The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) unveiled a range of new initiatives set for 2024 at its end-of-year celebration at The Calyx on Thursday.
AANA’s CEO, Josh Faulks, celebrated the organisation’s achievements and unveiled its plans for the upcoming year in an address to members and media last night.
The organisation began the year with a new three-year strategy and purpose to work with its members to build a better industry across three core areas, including being a vocal advocate for its members and what matters to them, being a trustworthy custodian of the self-regulatory system, and helping members connect and grow with the best industry events.
Faulks reported that AANA has successfully delivered on all three key promises in 2023, with detailed accomplishments outlined in the AANA 2023 Year in Review document that will be released next week.
Martin Brown, AANA chair and general manager, Coffee and Dairy, Nestlé Oceania, said that the AANA has been a powerful advocate for the industry.
“We have continued to lift the standards in the industry through our custodianship of our world-class self-regulatory system, and we have brought the industry closer together across multiple formats to be inspired and challenged by the latest thinking.”
The AANA also celebrated turning 95 and welcomed 13 new members joining their community, marking one of its biggest growth spurts in its history. New members include Cashrewards, CUB, Denstu, Endeavour Group, Goodman Fielder, Ikea, Mecca, Murmur, Primo Foods, Qantas, Sanitarium, Seven Network, and Volvo.
Looking to the year ahead, AANA said it will intensify its advocacy on behalf of its members, especially in response to growing regulatory pressures across various sectors.
Key initiatives include the released of an Exposure Draft of the Environmental Claims Code next month while continuing to work closely with the government and industry to ensure they can restore consumer faith in environmental claims and create clear standards.
The AANA is also working with the rest of the industry to engage with governments around the country on proposals to ban advertising across multiple segments. The organisation will also continue to continuing to advocate for marketers when it comes to privacy reforms to ensure there is a balance between the right to advertise responsibly with the protection of privacy.
The AANA is also set to enhance opportunities for members to connect and grow in 2024 with an ambitious event calendar including its flagship event RESET at the new venue at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay on May 9, 2024. The theme is RESET for Growth, and will showcase an impressive lineup of international marketing superstars, including Richard Oppy, VP of Global Brands at ABInBev.
The year ahead will see more marketing masterclasses, more CMO dinners and industry conferences in collaboration with Ad Week, Cannes in Cairns, and SXSW.
AANA also announced a new online on demand Code Training early in 2024, available free to members that will help lift standards across the industry. The industry body also announced it has partnered with Deakin University to offer micro-credentials for critical marketing skills in 2024 that can be applied as credits towards post-graduate marketing qualifications and further support the professional development of AANA’s members.
Faulks said: “AANA is poised for an exciting and dynamic year in 2024, focused on delivering value to members. We’ve listened to what our members need and have responded with more opportunities to connect and grow.
“I am incredibly proud of the team’s achievements, our ambitious plans, and more than anything, our unwavering commitment to work with you to build a better industry.”