BIA Ltd have responded to the earlier announcement from BIA Victoria that merger talks had stalled.
The BIA Ltd’s statement read as follows.
BIA Victoria and BIA Ltd will not be proceeding with the current proposal to merge.
BIA Victoria had initiated the current proposal and together the two BIA had worked on planning and preparations to merge.
BIA Victoria President Eleni Savva said they appreciated the effort by all involved but the decision has been made by the Victorian Board that now is not the time to progress with the merger plan.
“I’d like to thank Andrew and his team, as well as my fellow BIAV Board members, our CEO Steve Walker, and all of the BIAV members that engaged throughout the process.”
BIA Ltd President Andrew Fielding said he remains open to the possibility of future discussions.
BIA President – Andrew Fielding
“I would like to thank our colleagues in Victoria for their interest in exploring the opportunity and benefits of joining forces,” he said.
“Our associations merging and becoming a single organisation is the best outcome for the marine industry as a whole. In saying that, this will only be successfully enacted when both associations are ready and comfortable with the proposed result.” For now, the two associations will continue liaise.
BIA Ltd meanwhile is committed to its focus on members and delivering to key priorities such a growing participation in boating, delivering advocacy to government, supporting skills and training, and delivering services and programs in the run up to the peak boating season.
