Call for Speakers
Connecting Up Conference
18-20 May 2016
Hawthorn Arts Centre, Melbourne
About the Connecting Up Conference
Background
The Connecting Up Conference is a three-day interactive event that has continued to grow in size and quality
since it was first established in 2004. It is targeted to not-for-profit organisations who are interested in
innovation, change and finding solutions to further engage with the community and achieve outcomes
through improved operational and organisational efficiency. As technology and the digital landscape
continue to evolve rapidly and the competition becomes stronger, not-for-profit organisations need to
continue to innovate to keep up with the changes.
2016 Theme
The 2016 Conference encompasses the theme of ‘Advance: 2020’: it is a positive movement forward to 2020
(and beyond) for not-for-profit (NFP) organisations and their use of technology. By coming together to learn
from sector leaders, technology providers and peers, NFP organisations across Australia can be educated
and inspired to setup their NFP to flourish until 2020, and well beyond.
The conference is an excellent opportunity for not-for-profit organisations to learn from inspiring international
and local speakers, engage and share with other delegates and walk away with new insights to help their
organisation drive social change.
Program includes:
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Masterclasses - Wednesday 18 May (optional program at additional cost)
Not-for-profit Leadership Breakfast - Thursday 19 May (optional program at additional cost)
Connecting Up Awards Dinner - Thursday 19 May
Conference plenaries, streams and other activities - 19-20 May
First confirmed keynote speaker:
Laura Walker McDonald, USA
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As the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Impact Lab, Laura supports people and organisations
around the world to use inclusive technologies to make systems and services more accessible,
responsive, and resilient. Drawing on her expertise in humanitarian aid, human rights law and
international development, she brings a cross-disciplinary approach to communications, innovation
and information management. Before coming to SIMLab, Laura worked for the British Red Cross on
international humanitarian policy and learning, focused on quality and accountability, innovation,
cash transfer programming, civil-military relations, and strategic planning. Laura holds an LL.B
(Hons) in Law, French and German from the University of the West of England, Bristol, and an LL.M
in International Development Law and Human Rights from Warwick University.
Who will attend
The 2015 conference in Adelaide was attended by around 320 delegates from not-for-profit organisations
from all over Australia, with some international visitors from New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada & Germany.
The conference attracts a good mix of not-for-profit executives, including CEOs, Board members, directors
and managers, as well as project coordinators and service providers in IT, online/digital media, community
engagement, marketing, communications and fundraising.
In 2016, with the move to a larger city and improvements to promotion and program we are expecting around
320-350 delegates to attend the 2016 conference.
The sector
The Australian not-for-profit sector is diverse and consists of organisations of varying sizes. Connecting Up
want to ensure that as many causes are represented and that their experience is shared across the sector.
The various categories of not-for-profit organisations listed in the Connecting Up Directory illustrates the
breadth of the sector, and we encourage broad participation at our annual conference.
Be a part of this highly anticipated annual event in the not-for-profit sector and expand your network in the
not-for-profit community.
For further enquiries,
please contact:
Marketing & Events Team
Phone: 1300 731 844
Email: conference@connectingup.org
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For further enquiries, please contact:
Karen Vance
Connecting Up
Phone: 1300 731 844
Emai conference@connectingup.org
Guidelines for presenter submissions
Each year Connecting Up receives great interest from potential speakers wishing to present at our annual
conference. In order to streamline the process, we have prepared the following guidelines.
Streams and topics
For the 2016 conference, we are seeking presentations that fit into one of following major topics:
 IT
 Communications
 Social Media
 Leadership
 Fundraising
 Strategy
 Tactics
 Tools
 Big ideas
 Fundamentals
Connecting Up are also open to other suggestions, and the final streams will be based off the core of
speaker submissions and the goals of the conference.
For reference, the 2015 Conference streams were Technology, Marketing & Digital Media, Productivity, and
Leadership.
Previous topic ideas include, but are not limited to:
IT/Technology
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BYOD and workforce mobility
CRM
Mobile apps
Open source apps and tools
Data strategy, management and collection
Online meetings and remote access
Latest technology trends
How to make the best use of old and emerging technologies in NFP
Case study on new technology implementation in an NFP on a tight budget
Data security and virtualisation
How to make the best use of technology in small organisations with minimal resources
Practical demonstrations and how-to on specific solutions and tools
- Cloud storage and backup
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Marketing & Digital Media
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Email marketing and campaigns
Funding and grant writing
Marketing planning
Innovative marketing campaigns
Infographics
Visual marketing strategies
Applying the right communication tools to your NFP’s vision
Utilising different online fundraising platforms
Innovative fundraising methods
Membership, sponsorship and partnership
Cutting through communications clutter
Content writing (collateral or website)
PR for not-for-profit organisations
Member engagement
Building donor loyalty
Measurements, metrics and ROI
Website design and management
SEO
Online campaign (online ads, Google AdWords, blogging, etc.)
