Dear Skålleagues,

Registrations for our mid-year National Assembly to be held in Cairns from the 6^th – 8^th September are now open, and we are looking forward to seeing you all there!

Our host club Cairns have put together an incredible weekend of tropical themed events showcasing the best of Queensland’s tropical north. Home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, this is the perfect opportunity to combine business and pleasure. Networking, creating business opportunities, doing business amongst friends and why not take some time out to relax poolside or spend some days exploring the stunning region.

For those attending, we do encourage participation in our Skål Australia Expo. The event is free for members attending and is a great way to do business amongst friends, showcase your products and services, increase awareness of your business and generate new business leads.

I am pleased to advise that we have finalised the Australian Sustainability Subcommittee and further news will be sent out to your Club Champions shortly. Thank you to those clubs who have nominated a champion, we are looking forward to planning some great sustainability projects over the coming months to promote and encourage a responsible and sustainable future for Skål Australia.

I would also like to congratulate the following three Australian finalists in the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort – Accommodation Category.

Oceana B&B – Accommodation Category.

Monarto Safari Park – Major Tourist Attractions Category.

We wish you all the very best of luck and we will be cheering you on in Izmir!

We are only three months away from the World Congress to be held in Izmir, Türkiye. We currently have approximately 30 Australians registered to attend, it’s not too late to book! If you haven’t organised your Australian polo, time is running out with the deadline for ordering polos this coming Friday 19^th July.

If you are attending and haven’t yet been added to the Australian Izmir WhatsApp group, then please email me as soon as possible at president@skal.org.au.

As you know, we have been working on increasing members benefits and the return on membership investment. I am very pleased to advise that we are very close to finalising corporate flyer agreements with both Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines and expect to have these available to Australian members from the beginning of August. We are very much looking forwarded to a successful partnership with both airlines.

I am looking forward to travelling to Sydney next month to attend Skål International Sydney’s Mid-Winter Ball at NSW Parliament House on the 21^st August. Lori Modde, Chair of NSW Tourism Association will be the keynote speaker and The Hon. John Graham MLC, Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy will provide the official welcome. In addition, Skål International Vice President and 2025 President-elect Denise Scrafton and Skål International New Zealand President Victoria Wales will also be attending. It will be a fantastic night and I encourage any member who can attend to register for this exclusive event! I hope to see many of you there!

Skål International Thailand will be hosting their National Congress in the stunning city of Chiang Mai from the 29^th November – 2^nd December and Skål Australia members are invited to attend. A captivating city nestled in the scenic mountains of Northern Thailand, Thailand’s cultural capital Chiang Mai is surrounded by natural beauty, lush jungles, cascading waterfalls and beautiful temples.

I hope you will consider joining me in Thailand in November!

Yours in Skål,

Ash Munn

President - Skål International Australia
Partnerships & Technology