Logo created by Lisa Saad (AIPP member of 15 years and ex-president of the ACMP)
Having been established for over 55 years, Australia’s peak body for professional photographers, the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP), is entering challenging, unprecedented, and unknown times, with the announcement that the board has resigned and the national office is set to close.
Whether the AIPP will in fact survive is something that nobody can guarantee. Certainly, there is considerable hope that the organisation can recover, and there’s no question that professional photographers in Australia need a strong, powerful, and unified voice from an industry body to help safeguard and protect their interest in a marketplace which will only get more competitive.
A recent thread on Sydney-based portrait photographer, David Oliver’s Facebook page prompted Hunter Valley wedding photographer, Roger Rosentreter to write an open letter to the AIPP Board and post it on the AIPP Community Facebook page. The letter raised a number of issues relating to the running of the organisation and its financial management. Rosentreter said he decided to write the letter because “members need to know the facts”.
On 27 February, in a letter to all AIPP members, National President Vittorio Natoli dropped a massive bombshell when he announced that “the Board has resolved to close the National Office and downscale all planned activities to allow for a new way of thinking.” Natoli said that the “destructive” comments on social media forced them to “consider the position of the entire National Office staff and indeed the future of the AIPP.” The entire board of the AIPP has resigned, although four of the eight members have agreed to remain in caretaker-only roles.
Without the financial burden of staff costs of the national office, including the executive officer, Peter Myers (who has been made redundant), the organisation has slashed its costs, but with no formal, overriding leadership, some would argue that the prospects for the organisation aren’t exactly rosy either, and there’s a risk the organisation, as it currently exists, may be wound up – certainly something that nobody wants to see happen.
Following the fallout on social media the rate of membership renewals declined alarmingly at the start of 2018 and has had an “immediate effect on membership renewals and event bookings” according to Natoli. “The continuing viability of the AIPP depends on membership income,” he said in the letter.
What the future holds for the AIPP is anyone’s guess. Of utmost importance now is to repair any damage and cast away any doubt members might be feeling. It’s also crucial to elect the requisite six board members, as stated in the constitution of the organisation. Many members have expressed their unwavering support for the AIPP on social media. But one thing’s for certain with whatever rises out of the ashes of this incident – the expectation of a far greater degree of transparency.
Full copy of the letter sent to AIPP members from Vittorio Natoli.
Announcement from the AIPP Board
Feb 27th 2018
Dear Member – IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!
Your Board has had to make some momentous decisions in the past week. We believe it is important that we provide you with the reasons behind these decisions.
The unprecedented events of recent weeks, in particular the public and emotionally motivated and occasionally highly destructive comments on social media have caused your Board to review and consider not only their positions, but also the position of the entire National Office staff and indeed the future of the AIPP.
The unrest has had an immediate effect on membership renewals and event bookings. Many long-standing members have withheld their membership renewals, questioning whether they can be part of such an organisation. The continuing viability of the AIPP depends on membership income. This drop in income has caused your Board to review and reassess the financial position of the Institute.
Amongst all this unrest, the first thing we ask that you remember is that we, your Board, are a voluntary board, made up of elected and co-opted members, drawing on a diversity of experience, gender and culture; we are photographers and members just like you! Secondly, as Directors, we are privy to much more information than the average member; industry reports, trend analysis, financial projections, forecasts, statistical analysis, and of course, member feedback. We take our decisions very seriously and ONLY after taking account of ALL the information available to us... including many of those comments expressed on Social Media.
Individual Board members have also reached out to influential members, past leaders, trade partners and non-members for a broad understanding of the emergence of so much public anguish. Some of the anger comes from personal agendas or past grievances. Most of it comes from a deeply felt love of all that is good in the AIPP, and how, for many, they see the things that they most loved and valued from the AIPP in the past somehow not present today.
Any decision we make is a result of many hours of discussion and open debate - that is why we are here. Over the past weeks, your Board has spent countless hours debating these issues, including written communications, on-line forums and video/audio conference calls.
The Board has met In-Camera (without management present). The Board has also met with the EO in the normal course of business. Yes, we have been listening! But unfortunately, as we have deliberated, the public debate by a vocal minority of members and non-members has taken its toll on our financial position.
The decision we are about to communicate to you is one such example of significant and impactful deliberation.
The cash position of the Institute has dropped sharply over a six-week period, mostly in the last four weeks. Consequently, we have had to reassess how we view our financial position and take into account contingent liabilities that a business or association does not normally bring to account. The consequence of member non-renewal has changed a financially strong organisation with some recent deficits in to one where another view must be taken. Is the AIPP a going concern in a legal sense?
Shortfall in income and bringing to account contingent liability exposure has adversely changed the financial position of the Institute by nearly $400,000 from the cash flow projections of just six weeks ago.
Your Board, - Vittorio, David, Nick, Kylie, Melinda, John, Paul and Louise, are Directors of a Company. We have to act not only in the best interest of our members, stakeholders and the industry as a whole, as laid out in our Constitution and objects of Association, but in accordance with our legal, fiduciary and moral duties as Directors. We must also have regard for the reputational risk to the Institute of allowing continued public outbursts.
As unpaid volunteers we cannot manage the complex affairs of today’s Institute on our own. For that reason we employ a small and very dedicated team of professionals in the National Office. But those operating costs, taking regard to the dramatically lower rate of new membership and renewals, required us to add complete restructure costs into our thinking.
The Board has resolved to close the National Office and downscale all planned activities to allow for a new way of thinking. In acting the Board had to place first and foremost their directors’ duties to meet ALL obligations as they fall due, including the contingent liabilities. Equally, the board had to take account of the need to ensure a "safe environment" for its staff, a requirement that could not be guaranteed as a result of the negative impact on the staff of the comments and unrest.
