Membership World Podcast

In this episode of the Membership World Podcast, Gordon Glenister is joined by Marcia Philbin, Chief Executive of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM), for a fascinating conversation about leadership, professional membership, medical innovation and the future of trusted expertise. Marcia shares her unusual career journey from research chemist at the Ministry of Defence, where she worked on...

In this episode of the Membership World Podcast, Gordon Glenister speaks with Jon Stone, Director of Corporate Services at the Home Care Association, about the vital role the organisation plays in supporting home care providers across the UK. Jon explains how the Home Care Association helps more than 2,000 members with advice, guidance, events, training, regulatory support and specialist expertise...

Gordon Glenister is joined by Tony Ryan, CEO of the Design and Technology Association (DATA), to explore how he has rebuilt and re-energised a membership body by focusing relentlessly on member need and mission. Ryan shares an unconventional career journey—from leaving school at 16 to becoming a car mechanic, then entering teaching and ultimately leading two London comprehensives as a headteacher....

In this episode of the Membership World podcast, Gordon Glenister speaks with Caroline Larissey, CEO of the National Hair & Beauty Federation, the UK’s largest organisation representing the hairdressing and beauty sector, with a proud history spanning almost 87 years. Caroline reflects on the NHBF’s pivotal role during the pandemic, including its place on the Government taskforce, helping salo...

In this episode, Gordon Glenister is joined by Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). Emma shares insights into the beer and pub industry, the role pubs play as community hubs, and the importance of strong membership engagement in shaping the sector’s future. With over 100 members representing 90% of the UK’s beer production and half of the country’s pubs, Emma explain...

In this episode of the Membership World Podcast, Gordon Glenister sits down with Robin Osterley, CEO of the Charity Retail Association, to explore his journey from the commercial world of sales and IT to leading one of the UK’s most recognised membership bodies in the charity retail sector. Robin shares his professional story, lessons from the arts and charity sectors, and insights into the challe...

In this episode, Gordon Glenister speaks with Stephen (Steve) Weiss, a Director at the International Coaching Federation (ICF). With a career spanning sports coaching, event production, and leadership roles in membership organisations, Steve brings unique insights into marketing international associations on a global scale. Together, they explore how the ICF builds its worldwide community of profe...

Summary In this episode of the Membership World Podcast, host Gordon Glenister speaks with Rona Hunnisett, Deputy Director at Logistics UK, about the groundbreaking Generation Logistics campaign. Rona shares how the initiative is inspiring young people, women, and underrepresented groups to consider careers in logistics, an industry that keeps the world moving but is often overlooked. The conversa...

In this episode we talk with Dennis Howes and Daniel Goddard, co-founders of association recruitment specialist Membership Bespoke. Membership Bespoke launched 14 years ago, has seen a rapid expansion in growth since the pandemic and now plans to expand into the US market. By having a strong niche in this sector, has allowed the team to really have a deep understanding of many of the different rol...

In todays episode we talk about why digital transformation projects sometimes fail and what needs to be done in all parts of the process. A lot of this is due to mindset and a desire to change. We draw on examples in the association world where there are often multiple stakeholders involved.  Nej talks more about the importance of Digital Evolution and why associations need to be constantly evolvi...

In this episode we talk with Russell Hamblin Boone, who is CEO of the Civil Enforcement Association. The Association deals with civil enforcement for local authorities & government bodies and represents bailiffs.   Here we talk about the challenge the industry has around bailiff reputation and particularly since austerity and the cost of living crisis. Often people that don’t know too much abo...

Dario Betti, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), is a distinguished figure with over 20 years of experience in spearheading initiatives within the mobile phone industry. Betti's comprehensive knowledge of the mobile ecosystem, coupled with his strategic vision, has been pivotal in shaping MEF's influential role in addressing the multifaceted dynamics of the industry. R...

