A Brief History of AAIR
Timeline
Awards Life Membership To Greg Jakob
Greg Jakob is awarded Life Membership at the AGM held in Sydney, NSW for his many contributions to AAIR. Greg served as AAIR Treasurer from 2018 until 2022 and was an Ordinary Member from 2015 until 2018. Greg successfully steered AAIR through the challenging period of COVID-19, ensuring that AAIR’s financial position remained strong. He enhanced AAIR’s auditing and banking systems, as well as moving the association’s accounts from ANZ to the Bendigo Bank. Greg’s stewardship of our finances, strategic thinking, and deep and genuine support and belief in AAIR, has placed us in the strong position we are in today. His contribution to AAIR and the executive committee has and will continue to be highly valued by all members of the committee.
Awards Honorary Membership To Maureen Wood
Maureen Wood is awarded Honorary Membership at the AAIR Forum, Virtual, for her contribution to AAIR.
Membership approves Institutional membership category
AAIR presented a special resolution to the membership during the AGM on 7 December 2021 to introduce two classes of institutional membership under a new membership category, and the motion was passed. The two classes of institutional membership approved are:
- Institutional Lite (for up to 5 nominated members – $450 per annum ex-GST)
This is designed for small- to medium-sized institutions or units but is not limited to
those institutions or units. - Institutional (for 6–10 nominated members – $900 per annum ex-GST)
This is designed for larger institutions or units.
Activates G Suite for Nonprofits
AAIR applied to be part of the ConnectingUp discounts and donations for not-for-profits program and was subsequently approved for a G Suite account to house all of AAIR’s files.
Hosts First Online AAIR Forum
Due to the impact of COVID-19, AAIR chooses to host its first online forum. This forum was offered free to members.
Awards Life Membership to Kathie Rabel
Kathie Rabel is awarded Life Membership at the AGM held in Hobart, TAS for her many contributions to AAIR. Kathie served on the AAIR Executive Committee for many years as an ordinary member, Vice-President, AAIR President, Immediate Past-President, and Acting President.
Awards Honorary Membership to Chris Kearns
Chris Kearns is awarded Honorary Membership at the AAIR SIG Forum, Canberra, for his contribution to AAIR over the previous ten years.
Awards Life Membership to Dean Ward
Dean Ward is awarded Life Membership at the AGM held in Alice Springs, NT for his many contributions to AAIR. Dean served as AAIR Secretary for many years.
Awards Life Membership to Dave Marr
Dave Marr is awarded Life Membership at the AGM held in Alice Springs, NT for his many contributions to AAIR. Dave served as AAIR President from 2012 until 2016 and was Vice-President from 2008 until 2012.
Launches New Website
Discussions for a new website began in mid-2015. A design brief was circulated to potential developers by October 2016, a developer was selected, and works began in early 2017.
Aquires an Actual Address
For as long as anyone can remember, the official address of AAIR has been an office bearer’s work or home address (be that the President, Treasurer or Secretary of that time) for the duration of their term of office. This readily became unmanageable and a new permanent Melbourne address has been secured for the Association.
Ceases publication of the JIR
The Journal of Institutional Research (JIR) was the official publication of the Australasian Association for Institutional Research and was published between November 1991 and July 2014. The JIR officially ceased publication in March 2016, but remains freely available via the JIR archive.
Approves New Tagline
A survey is conducted of all subscribers to the AAIR mailing list posing the question: ‘Do we want a tagline and if so what should it be?’ Suggested taglines are considered by the Executive Committee who decides on their five preferred taglines. Members are requested to vote for their favourite tagline from the five suggested taglines. The clear winner, “Supporting Effective Decision Making“, is accepted as the new tagline for the Association!
Introduces PayPal
After many years of not offering credit card facilities, the Association establishes a PayPal account and re-introduces a merchant facility via PayPal. The approval process takes approximately three months.
Hosts Strategic Planning Workshop
The Executive Committee meets over the weekend of 23rd and 24th May at the Holiday Inn, Mascot to finalise AAIR’s business model, mission, vision and values.
Publishes final edition of the JIR
Volume 19, Number 1 is the last published volume of the Journal of Institutional Research (JIR).
Introduces LinkedIn page
AAIR creates a LinkedIn company page, and two showcase pages for the Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence & Analytics SIG, and the Load Management SIG.
Offers Fellowships for the first time
For the first time, AAIR offers its members two different Fellowships to assist them in their professional development: the Raj Sharma Fellowship; and the Zimmer Travel Fellowship. These are to be offered annually.
Introduces Retired Member Category
At the 2012 AGM held at Terrigal, NSW, the AAIR membership approves a set of rule changes which includes the addition of a new category of membership called ‘Retired Member‘.
Awards Life Membership to Roni McDowell
Roni McDowell is awarded Life Membership at the AGM held in Terrigal, NSW for her many contributions to AAIR.
Introduces Twitter page
In August 2012, AAIR creates a Twitter account, with the first tweet going out on 15 August 2012.
Awards Life Membership to Wendy Marchment
Wendy Marchment is awarded Life Membership at the Annual Dinner at the Gold Coast Forum held at Seaworld for her many contributions to AAIR. Wendy served as President from 2002 until 2006.
Sends first Mailchimp test email
AAIR began using MailChimp as its mail client in June 2011, and sends its first test email to the Executive Committee.
Introduces Facebook page
An AAIR Forum Facebook page is born. It is developed and maintained by Leishman Associates, the event managers for AAIR.
Rebrands and launches new website
The AAIR Executive Committee allocate funds to rebrand the Association and to develop a new and improved website. The new logo, brand and website are launched during the 2010 AGM.
Celebrates 21 Years
At AAIR’s ‘Coming of Age’ forum in Geelong, Victoria, AAIR celebrates its 21st Forum, the first being held at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton in 1990. Rob Toutkoushian, the Immediate Past President, Association for Institutional Research (AIR) joins AAIR in Geelong for our celebration. A number of key members are asked to relate their own Coming of Age IR stories.
Awards Honorary Life Membership to Nick Booth
Nick Booth is awarded Honorary Life Membership for his many contributions to AAIR especially as Membership Secretary, Treasurer and Webmaster for a number of years.
Hires an Executive Officer
AAIR hires its first Executive Officer to relieve some of the burden on the Committee, and boy has she kicked some goals!
Establishes Government Reporting and Load Management SIGs
From 2009, the Government Reporting and Load Management SIGs begin meeting with their Data Warehousing colleagues holding a combined Forum under the AAIR umbrella.
Hosts First Meeting of the Data Warehousing SIG
UniSA hosts the first meeting of the Data Warehousing Special Interest Group at the City West Campus of UniSA in Adelaide.