Also, as a result of the attacks endured both personally and as Directors, this Board also believes that it cannot take the Institute forward. Your Board has therefore agreed to resign and make all positions vacant, ready for new elections. Four have resigned effective immediately. Four have agreed, hesitantly and very late in our discussions, to remain, but only in caretaker mode. They will be taking no new decisions and will simply approve payments, oversee new elections, which are duly carried out by the Company Secretary, and they will assist in the communication of these significant and profoundly troubling matters. As a Board we are collectively no longer prepared to subject ourselves to the unpleasant, careless and hateful words that have consequences well beyond some people’s imaginings. We wish to thank wholeheartedly those members who have been supportive of this Board and previous Boards as they sought to address the changing face of our industry, the Profession and the Institute.
Our priority has been to conserve as much cash for a future AIPP Board as possible, and to recognise our obligations to our sponsors who make much of what we enjoy in the AIPP possible. This major destruction of value is a direct consequence of the actions of members, past Board decisions and decisions of today’s Board.
Despite perceptions to the contrary, our management simply carry out the directions issued by the Board.
On Friday last week we cancelled our national conference, Lenscape.
All attendees who have bought tickets will have their ticket costs refunded. If you have also bought and paid for non-refundable airfares and accommodation solely for the conference dates, we will refund those fees in coming weeks.
Peter Myers, in his position as our Company Secretary, has been made redundant, along with the rest of the National Office team, Randal, Wendy, Kristy, Kashifa, Richard, our newly-appointed communications manager, and of course Kim, who is currently on maternity leave. Peter has graciously agreed to work out his notice period to oversee the process of electing a new Board and to carry out the role of "Returning Officer", and will remain until a new Board so determines within that period of Notice.
Your State Awards can and will continue as planned. However this will be, after 31st March, without the assistance and infrastructure of National Office and will therefore require a high dependency on your State Council and other volunteers. They will need your help and support now, more than ever. As a courtesy to them they were advised of these decisions yesterday.
The decision on APPA 2018 will be a decision for your new Board, and hopefully from positive renewed support from our sponsors. Remember – without them we would not have these incredible Awards.
It is the wish of every Board member and every member of the National office that the AIPP, our Institute, should continue and progress, in a unified direction that the majority of members desire, but without the dissent and disharmony so evident recently.
We sincerely hope these decisions will allow a future board to achieve that wish.
In the event that a new Board quorum is not formed, and in line with Constitution requirements, the Company Secretary has been instructed to commence an orderly wind-down of the Institute, and remaining caretaker Board members will seek professional advice on such actions on your behalf.
The Board have always valued your feedback.
For future Boards who would most certainly value your feedback on this decision feel free to send your feedback to feedback@aipp.com.au. While the caretaker group of Louise Bagger, Melinda Comerford, Nick Ghionis and John Swainston remain in place, (4 are required to form a quorum) - they too will do their best to respond within the AIPP Community Forum, or to direct communication to the email address above. Please understand if they cannot take all your calls personally. At this time they need your support, as will new Board members, State Council presidents and the staff while they also work out their notice in support of Your AIPP.
The Board of Directors, Australian Institute of Professional Photography 27th February, 2018.
VITTORIO NATOLI - FOR AND ON BEHALF OF YOUR AIPP BOARD
-----
Changing Times for the AIPP: a message from some of the Past National Presidents, Chairman, and Committee Chairs of the Institute. (Authored by Ross Eason, in response to the announcement.)
For over 50 years, the Australian Institute of Professional Photography has, and will continue to have, a strong role in the photographic community through the dedication and hard work of our volunteers.
We have lobbied government for photographers’ legal and economic rights; Built what is recognised globally as the best print award systems that we now run at state and national levels; Established an accreditation system that upholds ethical standards, requires continuing professional development and strives for the delivery of quality images to all clients; Introduced educational and mentoring programs for our membership, including student bursaries for the next generation of professionals; Fundraised through our generous membership significant contributions for health-related charities; Hosted and promoted many successful national and state conferences; Created ongoing public awareness of the Institute and Accredited Professional Photographers within the community and government through the Reflections project, something we should all be very proud of.
In recent weeks, we have seen a barrage of social media commentary about the direction of the Institute, some from non-members with strong personal agendas. Many of the voiced concerns and criticisms relate to long term changes and initiatives that the current board did not create, but inherited. Over the past 7 years, the Institute has invested heavily in technology and training to offer members a better interaction and experience, both at the awards level and with general member administration. As with any planning and investment, the strategies and returns are long term, so reduced financial equity (our bank balance) does not need to be seen as a negative if the investments build on the long-term strength of the Institute.
We are all passionate artisans. Many of the views and comments shared on social media have contributed to these unprecedented events. Unfortunately, some of the comments made on unregulated external forums have caused deep distress to those who volunteered to do their best for the Institute on our behalf, the impact on their personal lives and business over the past weeks has been extreme.
We sincerely thank the current Board for all they have contributed and encourage all members to share that sentiment directly to those who have served on this Board and to the National office staff who have been impacted by these ongoing comments.
The strength of the Institute is with its volunteer culture and now is the time for all members to reflect on what they can do to support it - and in turn the profession of photography in Australia. We all need to focus on the positives, look at what we have achieved and ensure we build on that legacy.
Signed
Richard Bennett M.Photog IV, APP.L, Hon. FAIPP, FAIPP
Greg Hocking APP.L, GM.Photog., Hon FAIPP FAIPP,
Mark Fitz-Gerald APP.L Hon. FAIPP
Ian van der Wolde M.Photog III Hon. FAIPP
Philip Kuruvita APP.L GM.Photog., FNZIPP, FAIPP
Jacqui Dean APP.L, GM.Photog., FNZIPP, Hon FAIPP, FAIPP,
