Lyn Brodie named a top association influencer

Optometry Australia’s CEO, Lyn Brodie, has been named one of Australia and New Zealand’s top association executives.

The accolade was bestowed by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), with Lyn recognised as one of 12 executives announced as Association Influencers for 2022 from a pool of 53 peer-nominated candidates.

In making the announcement, AuSAE CEO Toni Brearley, said that the independent judging panel advised that Lyn’s nomination was inspiring and set the benchmark for the year that was 2021.

‘We are thrilled to formally recognise you as an inspirational leader and influencer within the association sector’, she said.

In response, Optometry Australia President Murray Smith, said, ‘The national board is very proud, as is the Optometry Australia team, to have such a recognised inspirational leader and influencer at the helm of the organisation’.

In recognition of her positive impact on the organisation it was Optometry Australia staff who nominated Ms Brodie for this award without her knowledge.

‘And while the Optometry Australia Board also did not know, we are so pleased that the nomination was made. I am sure members will also feel pride in their association through this award’, Mr Smith said.

Lyn Brodie (pictured) said that she was very humbled to receive this recognition from the AuSAE and from her association peers.

‘My achievements are the collective outcomes of an astounding group of people who are delighted to work for Optometry Australia, excited to deliver quality programs and service to members and who are innovative in considering how to advance optometry and community eye health.

‘Collectively these efforts ensure that awards such as being named an Association Influencer extends beyond just me,’ Ms Brodie commented.

Lyn’s influence

Murray Smith praised Lyn and the influence that she has had on the organisation and the sector since she commenced her role in July 2017.

‘Lyn has nurtured a strong organisational culture that ensures that members are listened to and that they are front and centre of all decision making.

‘This has seen the breadth of member services that we offer at a national level, to supplement and support the work of our state divisions, expand considerably,’ Mr Smith said.

‘Lyn has driven and supported the establishment of the Optometry Australia Institute of Excellence to support CPD, leadership development programs, a mentor program, health and wellbeing services, travelling scholarships and new channels and tools to engage and communicate with members.

‘Optometry Australia has also strengthened its member advisory team with the appointment of additional optometrist-trained staff who provide personalised one-on-one advice to members’, he said.

As a result of these improvements, the 2021-member survey revealed that 94% of members consider the organisation to be member-focused.

Comparing 2021 results with previous surveys pre-dating Lyn’s appointment, 85% of members now consider Optometry Australia as providing good membership value compared to 61% in 2016; and 86% of members would now recommend or likely recommend membership compared to 69% in 2016. Trust in Optometry Australia has also risen from 76.7%, when this last benchmark was measured, to 96%.

‘Likewise, it was through Lyn’s foresight that we developed Optometry 2040 and the sector now has a 20-year blueprint for its sustained evolution,’ Mr Smith said.

He added that staff satisfaction has increased under Lyn’s leadership. Most notably this resulted in Optometry Australia receiving a 2021 Best Workplace Award from employee engagement specialist, Voice Project in recognition of exceptional levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

Optometry Australia was also recognised as the APAC Professional Association of the Year in 2020 by a worldwide panel of senior-level association experts. And also in 2020, the organisation secured two Silver Asia Pacific Stevie Awards for its innovative use of videos in member communications.

Mr Smith also explained that the organisation’s swift and positive response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the establishment of a Crisis Leadership Group, the proposal to offer members 50% off their FY2020/2021 membership fees, development of a COVID information hub and on-going communications and updates, can be credited to Lyn.