As we approach the end of another year, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy festive season, holiday break and New Year.

2023 has been another eventful and highly productive year for our Association, with highlights including:

• Total ALPMA members hit 3,000 for the first time across Australasia as firms continue to take up our Corporate Subscriptions to support L&D for all their staff.
   
• We continued to offer the Mental Health First Aid accreditation program, including the Refresher Training, holding another 12 workshops this year.
   
• The ALPMA Summit went to Melbourne to explore The Sustainable Firm of the Future and the relationship between people and technology. Over 500 members and industry professionals gathered to engage deeply with key areas predicted to undergo significant disruption in the future: technology, people and sustainability, with a focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and financial sustainability. Thanks especially to our large New Zealand contingent from Law Alliance NZ!
   
• Our new website went live to great feedback and we've been busy making plenty of behind-the-scenes enhancements to make our user and member digital experience even better.
   
• ALPMA is now powering the Australian Legal Technology Association (ALTA). This new agreement will provide some exciting collaboration opportunities to members of both ALPMA & ALTA, and we look forward to sharing these with you in the coming year.
   
• In partnership with the College of Law, we hosted a series of popular breakfasts and lunches for International Women's Day. The seats were packed as we heard from some incredible women in the legal industry and discussed "cracking the code" to gender equality! 

What's in store for 2024...

In 2024 we are looking forward to delivering even more exceptional value to members, whether that is via learning & development programs, special interest group sessions, local branch events, workshops, industry benchmarking research, access to our on-demand programs or any of the other member benefits offered with your membership or corporate subscription.

In addition, here are a few things to look forward to:  

• Our Financial Performance Benchmarking Study has returned to New Zealand, with participation open now! Take part to benchmark your firm's financial performance and predictions.
  
  (Australia's financial benchmarking research will open in January.)
   
• The New Zealand and Australian HR Issues & Salary Surveys will both open in the new year. Keep an eye on your inbox! 
   
• In early February, our online learning & development webinar schedule for the first half of 2024 will be released. Watch out for this announcement as we keep you up to date with issues impacting the Business of Law.
   
• The 2024 ALPMA Summit will be held in Brisbane from 11 – 13 September 2024… more details in the new year, but for now lock these dates in! We can't wait to see you there, in the Sunshine State again.

Finally, we'd like to sincerely thank all our members, partners, volunteers, board and wider community for their support throughout the past year. Your commitment and collaboration are instrumental in our success.

ALPMA will be closed from Friday, 22 December and re-open Monday, 8 January 2024.

Best wishes to you, your friends, family and colleagues for a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday break.

watch (again) our most popular webinars from 2023.