Welcome to the Spring edition of the IHHC magazine – the first in our new webmag format!

Spring is one of my favourite seasons — I love the shift in the weather as everything begins to bloom, and it feels like the world starts to come alive again. I can’t help but reflect on the dedication and energy our committee and Board members bring to the IHHC.

Firstly, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jon Valentine, who has stepped down as the WA Chair. Although Jon will no longer serve in this role, we’re pleased that he will continue to contribute on both the WA Committee and the National Finance and Audit Committee. I am delighted to welcome Cheryl Hughes as the new WA Chair, and we look forward to her joining the National Board. Additionally, I’d like to acknowledge the contributions of Troy Litzow, who has stepped down from both the National Board and the State Committee.

Looking ahead, the QLD/NSW AGM will be held in October, where we will welcome a new QLD/NSW Chair. Change always brings new opportunities, and we are excited for what the future holds.

In recent months we had the pleasure of celebrating the IHHC Excellence Awards. Each state hosted a successful dinner or cocktail event, bringing our community together to recognise and honour our outstanding members. Reading through the nominations fills me with pride for our industry. We are fortunate to have such talented individuals who are committed to providing exceptional service to patients, clients and residents alike.

Speaking of excellence, I’d like to remind everyone that the Perth Conference is quickly approaching this November. The program has been finalised and it promises to be a fantastic event with an impressive lineup of presenters. The teams for the Culinary Competition are soon to be selected and I can’t wait to see the incredible creations they come up with! We are looking forward to another successful Conference and hope to see many of you there.

In August the National Board met via Zoom, ensuring that we maintain good financial stewardship. A major focus of the meeting was the upcoming Conferences — Perth in 2024, Melbourne in 2025 and Tasmania in 2026. In addition to Conference planning, we also discussed the IHHC’s strategic plan which is built around four key pillars: People, Excellence, Relevance,  and Accountability. Each Board meeting focuses on one of these pillars and this time we took a closer look at Relevance, which includes:

• The National Excellence Awards

• IHHC representation on government and industry committees

• Information sharing within the industry

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to the success of the IHHC. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Conference!

Kind regards

LISA CRANHAM National President