AMBCQ Strategic Planning Day, 25th September 2010

On Saturday, a small group of dedicated AMBCQ members gave up their time to be involved in a strategic planning workshop.  Many thanks to all present including Doug, Bryan and Sue, and Maxwell, Kiong (and myself) for the day.  The workshop ran from 9:30am through to just after 3:30pm and was held at Christies Corporate. 

As all members will be aware, AMBCQ has experienced a lot of growth over the last four years, since the organisation was reactivated in September 2006.  We have gone from a zero base to being the largest and most active chapter of the AMBC in Australia, with over 50 members.

As Kiong and I do this sort of thing for a living through Paradigm Infinitum, we led the session and used a lot of Paradigm Infinitum's strategic analysis tools for strategic planning workshops.  We started with an historical overview of the development of AMBCQ, our relationship to MABC in KL and AMBC national and the other state bodies, and some recent developments.  We also reviewed our mission and vision.  We then undertook a stakeholder analysis, mapping the environment in which AMBCQ operates and its links to various organisations and bodies.  We also analysed the impact that some of the stakeholders have on AMBCQ.  Following this, we did a PESTEL analysis, looking at the political, economic, sociocultural, technical, environmental and legal factors which are currently impacting on the AMBCQ.

After a break for quick and tasty lunch at Oriental Corner, just down the street, we reconvened and performed a Futures Analysis and talked about possible futures for AMBCQ, what we might face in the near future and how we might deal with these issues.  Finally, we did a SWOT analysis, taking onboard all that we had looked at from the other methods of analysis into account, and from this we gleaned insights into various threats and also numerous opportunities for AMBCQ.

From all the analysis, we then had a little time to talk about the priorities, challenges and opportunities AMBCQ is currently facing, or will face in the near future.  As we only had a few hours, we will reconvene online to get into actually planning our future strategies, and action planning, and all present committed to continuing the strategic planning via email.  After all that intensive work, we went to the Hilton and rewarded ourselves with afternoon tea.

It was an invaluable day, and it is always important to have input from members, old and new, and the new perspectives and ideas they were able to put forward.  I believe it was a crucial exercise that will help make the future for AMBCQ more sustainable in the long run.

We will continue to work on the strategic plan and hope to have it finalised by mid- to late October.

Merdeka Dinner and Meeting, 31st August 2010

AMBCQ had a nice low key dinner as well as a meeting for AMBCQ members and friends to mark Merdeka.  Merdeka commemorates the anniversary of the independence of Malaya on 31 August, 1957 (Malaysia itself, only came into existence in 1963 when four separate countries being Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak amalgamated as equal partners) and is seen as one of the important national days of Malaysia.

The dinner was held at Yahoo Chinese Restaurant - we were introduced to Yahoo and its proprietors Yvonne and Pat last week when the Malaysian Trade Consul Mr Ong was visiting Brisbane.  I don't think it is an overstatement to say that everyone was blown away by the food!  This place, hidden away on Loganlea Rd in Waterford is a genuine eating treasure.  The fish head curry is AMAZING, the butter oat prawns are perfect, the kangkung was just right, and everyone tells me that the pork belly was fantastic.  Also the desserts were great - I had coconut custard which was nice, but Kiong had sago pudding that I loved!

It was a nice mix of old members and new members, plus some of our key supporters, like our patron Dr Peter Yeoh OAM and Alice Yeoh, and CH and Lyna Chen.  Thank you to all who came along!  And thanks to Yahoo (who are also new members of AMBCQ!) for the delicious feast and their hospitality. 

http://my247.com.au/brisbane/Yahoo-Chinese-Malaysian-Restaurant.11288