Partnerships and Sponsorships info for Committees

Partnerships

The Transport Professionals Association (formerly AITPM) offers a range of partnerships as an investment in the advancement of the transport community, through supporting the enhancement of services, products, and knowledge. Partners work with the Transport Professionals Association (TPA) for mutual benefit, including through the support and delivery of CPD and networking events, communications and policy activities. Partners contribute not only financially, but with in-kind technical contributions, content and events spaces.

Partnerships are very important to the financial sustainability of TPA operations and enable us to provide many of our services to members for free or at low cast.  It is important that this is well supported through our Branch and Network committees to ensure that our Partners get consistently good quality service and experience.

Partnerships should be consistent with our Partnerships, Sponsorship, and Government Contracts Policy

National Partnerships

At a national level, TPA offers a number of types of partnerships, as well as bespoke packages. The main packages are Industry Partner and Technical Partner, and we also have some bespoke packages including Sustainable Transport Partner and Academic Partner. Packages provide an array of benefits that are focused on enabling our partners to showcase the talents and experience of their teams, while providing differing levels of engagement to suit the exposure they desire.

Most national partnerships include options for or delivery of events, including Branch and Network Events - refer to the section on Partner Events further down this page.

Branch Partnerships and Sponsorship

Partnerships are available with our Branches and Networks, as well as sponsorship and for specific events and activities. 

Head over to our Branch and Networks to view the Prospectus for Branches and TMN.

It is important that Branches secure, support and retain Branch Partners and event sponsors.

Branch Partnership and sponsorships are very important in helping to cover the costs of the operations of the Branches and the various events and activities. 

QUERIES 

If you have a query about an existing or potential new Partner or Sponsor, please contact the Member and Partnerships Team.

Responsibility for Managing Partnerships and Sponsorship

National partnership includes engagement with the Branches and there is a shared responsibility for local service delivery and maintaining positive relationships between each Branch and the local representatives of each National Partner. 

EXPECTATION OF BRANCHES:

• Branches are expected to have at least one nominated Partnership and Sponsorship Coordinator who is responsible for managing partnership and ensuring that the expectations below are met. They are the key contact for these matters in the Branch and it is often the Vice President.
• Branches are expected to liaise with the local representatives of each National Partner, their local Branch Partners and sponsors on at least a quarterly basis.
• Branches are encouraged to build a positive and collaborative relationship with the local representatives of each National Partner, with local Branch Partners and sponsors to assist in ensuring the local delivery of package benefits.
• Branches are expected to assist National and Local Partners in the formulation and delivery of local events, which might include assisting with event ideas and speakers, printing name tags, assisting at events.
• Branches are expected to play an active role in securing and retaining local Partners and Sponsors by having in conversations and corresponding with the Partners/Sponsors regarding their new or renewing agreement. 
• To assist in maintaining up to date records of Partners and Sponsors contacts in each branch.

EXPECTATION OF NATIONAL:

• National is expected to liaise with the lead representatives of each National Partner on at least a quarterly basis.
• National is expected to liaise with the local Branch Partners on a biannual basis.
• National is expected to build a positive and collaborative relationship with each National Partner and Branch Partners to assist in ensuring the delivery of package benefits.
• National is expected to assist National Partners in the formulation of national events and provide guidance on local events, which might include assisting with event ideas and speakers.
• National is expected to secure National Partners, including all agreement negotiations and contract renewals.
• National is expected to support Branches by preparing new or renewing agreement for local Partners and Sponsors by having in conversations and corresponding with the local Partners/Sponsors s required to secure the new or renewed agreement. 
• To assist in maintaining up to date records of National Partners contacts.

A consolidated contact listing of National and Branch Partners and Sponsors is available to key office bearers. This is in a private SharePoint and is only available to those who are authorized. If you require access, please contact the Member and Partnerships Team.

Partner Events - for the information of Branch and Network Committees:

This core aspect of many Partnership packages is intended to provide Partners the opportunity to work collaboratively with TPA to develop quality events that address relevant and topical issues in the transport community - with the CEO for national webinars and policy workshops, the TMN for modelling events, and with Branches and Networks for local in person events. This provides the opportunity for the Partner to demonstrate their expertise, experience, and interest in the relevant aspects of transport practice, and their support for the transport community.

Subject to the requirements below, and depending on the specific entitlements of their package, the Partner can engage with the TPA community via a minimum of X (maximum of X) events per 12-month period across the organisation (nationally and in Branches) including the following event types:

• Organise and lead a National webinar;
• Organise and host a Branch technical event;
• Organise and host a Branch networking or social event;
• Organise and host an event with the Transport Modelling Network (webinar or in person);
• Organise and host a career focused or networking event with the Emerging Professionals Network;
• Organise and host an invite only boardroom style event with an invited speaker (eg lunch or breakfast); or
• Host and assist TPA in organising and facilitating a policy workshop.

The above Partner events are subject to:

• Approval of the topic and session format – CEO for national events, relevant Branch or Network for other events;
• Approval (as above) for speakers, noting that Partners are encouraged to ensure that speakers have the appropriate level of expertise and experience, and that the selection of speakers meets speaker diversity guidelines, including a mix of speakers from different sectors and organisations;
• Approval of the timing of the event within the TPA event calendar;
• The selection and procurement of a suitable, accessible venue (at the cost of the Partner);
• The provision of appropriate catering, where relevant (at the cost of the Partner).

To ensure the best outcome for Branch events, the Partner will need to provide their suggested topic and format options in the timeframe requested by the Branch Committee (desirably prior to or within the first quarter of the calendar year) and work proactively and collaboratively with the Branch to identify a suitable event timing in the TPA calendar. The final decision on the event will be at the discretion of the relevant Branch President, Network Chair or CEO.  The allocation of event timing and topics will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis, so Partners should prepare and engage early to secure their preference calendar slots and topics, noting that we will generally not accept duplication of topics within a 2-3-month period, and we need to ensure that the event market is not too saturated at any one time. When providing event information to the Branch, Network or CEO for approval, Partners should provide information at least 6 weeks prior to the proposed event to allow time for review, approval, and event set-up and advertising.

There should generally be a maximum of 3 events hosted/sponsored by each Partner in any single State/Territory (unless there are no other Partners or local sponsors willing and able to support the events in that location).

Alternatively, if a Partner is unable to organise and host events, they must advise as soon as possible, and can instead take the opportunity, to select from any available package options to sponsor the following types of National, Branch or Network event:

• Sponsor a technical event;
• Sponsor a webinar;
• Sponsor a networking event;
• Sponsor a careers event.

Available packages for events and their pricing will be made available on the TPA website at the beginning of the calendar year, noting that for technical events and webinars the actual topic will not generally be available until 4-6 weeks prior to the event. The allocation of event sponsorship will be on a ‘first come first served’ basis, so Partners should prepare and engage early (in the first quarter of the year) to secure their preferred event packages.