Analytics and measurement (web and social media)
Social media tools (LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook apps, Google+, etc.)
Gamification for social good
Online engagement strategies
Geo-social networking applications (location-based apps)
Online collaboration
Leadership
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Community leadership
Strategic relationship building & Stakeholder engagement
Increasing revenue and organisational sustainability
Fostering organisational culture and change
Engaging boards of management and getting buy-in
Internal NFP policies
Attracting and retaining staff
Volunteer management
Financial management (accounting, investment, tight budgets)
Case studies on NFP innovation (especially in small organisation)
Case studies on change management program and achieving success in an NFP
Other
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IT
Digital
Fundraising
Strategy
Tactics
Tools
Big ideas
- Fundamentals
Session criteria
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
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Sessions need to include case studies or success stories within the not-for-profit sector (copresentation with the featured not-for-profit organisation is encouraged)
Sessions must include take-away practical tools or strategies (i.e., the how-to guide, top 10 tips, etc.)
Sessions must be applicable to not-for-profit organisations of different sizes (many of our audience
are from the small to medium organisations)
Submission requirements
Initial expression of interest to present must be submitted by COB Wednesday 4th November 2015 to:
Conference Team Leader
conference@connectingup.org
GPO Box 11017 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Australia
The topics outlined above are for guidance only. Interested presenters are also welcome to propose other
topics that will benefit not-for-profit organisations provided they fit within the criteria and fall under the main
topics of technology, marketing/communications, digital media and leadership. The conference organisers
may request further details or abstract of the proposed presentation once the presenter is shortlisted.
Presentation requirements
The 2016 Conference streams will be delivered in simple 30-minute to 45-minute blocks, with all streams
running concurrently with matching session times. Presenters should allow time for audience questions in
each session. The presentation block includes time for a changeover and allowing people to move between
rooms (5 mins).
The Conference Team reserve the right to adjust session length to suit final program requirements.
You should be prepared to deliver your presentation twice if there is sufficient interest. Electronic
presentations and any other relevant materials must be supplied to the organisers in advance, as per
specified dates on the confirmation of acceptance, or else the organisers have the right to replace the
presentation within the program.
Presenter exemptions
Presenters included in the conference program will be exempt from registration fees for the two-day
conference (additional programs such as breakfast and masterclass are not included). Unfortunately, we are
not in the position to be able to offer airfares and accommodation to rural and interstate presenters. Please
indicate if your Expression of Interest is entirely conditional on having some or all of your costs met.
Selection guidelines
This conference is about sharing knowledge and skills with others so that delegates can leave the
conference with tangible, practical ideas and/or skills to assist them in their own projects and
plans. Therefore, please ensure that your presentation addresses the actual implementation of a project,
program, product or service.
Should you be shortlisted and the organisers find that your abstract is based on academic papers, theoretical
research or future projections, we reserve the right do decline your offer to present (there are other forums
for these).
Presenters should also refrain from directly promoting a particular product or business service but provide a
client case study to showcase their innovation (please contact us for sponsorship or booths for this purpose).
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Presentation content will be subject to review and approval by the Conference Team. Connecting Up
reserves the right the refuse or change presentations or specific items (in consultation with presenter) where
content may be in conflict with/opposed to suppliers, sponsors and supporters of Connecting Up and the
Connecting Up Conference.
If we are unable to include your presentation in the 2016 Conference, there may be potential to repurpose
the content for our other events (e.g. webinar or workshop).
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Conference Speakers - Expression of Interest Form
Presentation details
Presentation title:
Presentation description (up to 150 words):
Click here to enter text.
Key learning outcomes:
Click here to enter text.
Major Topic/Stream (please tick all that apply):
☐IT
☐Communications
☐Social Media
☐Leadership
☐Fundraising
☐Strategy
☐Tactics
☐Tools
☐Big ideas
☐Fundamentals
☐Other – please specify: Click here to enter text.
Presentation level (please tick all that apply):
☐Beginner/introductory
☐Intermediate
☐Advanced
Name of potential presenter: Click here to enter text.
Current job title: Click here to enter text.
Contact details
Organisation: Click here to enter text.
Address: Click here to enter text.
Email: Click here to enter text.
Mobile: Click here to enter text.
Work phone: Click here to enter text.
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Social media details (if any)
Blog/Website: Click here to enter text.
Twitter: Click here to enter text.
YouTube: Click here to enter text.
Facebook page: Click here to enter text.
Other: Click here to enter text.
Short biography (no more than 100 words):
Click here to enter text.
Relevant project examples (please provide web links, short descriptions, etc, if available):
Click here to enter text.
Presentation experience (please list any other presentations you have done, including topic and
where, if applicable):
Click here to enter text.
Please submit by COB Wednesday 4th November 2015 to:
Conference Team Leader
By email: conference@connectingup.org
By post: Connecting Up, GPO Box 11017 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Australia
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