Our last eNews for 2023 is an opportunity for a re-cap of the year and what the BIA has achieved for Members, as well as what the Association has in stall for 2024.
The key priorities for the BIA are clear and are set out in our Strategic Business Plan;
- Grow Participation in Boating
- Deliver Government Advocacy
- Deliver Industry-Focused Programs, Products and Servies
- Promote Education, Skills Jobs and Training.
Grow Participation in Boating:
- Sydney International Boat Show, powered a major advertising and marketing promotion of the boating lifestyle from Mar 2023 to Aug 2023
- An independent economic and social impact study found the Show delivered a $345M economic impact and created 980 jobs
- BIA’s Discover Boating ad campaign went live from 1st Nov 2023 and runs to the end of Jan 24
Deliver Government Advocacy:
- Achieved support from maritime regulators across Australia for a Responsible Boat Ownership awareness campaign
- Delivering a national lifejacket program and promotion of safe boating in collaboration with the Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG)
- Legal opinion on ABP third-party interventions under consideration
- Crown Lands (NSW) and Marina leasing across multiple States
- Delivered submissions to all levels of government and represented industry on State, National and International committees and forum to support boating Delivered a world-leading series of industry briefings in collaboration with the Queensland Government on Propelling Our Future – decarbonisation in propulsion systems for recreational vessels
Deliver Industry-Focused Programs, Products and Services:
- Membership engagement continues via revised Divisional structure
- Member forums, reporting key activities of the BIA
- Logbook delivered, in printed and digital formats, March and Sept 2023
- Broker accreditation program development launched
- Safe Marine Business program in-field
- Marine industry specialist insurance programs, plus member travel insurance
- Industry standard contracts and dispute resolution
- Support and guidance on commercial vessel crew qualifications, such as Coxswain 3
- Partnerships delivered with Repco, Century Batteries, Ebury, Viridian, Network Marine
- Significant ongoing work to support Standards for our Industry, focus on boat design and manufacture, electric (including lithium) and gas systems, trailers and boating safety equipment
Promote Education, Skills and Jobs
- Boating Industry Academy first year growth, new campus in progress and new take-up of Consortium Employer Members
- Significant works in Marine Jobs & Skills, Government advocacy, National Skills Priority List and National Apprentice Priority List, Reference Groups at National and State level, TAFE Programs and collaboration, support for regional apprentice training, MOUs in progress
- Re-focused collaboration between BIA / MIA / AIMEX
- Dedicated role performing well in the Marine Jobs online jobs recruiting platform.
For 2024 we plan to continue with the focus shown in 2023 but add in extra effort in the following areas:
- Re-focused collaboration with other marine industry associations
- Deliver Accreditation Programs such as the Broker Accreditation initiative
- Policy & Advocacy communications to increase
- Industry and stakeholder partnerships
- Maintain and build the BIA brand
- Increase efforts in Skills, Jobs and Training
- Enhancements to the Access Management / Marine Card, including new software
- New CRM and member engagement
- Councils and Divisions, ensuring transparency and accountability to Members.
- Shows, and attending ASMEX 24 and Marinas 24, supporting Industry Associations
- Revised format of BIA Forums, including regular / quarterly BIA Industry Briefings at key locations.
Additionally, I would like to take the opportunity of congratulating Adam Smith, appointed in November as BIA President, and Nicholas Kitchen appointed as BIA Vice President. We look forward to working with you both the helm of the BIA.
Thank you to all Members, Industry Partners and Sponsors for your support during 2023, it is very much appreciated. We’ll be staying on track with our key priorities in 2024.
For several members in the Far North of Queensland right now, a priority is working through the impact of Cyclone Jasper which made landfall yesterday evening to the north of Port Douglas. We very much hope that the marine industry and wider community is not overly impacted by this extreme weather event and that members there should know their colleagues further south wish them well.
For all members the closing message is stay safe and well during the festive season, for whatever activities you may enjoy. All the very best for Christmas and a successful 2024.
See you on the water,
Andrew Scott, CEO
