and Member Action Group spokesman Tom Eckersley says the association needs to recruit the right people to get back on track.

“The Board can’t do much without a full crew back on deck, but once they do that we will see what changes will be made,” says Eckersley.

[Related: Overflow of candidates for Board]

As the announcement of who will fill the shoes of departed Board members draws closer, May says the PIAA regrets losing valuable players but there is a need to elect those with differing attitudes.

“Some staff in the membership services area have regrettably been let go by the Association. The departure of some good people has been contentious,” he says.

“The worth of recruiting people with a different mindset is yet to be demonstrated fully. What is incontrovertible is the value we now place on the delivery of outcomes for members.”

May concludes a smaller association income is set to present a challenge, and says the PIAA will look to ‘more profitable partnerships’ in the future.

“Declining and changing income streams mean we no longer can afford to spend members’ money without getting a return for those members. Investing in good staff and asking them to be accountable will deliver outcomes,” says May.

“Sensible investment in our office accommodation will eliminate waste while keeping costs under control.”

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