In this episode Heather Lishman, Director of the British Professional Conference Organisers, talks about the changing face of association events.   One of the most stressful jobs, the professional event organisers role has changed considerably over the years, with them having to grapple around event tech, sustainable events, tighter and tighter budgets and more demanding sponsors.  One of the area...

The law hasn’t stopped discrimination misogyny, homophobia, prejudice and sexism it has simply gone underground. This has made it more difficult to prove. Why concrete evidence is needed if the law is to step in. The problem that discrimination, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder; can you as a reasonable person, know whether a raised voice and/or aggressive action is aimed at you because y...

Simon joined the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) as their Head of Asset Finance in 2014. In 2021 he became Director of Advocacy. He is responsible for the FLA Asset Finance Division and the cross-organisational advocacy work that the FLA undertakes. This includes representing asset finance members to government and the regulators, developing relationships with stakeholders, overseeing the...

In this episode we talk about the power of working with volunteers for your membership organisation, with the CEO of the Scouts movement. Matt Hyde is Chief Executive of the Scouts, the UK’s largest youth movement. Formerly Chief Executive of the National Union of Students (NUS), he’s undertaken a number of leadership roles in the charity sector and as Chief Executive of the Scouts has contributed...

The British Orthopaedic Association has over 5,000 members throughout the UK and overseas and is the special surgical speciality association for trauma and orthopaedics. Annette Heninger is the director of communications, and in this episode shares her insight about how they communicate and engage with their members and how they are even exploring a new membership tier for their retirees. For more...

In this episode industry veterans Russ Magnusson, CEO and founder of RD Mobile and Membership digital agency founder Alex Skinner talk about the some of the trends facing the membership sector post Covid. Skinner commented, one client had 70% of income from physical training accounts so were motivated to make decisions to move online very quickly. Culture played a big part to do something differen...

The Regional Studies Association is a learned society - there are about  26,000 learned associations around the world. The RSA has membership from all over the world and its members range from academics, geographers, political scientists, planners, journalists, and rise from students  up to professors . The society was established in 1966 and the current CEO Sally Hardy is coming up to her 37th ye...

Richard John has spent over 30 years in the industry.  In this episode we discuss why taking on a university “event” apprentice can be a great thing to do.  His turnover has gone up 400% since the Pandemic and all of which has this has come from online events.  People will dip in and out of sessions from an online event, whereas at an exhibition you tend to go for the day.  Consumers and members a...

In this episode we talk about the Friends model of the membership society and in this case it’s the Membership Officer of the Royal College of Music Siti Osman. The RCM is a top conservatoire in the UK and Europe attracting local and international talent – with students coming from 56 nations; they have approximately 900 students studying at one time.   The Friends and Family loyalty membership is...

CEO of the National Hairdressers Federation, Richard Lambert talks about how a campaign to find the top 100 influencers in the industry drove phenomenal engagement on social media. An industry hit massively by the pandemic, this initiative run by the NHBF achieved so many amazing results across all social media, and helped drive membership.  Richard talks about the whole campaign from inception th...

Maria Franzoni is an experienced speaker booker. She has held senior positions with 2 of Europe’s leading bureaus; CSA Celebrity Speakers and the London Speaker Bureau – named by the New York Times as “the only international speaker bureau”. In 2007 she founded her own multi-million-pound international bureau, Maria Franzoni Ltd. (MFL), and in this podcast Maria talks about how associations can fi...

In this episode, host Gordon Glenister talks with Adam Donnan, the CEO of the Institution of Environmental Science.  The IES represents individual consultants, academia, those working for Natural England, The Environment Agency and local government. This gives them the opportunities and the tools to create real system change, by having a strong purpose at the core of what they do. Adam says member...

In this episode James Thorne CEO of the Institute of Quarrying is joined by head of membership  and marketing Sarah Fry, to talk about how the introduction of an app has made a huge difference in member engagement. Whilst it was always part of a longterm strategy to encourage members to use the app, Sarah commented on their goals have been reached in their first phase. As more content is shared on...