The Weekly
Matthew Maury, what is at the top of your mind this week?
At the ACFID Board meeting last week the new 2026 – 2031 ACFID Strategic Plan was approved. Thank you to all of our members for your input in its development over the past year. We look forward to sharing it through a variety of launch events over the coming couple of months. The first of these will be our next round of ACFID CEO Connects in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide (info about how to sign up is below). We will also be hosting an online session for all members who want to attend on the 7th of August.
Please also note that this year there will be some significant events as part of our AGM in October. One of these will be the election for 4 upcoming Board vacancies – we will share more about that in August – but I am happy to answer questions in the interim. We will also be finishing our work to update the ACFID constitution. For those who are interested to learn more about these changes, you are encouraged to register for the upcoming ACFID Constitutional Review consultation session on 15 July. Depending on interest, a second consultation session will be held on 21 July for those who are unable join on the 15th. Registration details can be found below.
Finally, as we enter the last week of the financial year, we know that it is an incredibly important time for fundraising targets and hope all of you have great success amidst a tough economic period!
Need a hand with the ACFID Statistical Survey? We’re here to help!
As you work through this year’s Statistical Survey, just a friendly reminder that support is always available. If you have any questions or need assistance at any point, please reach out to us at [email protected].
To Attend
ACFID Constitutional Review: Deep Dive session
ACFID is hosting a 30-minute deep-dive session on ACFID’s Constitution Review. The session will provide an overview of the review process and proposed changes and is the main member consultation opportunity prior to the final draft being distributed in August.
For questions or enquiries, please contact Chris Portillo, Executive Coordinator, at [email protected].
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 11:00AM – 11:30AM (AEST)
Register here
To Attend
ACFID CEO Connects: Melbourne and Sydney
We’re hosting our second round of ACFID CEO Connects for the year in Melbourne and Sydney—an opportunity to share insights, tackle strategic challenges, and strengthen leadership connections. These sessions will focus on mergers, alongside updates from ACFID CEO Matthew Maury on the new Strategic Plan.
Melbourne:
Date: 22 July 2026
Time: 3:00PM-5:00PM (AEST)
Register here
Sydney:
Date: 4 August 2026,
Time: 3:00PM – 5:00PM (AEST)
Register here
To Join
ACFID in Adelaide – July 2026
The ACFID Secretariat will be in Adelaide this July, and members and sector colleagues are invited to join us for two in‑person events focused on connection, learning, and engagement.
ACFID Connect: Adelaide – Members only
As part of ACFID’s 2026 series of in‑person networking events, ACFID Member Connect: Adelaide brings staff from ACFID member organisations together to share insights, strengthen relationships, and connect directly with the ACFID Secretariat.
This informal event provides a space to meet peers, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections across the international development and humanitarian sector.
Date: 23 July 2026
Time: 3:30PM – 5:30PM (AEST)
Location: St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Wakefield St, Adelaide
Register here
Introduction to the Sector – Adelaide
Open to all | Free for small ACFID members | Discounted for other ACFID members and students
ACFID is hosting a one‑day, face‑to‑face introductory workshop for staff, board members, and others who are new to the international development and humanitarian sector. This participatory workshop will include:
– An overview of the history of international development and humanitarian action
– An introduction to ACFID’s role and the ACFID Code
– Guest speakers from DFAT and ACFID member organisationsOpportunities for networking and further learning
Date:23 July 2026
Time: 8:30AM – 3:30PM (AEST)
Location: St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Wakefield St, Adelaide
Register here
To Action
3-min Code Survey: Let us know your needs!
The Code Team wants to know how to support Members better with their Code requirements, reporting, and resources. Please fill out this 3-min survey to help us help you. If you take on any Code reporting responsibilities, please click here.
Also Join us for a webinar to discuss your Code reporting requirements, FAQs, and expectations on meeting the revised ACFID Code of Conduct.
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 10:00AM – 11:30AM (AEST)
Register here
To Register
AI training built for Australia’s not-for-profit sector
The next cohort of Safe, Responsible, and Effective AI for NGOs kicks off on 13 July 2026 — and registrations are open now.
