Governance That Builds Trust, Engagement, and Stronger Associations

Post author:Colleen Gallagher
Post published:June 17, 2026
Post category:Podcast

Governance That Builds Trust, Engagement, and Stronger Associations

In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Mark Fernando, Director of Governance and Administration at the American Sociological Association (ASA), to explore what it takes to build trust, transparency, and engagement within a complex member-driven organization.

Managing governance, elections, volunteer leadership, and organizational operations, Mark shares practical lessons on balancing structure with member voice, creating inclusive leadership pathways, and preparing associations for the challenges ahead.

🎧 Whether you’re modernizing governance, strengthening member trust, or thinking about the future of association leadership, this conversation offers valuable insights for association professionals.

Key Highlights

Governance as the Foundation: Mark shares his “association as a house” analogy to explain how bylaws, policies, members, and staff work together to create strong, adaptable organizations.

Building Trust Through Transparency: Effective governance requires clear processes, member feedback, and consistent communication that helps members understand how decisions are made.

Running Elections at Scale: From managing dozens of ballots to navigating unexpected technology challenges, Mark discusses what it takes to maintain fair, trusted election processes.

Representation Requires Intention: Leadership development and volunteer recruitment should reflect the diversity of the membership across backgrounds, perspectives, institution types, and geography.

Communication Is a Two-Way Street: Associations often focus on messaging but overlook feedback. Mark explains why listening is just as important as communicating.

Balancing Agility and Governance: Strong governance systems create the guardrails associations need to respond thoughtfully to emerging issues without losing focus.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on governance, leadership, and the strategies associations can use to remain trusted, responsive, and member-focused in a changing environment.

Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association Insights Podcast powered by OnWrd & UpWrd on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.

Coming Soon: We’re continuing to sit down with association professionals, industry leaders, and changemakers to explore the top trends, challenges, and ideas shaping the future of associations. Stay tuned!