August 08 Around the States - Victoria

 
Since we last spoke, ALPMA Vic has had a busy few months with events and renewals. Thank you to all renewing members who continue to support ALPMA and a warm welcome to all of our new members.

June saw an interesting update from Mike Brett-Young, CEO of the Law Institute of Victoria, at our monthly lunchtime seminar. Mike’s lively session saw over 20 questions tabled. Attendees found the content not only informative and enlightening but, with the introduction of Supervised Workplace Traineeships looming, also somewhat reassuring . If you missed this session, the MP3 recording can be streamed from the ‘members only’ section of the ALPMA web site.

Felicity Mildon presented “Negotiation Skills for Managers” in July . Missed it? Listen to the MP3 file in the audio library. Felicity did a marvelous job at steering delegates through the mine field of negotiations. Her session provided attendees with valuable insights and simple, practical advice.

 

Our August seminar will be remembered as a highlight of the professional development year. Chris Heilbronn of Kensington Swan in New Zealand teamed up with the fabulous Peter Williams, CEO of Deloitte Digital, to stimulate a switch in our thinking on Innovation and How Technology Can Drive Change. Chris and Pete presented a lively session on not only using Web 2.0 and other technological solutions to improve processes and communication but also expanded our thinking on the benefits of finding innovative approaches to business problems. The extended lunchtime seminar was followed up by a 1 ½ hour Master Class where participants learnt more about how to avoid the biggest risk to business success (i.e standing still and doing nothing) and to stimulate innovative thoughts and “fly with the eagles”.

On a personal note, I’m thoroughly looking forward to attending this year’s Legal Management Summit, reFresh your Law Firm, in Sydney in October. Most of you will have now received the full conference brochure and registration form and will already be aware of the broad range of high profile speakers and topics. The program this year is very appealing and the choice of break-out sessions enables delegates to customize what they want to achieve by attending the Summit.
 

With the conference being held in our home state last year, our firm was able to send four of the management team, including our Managing Partner for the first time. The reports back were so positive that our Managing Partner will this year again take three of the management team to Sydney. I would encourage you and your team members to attend the conference and make note that each additional delegate after the first can register for only $660. Considering some of the commercial conferences that are available in the market are priced at three times this amount, the Summit is terrific value.

Upcoming Events

16 September – WorkChoice Reforms – lunchtime seminar with Rob Jackson, Kliger Partners.
10 – 11 October – reFresh your Law Firm, 2008 Legal Management Summit, Star City, Sydney
21 October – Risk Management – lunchtime seminar with LPLC
18 November – Business Development – lunchtime seminar presented by Winston Marsh
2 December – Annual ALPMA VIC Christmas Luncheon – Bluestone Restaurant Bar
 

Welcome and Farewell – The Executive Team

Thank you to Jeff Thorne – Moores Legal and Katie McKenzie – Hall & Wilcox who have kindly filled temporary vacancies in the Executive Committee. We say thank you and good luck to Toula Padoa of Russell Kennedy who has served on the Executive for the past two years and commences a year’s maternity leave next month. We wish Toula good health and happiness and look forward to her return late next year.
 

The ALPMA Vic AGM will be held on October 21 after the lunchtime seminar. For anyone interested in taking on position on the Executive Committee, nomination forms will be distributed to all financial members in September. We have a large Committee of ten people who take on a strategic role in the running of ALPMA. With full Secretariat support, the role of an Executive Committee member provides you with a great opportunity to build networks and work with a friendly team of like-minded legal managers. If you would like to know more about becoming a committee member, please feel free to drop me a line or give me a call.
 

Valmai Trudgen
ALPMA Vic Convener