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Insights from the CEO

Explore the latest trends and insights from the forefront of the furnishing industry with our exclusive CEO news page

Latest Insights from the CEO Desk

Reforming Government Procurement: A New Deal for Australian Manufacturing – by Patrizia Torelli

Australian Government must stick to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Post the COVID-19 pandemic Australia needs a strong focus on Government Procurement. Government is the biggest customer in the country and what it buys has massive implications for the success or...

Industry tackles our mountains of furniture waste by Patrizia Torelli

In the recent floods in eastern Australia the footpaths of recovering cities were quickly piled high with waste furniture and furnishings. With little of this waste recyclable or recycled and ending up in landfill, Patrizia Torelli explores what industry is doing to...

Australian Furnishing Industry Current State of Play

No one knows the Australian Furnishing Industry better than you, but how can we help make it better? Have your say here…

Australian manufacturers must compete on value rather than cost

Evidence from 3,000 global manufacturers on the source of their competitiveness show that Australian manufacturers must compete on value rather than cost.

Where the Australian Federal Election will be Decided

As always, the election will be decided in marginal seats, with the caveat that there are a number of safe government seats that are entering into the electoral equation due to the presence of high-profile independent candidates.

CEO News August 2021

A HUGE week in the Furnishing industry has seen us developing more Education and Training initiatives, releasing the AFA’s Toppling Furniture Prevention Best Practice Guidelines, contributing to the review of the entire Furnishing Training Package overhaul, updating...

CEO News: July 2021

How important is it to you to protect your brand and your I.P? It has been on the list of Top 5 issues for Australian designers and manufacturers years and is a constant source of angst for many. More recently it has been reinforced as a major issue due to...

CEO News March 2021

$$$ Energy Savings, Employment Opportunities, Digital Transformation, Franchising and Senate Enquiries and $105K Penalties for non-compliance. All in a week’s work for the AFA. It can seem overwhelming, but the team at AFA are always here to assist and provide...

CEO News: February 2021

For over 135 year the AFA, in its various guises, has been doing its best to service the furniture and furnishing industry and remain relevant. It takes continuous evolution, ongoing extensive research, analysis and shape-shifting to continue to deliver strong...

CEO News January 2021

Celebrating lifetime achievements. Scrutinising multi-million dollar foreign deals. Suppliers caught cheating the system. Unfair dismissal on the rise. Recognition of AFA Members. Connecting training to industry, and jobs, jobs, jobs. It’s all in a week’s work at the...

CEO News 21/05/18

For a couple of years now, you will have been receiving a newsletter from the AFA almost every week and the feedback has been diverse, with some wanting more and others less. So we thought we’d trial a less frequent more focussed approach. Well the reaction has been...

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CEO News 19/04/18

Designers, Designers, Designers! Where are you? The constant demand for the AFA to link clients with great designers is overwhelming. From international projects to local high end products, and everything in between. BUT we just can’t keep up with the supply. So why...

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CEO News: February 2018

Are you making it easier for your potential clients to engage with you? Trust me, I get it! It’s getting harder to connect with astute consumers, clients and buyers because there is so much 'white noise' out there, good and bad. So what makes you stand out from the...

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Upcoming Industry Events

Annual Furniture Expo

Join us for the largest gathering of furniture professionals, showcasing the latest trends and innovations.

March 15, 2024

FREE

Sustainable Design Workshop

Explore sustainable practices in furniture design with leading experts in the field.

April 10, 2024

FREE

CEO Leadership Summit

Engage with top industry leaders and gain insights into effective leadership strategies.

May 5, 2024

FREE

Furniture Innovation Awards

Celebrate groundbreaking designs and innovations in the furnishing industry.

June 20, 2024

FREE

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