New Shared Resource Arrangement
The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is announcing a strategic collaboration with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) that formalizes a shared resource arrangement to support leadership, operations, and long‑term growth. The partnership, set to begin on December 16, signals a significant shift in how both organizations can serve their members while maintaining focus on their respective technical communities. By pooling expertise and staffing, AES aims to preserve its mission of advancing audio science and practice, even as it leverages IES’s broader operational capability.
Leadership Roles and Experience
As part of the arrangement, Colleen Harper will serve as Executive Director for AES in a shared role with IES. Harper previously led AES from 2019 to 2022, guiding the Society through notable growth and program development. In addition, Graham Kirk will again serve in a shared capacity as Director of Business Operations, reinforcing a proven track record of strengthening industry partnerships and driving revenue growth. These leadership placements reflect a deliberate strategy to maintain continuity while expanding capacity to serve members and partners.
Executive Insight
IES President Wilson Dau described the collaboration as a demonstration of the organization’s commitment to supporting technical and professional societies. “By sharing our resources and expertise, we can help AES continue its important mission while leveraging the operational efficiencies that benefit both organizations.” Harper emphasized that the arrangement enables AES to stay focused on members and innovation by adding new resources and tapping into a broader team with technical experience.
Strategic Benefits for Members
The AES-IES partnership is designed to deliver tangible advantages for AES members and volunteers. By coordinating through an association management company (AMC) model, the two organizations can pivot staff resources to areas of highest impact, from member services and education to research and world-class events. The leadership team notes that keeping members at the heart of decision-making remains a core priority, even as the teams collaborate across programs and initiatives.
Operational Flexibility and Growth
The collaboration includes some IES staff supporting both IES and AES initiatives, with IES hiring three additional staff members to handle the increased workload. AES leadership highlights that this approach preserves the agility of a smaller society while benefiting from the depth and scale of a larger organization. “This arrangement empowers AES to focus squarely on serving its members and advancing audio innovation,” Harper stated. “We’re able to add resources and tap into a team with critical experience in working with highly technical societies.”
Focus on Community, Education, and Events
Gary Gottlieb, AES President, echoed optimism about the partnership’s potential. “The last time we had the winning combination of Colleen, Graham, and Clyne Media, AES saw measurable gains in membership and event attendance. This shared arrangement brings us back to that successful formula, while also giving AES access to the depth and flexibility of a larger team.” The arrangement is expected to support AES’s mission to connect the global audio community, bolster education and research, and facilitate premier events for enthusiasts, professionals, and researchers alike.
Looking Ahead
For AES, the partnership with IES is a strategic move to expand influence, elevate member services, and sustain momentum for ongoing and future events. The collaboration is framed as a path to stability and growth through shared leadership, enhanced operational capacity, and a continued emphasis on member-centric programming. As AES and IES move into this new chapter, both organizations anticipate greater opportunities to strengthen industry relationships, broaden engagement, and deliver more value to their members and partners worldwide.
