Trade Union Technology Symposium
The Intercloud9 Trade Union Symposium will explore practical strategies for modernising legacy systems, managing risk, and efficiently adopting new technology. Industry experts will share insights on improving member engagement, streamlining operations, and staying ahead of emerging trends without exceeding budget constraints.
Session 1 - Wed, 26 March | 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM GMT
Dynamics 365 | A Single View to Strengthen Member Engagement
The future of trade union technology isn’t just about upgrading systems.
It’s about transforming the way you engage with members, manage operations, and drive impact.
In Bluelight's 9:45 AM session, we’ll explore key digital pain points that may be holding your union back and introduce innovative approaches to overcoming them.
From streamlining payroll deductions and case management to optimising bargaining strategies and vote tracking, we will explore how the right tools can empower your union with real-time insights, seamless automation, and improved experiences for members, representatives, organisations, and staff.
Join Rob, James and Jim to discover how your union can leverage cutting-edge solutions to ensure the right people get the right information, at the right time.
Don’t miss this first session, where we’ll set the tone for the conversations to come.
Here’s what you’ll gain from attending:
Clear steps to modernise your trade union CRM
Learn how to upgrade or replace outdated membership management systems without overspending.
Stronger member engagement and retention
Discover how better digital tools can improve the member experience and increase union membership growth.
A smoother transition to new systems
Get practical advice on reducing risk, avoiding disruption, and securing leadership and stakeholder buy-in.
Insights into AI, automation, and secure cloud solutions
Find out how technology can support digital transformation in trade unions without overcomplicating processes.
Guidance from Dynamics 365 and iMIS experts
See how these membership CRM platforms can streamline case management, payroll deductions, collective bargaining, and membership engagement.
Meet Bluelight's Presenters:
About Rob
Rob has spent the majority of his career working within the healthcare and non-profit sectors. Starting out on an IT career, he soon established that his passion was in the application of technology for good, an ambition which he pursued through a number of roles aligning technology teams with business needs within those specific sectors. Having served as Head of IT for a membership body, he joined a consultancy dedicated to supporting non-profits through digital change projects, serving as a consultant and senior, then leading the delivery team.Understanding how fundamental to their success it is for non-profits to have effective technology implemented properly, Rob’s focus is on making sure that the specialist Bluelight delivery team has the capacity, tools, knowledge, and support they deserve, enabling them to perform at their best level.
Rob is married, and - when he’s not working - you’ll find him cooking, gardening, walking, socialising or travelling. Apparently, he also spends too much time and money watching live music and buying vinyl records…
James Leech
About James
James has over a decade of experience working with major trade unions in the UK and Australasia, such as Unite, Forsa, GMB, NEU, Together Union, and Etu. He specialised in CRM implementations across Millertech (Merlin CRM), APT Solutions (Stratum CRM) and CiviCRM. His extensive experience has given him a deep understanding of trade union processes, functional requirements and opportunities for improvement.
James Wilcox
About James
James has worked in software consultancy since 2007 and at Microsoft Technologies since 2012. During this time, he has broad experience on projects in functional, technical, and data roles across a variety of sectors.Since joining Bluelight in 2019, he has ensured consistent project delivery across the consulting team and has learnt a lot about the NFP sector in the process.
James lives in the countryside with his family and enjoys walking, travelling, and a locally brewed beer.