Board communiqué
And just like that, we have now come to the end of 2022, and what a year it’s been. The WMRR Board met for the last time this year on 8 December 2022, where directors reflected on WMRR’s involvement in leading and supporting our essential waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry in such a busy and unprecedented year, while looking towards 2023 and what we hope to achieve with our members, with the finalisation and launch of the WMRR Strategic Plan.
Ahead of the Board meeting, the Audit and Risk Committee gathered to review WMRR’s 2023 draft budget. Included in the report was the 4% increase to membership fees to reflect the large increases have had this year, however keeping the rise below current CPI. We are looking forward to a focus on industry training in 2023, recruiting a part-time training officer and hopefully finally delivering an overarching training program that WMRR has been attempting to develop albeit delayed due to COVID-19. The Board is very optimistic about the industry, given the continued focus of, and engagement with, state and federal governments, and there is no doubt that this training will add value to our essential industry by driving professionalism as well as increased knowledge.
The Board also supported an increased events programme in 2023. Expect to see new and crowd favourites in 2023, with conference and webinars a permanent fixture of WMRR’s offering plus the new Victorian Forum proposed in March, as well as:
- WMRR’s national conferences, including our Australian Landfill and Transfer Stations (June) and Energy from Waste (November) conferences.
- State-focused events, including one-day forums in Victoria (March), Queensland (July), and Tasmania (May and November) as well as the return of our popular Women of WARR Leadership breakfasts in Victoria, SA, NSW, Queensland, and WA, Minister Breakfasts, and our end-of-year events.
- Partner conferences, including Waste 2023 (Coffs Conference) (May) and the WA Waste & Recycle Conference (September).
2022 was another challenging year for WARR as COVID-19 remained on the scene and coupled with challenging weather patterns there was a continued financial impact on the industry. However, the Association remains in a stable financial position with a modest surplus forecast for 2023. Despite the challenges, with the support of its members, WMRR forged ahead in 2022 and the Board is pleased to hear that membership renewals have remained strong, and we continued to welcome members from a diverse range of organisations across Australia, across the supply chain and across the globe throughout the year. WMRR has also opened its annual member survey and I would encourage you to complete to help the association continue to go from strength to strength.
2023 will continue to see WARR firmly on state and federal policy agendas with WMRR at the table continuing to have a strong guiding voice. The Board looks to 2023 as another exciting year. On behalf of the WMRR Board, I would like to thank Gayle and the team for their efforts throughout the year and wish them and all of you a wonderful and safe holiday season with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2023.