Setting the Alliance’s Direction: Spring Council Meeting
On Wednesday, 19 October, the Sydney Alliance Council met face to face for the first time in 16 months.
Billed as a major negotiation about the work of the Alliance in 2023, the meeting gathered 40 leaders, supported by Alliance staff and Assistant Organisers. Over three hours together, we generated deeper relationships, energy for action, and, most importantly, decisions about our direction towards the NSW State election.
Stories were central to the meeting. The Council Co-chairs shared stories that had shaped them as leaders: struggles with exploitation at work and systemic racism. They also shared the sources of their hope – the times their organisations had fought and won, and the heroes in their own families who shaped their values.
Continuing co-chair, Nok Sothanaphaisan (United Workers Union) and outgoing co-chair Julia Sussman (Jewish Board of Deputies) introduced new co-chairs Justine Lloyd (National Tertiary Education Union) and Joannie Lee (Democracy in Colour). The union and community caucuses endorsed Justine and Joanne.
Steph Cunio, Sydney Alliance Board Co-chair, shared the story of the Alliance in 2022, celebrating the wins we have achieved in gathering people, building relationships, organising money and winning change. On behalf of the Alliance Board, she congratulated the Alliance’s organisations and their representatives, who then shared their own stories of gathering to act in relational conversations.
The heart of the meeting was a deep deliberation through which we set our direction ahead of the NSW State election.
Congratulations to all those who played a part in this rich and effective meeting! Kudos to all the leaders who presented or facilitated, ensuring that the meeting and its outcomes were owned by our organisations and communities, rather than driven by staff: Julia Sussman, Nok Sothanaphaisan, Justine Lloyd, Joannie Lee, Michael Walker, Janice Stokes and Steph Cunio.
The Council Co-chairs did an excellent job bringing the meeting together. We hope to continue to grow the co-chairing team, with openings remaining for leaders from the faith and community caucuses. Anyone interested in this role should contact our Community Organiser, Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis, at chantelle@sydneyalliance.org.au.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Council meeting, or the Council more generally, please contact the co-chairs, Chantelle or our Lead Organiser David Barrow at dbarrow@sydneyalliance.org.au.
Our next Sydney Alliance Council meeting is the Annual General Meeting:
Wednesday, 7 December at Gosford (joint meeting with the Hunter Community Alliance)
Meeting 10:30am–12pm, followed by optional lunch, 12:30pm–2pm
More info to come
