Highlights of the ACA's 2018 annual general meeting

The era of 'Business Unusual' continues unabated and the climate of change, adapt or die, continues to propel forward.

During the period under review, the business sector and the advertising and communications profession continue to operate under challenging trading circumstances.

The socio-political situation continues to be dynamic. The profession has a choice of either joining the ‘Doom Sayers’ or opt for ‘Evolution and Reinvention’.

Every crazy adventure requires rejuvenation, smart navigation tools and fearless leadership.

The new frontiers call for more brevity as there are no maps when you want to venture forth into new territories and dive into the unknown.

The selling of the AAA School of Advertising 

The ACA is in the process of selling its prized asset, one that the association has owned for 30 years.

The decision to sell was taken in order allow professional educators to take over the baton and build a demonstrably better institution of higher education, one accessible to the broader nation; a place where diversity can thrive.

A place where technological advancement and the blended way of learning will bring a broader and much needed diverse population into our sector to enrich our craft and transform the culture and the tenor of our profession.

It's time to change; to consider global dynamics. Over the past three years, the ACA has been engaging global players and the challenge to the incoming board is to relook, review and innovate the programme in a decisive, considerate and intentional manner. Failure to innovate will result in being swept away by the currents and winds of change.

On matters of self-regulation

Self-regulation is a serious task and its preservation requires a commitment to the profession and the industry at large to play its part. 

Industry transformation will continue to be a hot topic within the industry. The challenge is to go beyond the scorecard and ensure that our industry, and the individual businesses that make it up, continue to be relevant for the markets we serve.

The industry is yet to fully unleash itself with respect to the MAC Charter. This is critical since it is the diversity that distinguishes South Africa from other markets and which enriches our creativity.

Moving onto matters related to the Secretariat, as the winds of change sweep through the land, the Secretariat had not been left out, reinforcing that, for the ACA, 2018 will continue being a period of 'Business Unusual'.

Van der Haar’s major achievements

After 11 years at the helm of the body, ACA CEO Odette van der Haar will be stepping down.

Her achievements include building the APEX Awards into the reputable brand it is today, championing the gazetting of the MAC Charter, entrenching it in the sector and instilling transformation values into agencies through the Vuselela Programme and building the ACA into one South Africa’s most respected, stable and reputable industry bodies, defined by constant and diverse membership growth.

Van der Haar led by example, with passion and admirable endurance and that her commitment to the industry is ‘awe-striking’.

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