This four-week course was designed with Australian NGO and not-for-profit staff in mind. It’s practical, sector-relevant, and genuinely accessible whether you’re new to AI or already knee-deep in it. You’ll come away with a clearer understanding of how AI works, how to use it responsibly with the communities you work with, and how to set yourself up for success through improved prompting, system settings, and effective tool use.
What’s covered: The curriculum takes participants from AI fundamentals through to risk assessment, hands-on platform skills, and more advanced topics like AI agents — finishing with resources for continued learning beyond the course.
Two formats available: Choose the hybrid track (weekly live sessions plus pre-reads and group activities) or the fully online, self-paced track — same content, designed for different working styles.
More than individual enrolment:
– Can’t make July? Pre-register for a future cohort.
– Bringing your team? Batch registration is available for organisations.
– Trainers and L&D leads: Sign up as a trainer to access the full curriculum, materials, and technical support to deliver this programme in-house.
Register here.
To Action
Situation 2026: Exploring AI Solutions for Indo-Pacific Development Challenges
Situation 2026 is the Development Intelligence Lab’s flagship event, taking place in Canberra on 15 September 2026. This year’s challenge asks: What Indo-Pacific development challenge could AI help solve by 2031?
There are three ways to get involved:
– Submit a new idea for an AI-enabled development solution
– Showcase an existing solution that is ready to deploy or scale
– Attend as an adopter to discover ideas and approaches that could be applied in your work
The strongest proposal will progress to a closed-door strategic dialogue with senior DFAT officials.
Find out more and get involved:
Read more here.
Submit an expression of interest here.
Register to attend here.
See the launch post here and help spread the world.
To Join
Risk Training for Development and Humanitarian Professionals
Moves That Matter™️ is a risk leadership workshop specifically for humanitarian and development organisations, facilitated by sector risk specialist Oli May. It is highly practical, behaviours-driven and focusses on how to make better risk-based, defensible decisions that support adaptive program management and locally led development. You can find out more and book your place here and the last day to buy tickets is Friday 26 June.
Places are limited and close to selling out, so first-come first-served.
To Join
Storytelling and Consent in Disaster Zones / Post-Emergency Contexts
Join the Communications CoP for this meeting where we will hear speakers share about storytelling in emergency and post-emergency contexts.
Date: 9 July 2026
Time: 10:00AM -11:20AM (AEST)
Event joining details available here
Consultants
Clear Horizon – 15% off MEL courses
Clear Horizon is a values-driven, B-Corp certified, women-led company. We support teams and organisations to monitor, evaluate, learn and ultimately to improve the impact of their strategies, programs and initiatives. We have nearly 20 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) across the international development sector, including working with DFAT, MFAT, World Bank, United Nations, INGOs and managing contractors. We work across a range of sectors including social and economic development, gender equality, disability inclusion, democracy and civil society strengthening, health, education, infrastructure, climate change and disaster resilience, and agriculture.
We are currently offering the ACFID Network 15% off the cost of five courses commencing in 2026. Check them out here!
Consultants
Exclusive Offer – Transform Your Board & Committee Governance
Athena Board is proud to partner with ACFID to help not-for-profits save time, secure documents,and improve governance.
Trusted by charities, international aid agencies, and community organisations across Australia,Athena Board’s secure platform makes it easy to collate, produce, and share board materials while protecting sensitive information. ISO27001 certified and fully encrypted, it’s built to meet the highest standards of security – at a price designed for the NFP sector.ACFID members receive 10% off Athena Board’s already low NFP rates, giving you a high-performing,low-cost solution to:
• Reduce admin time and streamline meeting preparation
• Strengthen governance and compliance
• Provide directors with tools like digital voting, annotations, conflict registers, and offline access
Upgrade your governance with a platform your board will actually enjoy using. Read more here.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Events |
| 15 July | Tips and Tricks for your Code reporting |
| 22 July | ACFID CEO Connect – Melbourne |
| 23 July | ACFID CEO Connect – Adelaide |
| 23 July | Introduction to the Sector Workshop – Adelaide |
| 4 Aug | ACFID CEO Connect – Sydney |
| 12 – 14 October | ACFID National Conference 2026 |
| 4 Nov | Introduction to the Sector Workshop – Online |
| 5 Nov | Introduction to the Sector Workshop – Online |