Happy new year, and welcome to 2018.
A year that’s surely set to be as full of change as last year.
I’ve had the honour and pleasure of Chairing this extraordinary organisation for the last two years. A period of profound change both in culture & in the communications landscape.
We’ve focused on simple mission: to enable a new generation of strategists to deliver ‘transformational thinking’. A rallying cry that pushes us all forwards through being:
More digital: we’ve added many new courses to reflect the new challenges strategists face
More ambitious: we’ve hosted an annual conference on the future of AI, added new events such as ‘Seeing Round Corners’ and continued to host our sell-out Noisy Thinking events
More diverse: membership has grown to record levels, with more strategists from more disciplines including tech, media, content, and PR
More influential: our Awards continue to set the gold-standard in showcasing exciting, bold thinking
I’d like to thank all the members of the Committee, who have each got all behind this agenda and brought bundles of ideas, positivity and time. You’ve been an amazing gang.
And to give a huge shout out to the wonderful APG team: Sarah, Lexi and Alison, who truly make miracles happen every day. You are wonderful.
Together we’ve achieved lots, but of course there’s lots more to do.
Because 2018 is a seminal year for the APG: It’s the 50th year anniversary of planning. We’ve not just one but two new publications showing future-facing thinking. And plans are well underway to revolutionise the APG’s digital proposition to make the site experience even more inspiring, searchable and useful – so watch this space.
With that, it’s time for me to hand over the Chair reins to Matt Tanter, CSO @Grey, a brilliant mind, great provocateur and winning personality who’s already made a huge contribution to the APG as part of the Committee with his endless enthusiasm and commitment. I’ve no doubt the APG will go from strength to strength under his stewardship.
Here’s to the future.
Onwards.
Dom
APG Chair 2016 & 2017