Contact us

              Please contact us :

              by email:

              g-net.eu@btconnect.com

              by post:

              G-Net, Global Network of Association Management

              PO Box 7804, Bishop's Stortford.

              Herts, CM23 1XY   United Kingdom.

              by phone:

              +44(0)1279 600883

              We look forward to hearing from you.

Biographies of protagonists:-

 Biography – Robert J. Kemp     robert-kemp@btconnect.com

With a background in the engineering sector, Robert rose through the ranks to become marketing director of a manufacturing company employing 750 people in London and Birmingham, England. Aware that he needed to start his own business before the watershed age of 40 years, Robert resigned and established his own consultancy company called Robert Jay Associates Ltd.  

In his previous role he had initiated the formation of a trade association to help rationalise an untidy UK exhibition situation and as soon as he had started his consultancy, he was asked by associates to run the association.  This was followed by another related association also asking him to take over their secretariat.  Both associations became very successful with their own biennial exhibitions attracting more than 25,000 trade visitors. 

Robert was also responsible for the export activities of the associations and with UK Government help, spent 10 years taking British exporters to events in all parts of the world. As head of the British delegations, Robert represented these industries and met with many dignitaries and politicians including the President of the United States.

Seeking a break from the hectic travel schedule, Robert retired from running associations in 1996 and established International Association Executive Magazine which became the definitive publication for the European association sector. In 2005 Robert sold the publishing rights to the magazine and continued as editor until taking semi-retirement in 2008. 

During an exhibition in Frankfurt in 2007, Robert met with fellow association executive David Gasson who suggested that an international network of association managers and executives would enhance the profession and provide a conduit to peers in other countries.  As a result of this Robert and David co-launched G-Net – Global Network of Association Management in the winter of 2008.

 Biography – David Gasson   dg@iuai.org

 On leaving school David joined British Petroleum as a commercial apprentice where he graduated in business studies. A continuing interest in aviation eventually resulted in his joining the Royal Air Force where, after commissioning, he trained as a navigator.

In a career spanning 29 years he flew heavy multi-engine aircraft in both the maritime patrol and airborne early warning roles, and was a qualified crew captain, navigation instructor, and flight examiner. He also undertook a variety of ground appointments including officer and aircrew selection, personnel casework, and Ministry of Defence and NATO policy posts.

On leaving the RAF he joined the UK National Air Traffic Service as a flight standards officer, where he was responsible for navigation policy. During this period he also represented the UK on navigation policy groups in the International Civil Aviation Organisation and Eurocontrol.

He became Secretary General of the International Union of Aerospace Insurers in 1998, where he continues to enjoy the variety and challenges of the job. A great deal of his time is spent dealing with governments and international agencies on legal and regulatory issues that affect aerospace insurers and their clients, and it was the lack of a forum where he could discuss with his peers the particular problems of running a global association that led him to the idea of “an international association for association executives of international associations”. But G-Net is a much snappier title...