ACS says member growth defies trend, industry buoyant

Peter Dinham
Sunday, 29 November 2009 10:37

IT Industry - Market

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has taken its membership to 16,000 with just under 10 percent growth in membership over two years, which the ACS says defies both the economic downturn and a ‘declining membership’ amongst ICT professional bodies globally.

(ACS) today announced membership growth of 9.6 percent for the 2008-09 calendar years, taking overall membership numbers to more than 16,000 as of the end of October 2009. 

Outgoing ACS national chairman & president, Kumar Parakala, said there had been membership growth for the 2008 and 2009 calendar years of 9.6 percent, taking overall membership to more than 16,000 as of the end of October. 
           
“The ACS is very pleased to see membership growth continue across 2009, despite the financial downturn. We believe this highlights both the strength of the society and Australia’s ICT sector in general.”

Parakala said ICT professional bodies all around the world are indicating “significant attrition – of anywhere from 10 – 25 percent of their membership,” adding that “during the same period, the ACS has grown almost 10%, demonstrating the confidence of members in our value proposition as well as the overall buoyancy of the Australian ICT industry which this year has also posted strong growth.”

According to Parakala, the ACS membership growth is an outcome of the transformation agenda the ACS has worked on in recent years.
 
“We have instigated a new governance structure, better management of ACS activities, a more qualified executive and have worked closely with government providing advice on matters of strategic priority. 

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