The IAA Board met for its Planning Day on 13 November 2024 – it was a packed day of valuable discussions with productive outcomes!
The Planning Day began with an induction session including training on Board and Director responsibilities. The insightful presentation from the Associations Forum set a great tone that stressed the crucial strategic role that the Board plays for the Association, especially as we welcomed two new faces to the IAA Board in 2024.
Next, the Board considered the Association’s objectives, noting that any amendments can only be made with a special resolution passed by a 75% majority of votes cast by Members. The Board agreed that the Association’s objects were still relevant and appropriate, alongside the Association’s tagline, ‘infrastructure for the common good’.
With the IAA 3-Year Strategic Plan having only recently come into place, the Board didn’t conduct a full review, and the Planning Day was instead positioned to be a light touch review and check-in on the ‘Objectives and Key Results’ for 2024-25. This still involved deep dives into each of the Association’s key pillars, with spirited discussions focusing on Membership, Tech and Peering, Marketing and Public Policy.
Membership
The Association’s Management Accountant presented membership numbers, revenue, benefits and objectives to help guide the Board’s discussion on how to grow the Association’s membership. As part of these considerations, the Board established a subcommittee to investigate training issues for Members. We will keep Members updated as this work progresses.
Tech and Peering
Our new Tech Lead provided an update on the Association’s current architecture evolution and planning for switch deployment. The Board agreed to a switch replacement plan to ensure redundancy, proper asset management, and standardisation of LR1 optical connection.
Marketing
The CEO presented strategies to increase take-up of the Association’s services and grow membership. Members will be happy to note that, once again, we will not be raising prices. The Board then endorsed a new 12-month discount on 10Gbps ports for new Members, so feel free to spread the news and encourage peers to join!
Public Policy
On the public policy front, the Board reviewed the Association’s Public Policy Principles, deciding they are still appropriate. As is our current approach to advocacy – representing members in relevant regulatory reform consultations. Led by the Association’s Policy Officer, the Board also considered ways to grow Members’ engagement with the Association’s advocacy work. It was decided that the Association will present more regular regulatory updates alongside our events, so that Members can look forward to those in the coming months. The team will also look at creating a new ‘regulatory’ role within the Portal, so watch out for that too!
All in all, the Board found it to be a very productive day and we’re confident in the future of the Association to ‘operate for the benefit of the internet, and the people who build and operate it’!
