TAS Stories: Aaron Lucas

It was a volunteer stint at the Sony Foundation, a charitable arm of Sony where Aaron had been working for almost a decade, that ignited their passion for giving back to society. Aaron’s desire to help those in need extended outside of their work, taking up volunteering opportunities at the Sydney Roller Derby League (SRDL). “It started with running SRDL’s sausage sizzles, then writing a manual for how to run them for other volunteers in different regions.”

Over the years, Aaron’s involvement with SRDL flourished, culminating in diverse leadership roles where they contributed to significant policymaking that helped to navigate some difficult times for the organisation. “The reason,” they say for their long volunteering tenure was their “continuing desire to help, which underpins everything I do.”

Transitioning to the Local Government Professionals Australia, Aaron says they found a role that was tailor-made for them, where they could leverage their board experience to support members daily. However, it was only upon joining The Association Specialists (TAS) as Client Services Manager that Aaron grasped the breadth of the association landscape. “I was surprised to learn just how big the world of associations is. There are lots of associations, and many of these associations want help in delivering their core mission,” says Aaron.

Aaron says, having had the kind of exposure they had in running large, thriving associations, they feel comfortable sharing their insights with their clients, which includes Geological Society of Australia and Ag Institute Australia, among many others. They approach challenges with a blend of empathy and assurance, drawing on their firsthand experiences to navigate obstacles. As Aaron aptly puts it, “it’s often the process of overcoming challenges that strengthens relationships with clients in the long-term.”

Their empathy extends to their interactions within the team. “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. Reflecting on their most profound achievement to date, Aaron says it’s their advocacy for gender diversity (they received the 2019 ACON LGBTI Inclusive Coach of the Year Award for their work at the SRDL). “I invest in reading as much as possible about being inclusive as much as possible in all contexts, including the workplace.”

Aaron’s daily motivations and their future aspirations are united by one driving force: they want to work and give back at the same time. A self-proclaimed “governance nerd” with a particular interest for strategic thinking, Aaron sees themselves continuing to help advise associations in their current capacity at TAS, while helping TAS grow into a bigger organisation to be able to serve even more associations in the future.