Report from the chair My fi rst year as chair has been a busy one, the development of


the ‘voice of AFT’ as mentioned last year by Shan Tate has been a continuing theme. Reenee Singh, our CEO, has provided a detailed report of her work in this area. The changes brought about by Sue and Paul Kennedy’s


retirement have also featured heavily on the agenda. For years they have worked tirelessly for AFT. Almost no request, no matter how imaginative, complicated or just plain impossible, was turned down! I would like to add to the many expressions of gratitude and thanks to Sue and Paul for helping to make AFT what it is today, providing us with such a well-run and supportive organisation. In order to make some sense of the activities of the CEO and


board I intend to present this report as a loosely constructed diary. Starting with September, the day after last year’s conference,


Shan Tate, AFT rep, Amy Urry and yours truly were invited to a meeting of the EFTA-NTFO (national family therapy organisations) board held in Manchester. Also attending from the UK were David Amias, member of the NTFO board, and Ged Smith, our other AFT rep. The meeting was very complimentary about our annual conference hosted by the Manchester branch. The Europe-wide conversation was rich and thought provoking about how the profession functions and is organised in the diff erent European countries. In February we received the sad news of Rodolfo de Bernart, EFTA’s president’s passing. In the October board meeting Nigel Jacobs was elected vice


chair. This appointment lasts for a year. We also welcomed Rav Khela, who brings expertise on strategic development, to the board. In terms of our plan of action, apart from each board member


taking responsibility for connecting with a committee and/or a project, the following was put on the 12-month agenda, linking to our work to the strategic plan. 1. Digital presence. Reenee has written about this in her report. 2. The review of systemic practitioner membership. 3. Continue to forge closer links with the UKCP. Again Reenee has noted this in her report.


4. Attending both EFTA and IFTA events. 5. Ongoing work on the training review, and creating opportunities which emerged following a consultation day in Spring 2018.


6. Policy and media presence, again very much within in the CEO role but with support from the board of course.


7. Promotion of research and continuing input into the Nice guidelines. 8. Work on the conferences. In November Shan Tate attended the American Association for


Marriage and Family Therapy conference in Louisville, Kentucky, representing AFT. This was a very useful but busy conference. Apart from observing and giving feedback on the management of the huge conference (1400 participants) Shan also managed to squeeze in a working lunch with the CEOs and chairs of other family therapy organisations. We are truly a member of the global family of systemic thinkers. Shan’s full report is in the June Context. We also had a very well-attended memorial day honouring


Salvador and Pat Minuchin. Thank you to everyone involved to make this happen.


58 January was a busy month, an Aspens one-day conference was


held, with one presentation, Jeremy Woodcock with an experiential workshop focusing on delivering an array of approaches to trauma whilst working in independent practice. It was, as all Aspens days, very well-attended by members working in independent and non- statutory practice. Prior to the board meeting we had our annual chairs’ day, also


attended by Rory Worthington, chair of college in the UKCP and David Amias, board member of EFTA. The reports from the chairs and AFT publishing refl ected the enormous level of voluntary activity undertaken by everyone. The day was spent hearing from the committees, a presentation led by Rory on the UKCP and a session by David on the work of EFTA. We also discussed the systemic practitioner membership.


Concerns have arisen about employers possibly substituting systemic practitioner membership for fully qualifi ed registered members. As I write we are still working on this issue. Shan, Amy and Nigel fed back on the work in relation to the


training review and creating opportunities developments. The next day we had our board meeting, where we welcomed


Wiley, our publisher, to further discuss our contract. I am pleased to report that after three years of negotiation we have agreed to extend our contract for a period of two years. In return for our commitment to them we will get a new website. We also were delighted to hear that Ujjal Saini has accepted


our invitation to become our lay member to the board. Ujjal is an accountant and his expertise of the fi nancial and legal requirements is knowledge the Board is going to need in the future. In February we said goodbye to Dawn Harvey who has been


looking after CRED and branches and Sam Petrie, who has done an excellent job as Scotland’s communication offi cer. We wish them both well for the future In March, Scotland welcomed the IFTA conference to Aberdeen.


Reports are in the June Context. The offi ce said hello to Kathi Özmaya too, taking up Dawn’s


desk. The April board meeting was the last meeting attended by Sue


and Paul Kennedy. We looked at the end of year fi nancial reports, which were very healthy and confi rmed expenditure for 2019. We were introduced to Matthew Adam who did a presentation to the board about his role as a commissioner. We interrupted the meeting for a celebratory lunch, where Sue Kennedy was presented with some lovely jewellery from the board. After lunch was business as usual, with Suzanne O’Connor, our new executive assistant, now keeping order! Sue Kennedy had her last working day on the 30th of April.


Melanie Wood, our registration offi cer, with an amazing ability to produce wonderful food, organised a fabulous surprise cream tea at lunchtime! We also welcomed Janice Crawford, our new fi nancial manager.


Janice will be in the offi ce every Thursday, taking over from Paul. In May, Shan Tate and Ged Smith attended the EFTA (NFTO) meeting in Estonia. Feedback refl ected the ongoing work


Context 164, August 2019


Report from the chair


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