TAS has approximately 40 staff working across Australia. Our staff are predominantly based in our Sydney office, with personnel also located in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
The Executive Team comprises exceptionally experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated individuals who have played a pivotal role in achieving success for our clients.
Francis Child FCA, CEM
Executive Chair
Francis was born and educated in the United Kingdom where he obtained a BSc. in Economics with Statistics at the University of Bristol. He qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales in 1981. After leaving the accounting profession in 1985, Francis gained extensive experience in both the entertainment and events-based industry sectors. Having worked for Chrysalis Records and EMI Records in the UK for 8 years, Francis moved to Australia in 1992, where he worked for AiC Worldwide (now Terrapinn) in the capacity of both Main Board Director and Finance Director. During this time AiC Worldwide became one of the leading global conference and trade show organisers.
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In July, 2000 Francis purchased Conference Action Pty. Ltd a company specialising in event management for the Association, Society and Government sectors. In 2005, the addition of the Australian Professional Centre (APC), moved the business into a more strategically focused provider of association management services. Francis has, since then, developed what is now The Association Specialists into the leading provider of association management services in Australia. He continues to passionately drive improvements into the not-for-profit sector whilst struggling to get any improvement in his golf game. Francis is an Honorary Life Member of the PCO Association and Past President of Lane Cove Football Club.
Emma Hayes
Managing Director
Emma Hayes is an experienced senior executive with a background in business leadership, operations, communications and client service. She has led large teams, managed complex business networks and supported strategic development across a range of industries.
Emma holds a business degree and is currently completing a Master’s in Law. Her approach to leadership is grounded in ethical practice, collaboration and long-term thinking. She is particularly interested in organisational development, workplace culture and sustainable business growth. Emma is also passionate about environmental causes and believes in the role of business as a force for good.
Siegmar Kahl
Financial Controller
Siegmar has worked in the accounting and finance domain for the last 18 years. His professional experience ranges from complex, technical accounting queries (AAS/IFRS) within large, multinational firms to running the complete accounting and finance function for small organisations. With an audit background, Siegmar qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2013. Siegmar grew up mostly in Germany, where he obtained his Master's in Business Economics in 2007.
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Siegmar's expertise includes taxation, corporate governance, compliance, and overseeing the day-to-day activities of organisations. With over 10 years of leadership experience, he is passionate about delivering value to clients through a hands-on and efficient approach.
Annie Coulter GIA (Cert)
Director of Association Management
Annie joined The Association Specialists in 2013. She graduated in BA History at Cardiff University in the UK and developed her skills within the sales and charity sectors before moving to Australia. She has worked with not for profits and associations for 12 years and has extensive knowledge of working with boards to deliver quality member services and benefits.
Annie is experienced in developing and streamlining operational processes in addition to providing advice on governance, marketing and strategic planning.
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As Director of Association Management, she leads large teams across multiple associations with confidence and clarity. Annie plays a key role in allocating staff portfolios, ensuring the right people are matched with the right clients, and brings a deep understanding of her team’s strengths and working styles. Her ability to juggle complex workloads while maintaining strong relationships with both staff and clients makes her an invaluable part of the TAS leadership team.
Renae Stanton
Director of Operations
Renae brings over two decades of experience in programming, project management, and large-scale event delivery. Prior to joining The Association Specialists, she served as Associate Director at Gartner Conferences, where she led hundreds of business events across APAC, India, and the Middle East, while driving operational improvements across the organisation.
Her notable achievements include implementing enterprise-level software solutions, restructuring billing models to improve profitability, and leading global sustainability initiatives. At TAS, Renae plays a key role in elevating client programs through data-driven strategy, operational excellence, and meticulous execution.
Thalia Child GIA (Cert)
Director of Productivity
Thalia graduated from Macquarie University in 2015 with a degree in International Business Studies and is also certified Governance for Not-for-Profits from the Governance Institute of Australia the leading authority on governance and risk management in Australia.
She has skills in both association and conference management, having operated in various roles throughout the organisation in her 10+ years with the company.
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Thalia’s key role is ensuring client service delivery and company resource allocations are managed optimally. Her strong leadership skills enable her to successfully lead a team, while analysing productivity and streamlining process to ensure the TAS team are delivering outstanding results in ever-changing environments.Her passion for exceeding client expectations facilitates strong client relationships, delivers tangible results and positions associations for market growth and long-term sustainability.
Aaron Lucas
Senior Association Manager
Aaron Lucas brings a deep commitment to community and inclusivity to their role as Senior Association Manager at The Association Specialists. With a background in volunteering and leadership across organisations like the Sony Foundation and Sydney Roller Derby League, Aaron has cultivated a strong foundation in governance, empathy, and advocacy. Aaron’s passion for diversity and inclusion - highlighted by their 2019 ACON LGBTI Inclusive Coach of the Year Award -continues to shape their work and leadership style.
At TAS, Aaron is driven by a desire to support associations in delivering their mission while giving back to the broader community. “I admire when the team is able to express vulnerability, because it’s okay to not know everything and make mistakes. At the end of the day, we will fix it,” says Aaron. “I invest in reading as much as possible about being inclusive as much as possible in all contexts, including the workplace.”
Ellie James
Head of Events
Ellie James is a highly experienced events professional with over 15 years’ expertise in event management, marketing, and project leadership. She has successfully planned and delivered both small and large-scale conferences, exhibitions, and international events for audiences of up to 8,000, in both corporate and association sectors. Ellie began her career at the Shangri-La Hotel while studying and has since built a reputation for creating memorable and impactful experiences for attendees.
Since joining The Association Specialists in 2021, Ellie has been instrumental in the Events Team and now serves as the Head of Events. In this role, she leads a dedicated team to deliver high-quality events that align with strategic business objectives.
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Before joining TAS, Ellie held senior roles at RTC Events Management and Terrapinn Australia, overseeing international and large-scale corporate events. She is passionate about crafting experiences where every detail contributes to the success of the event and the satisfaction of attendees. For Ellie, the key to a successful event lies in passion, collaboration, and strong relationships with both teams and suppliers, ensuring every event exceeds expectations.