In a notice to its members, SISFA stated that it would be holding an extraordinary general meeting at the end of the month for the purposes of approving the merger.

The notice states that both the boards of SISFA and TSA agree that it is in both organisations’ interests to merge.

“For SISFA, this is particularly because TSA can offer our members a strong financial partner whose own members are a like-minded community of practitioners, in circumstances where SISFA’s ability to deliver on all its current and future programmes is constrained by resources,” it stated.

“SISFA can offer TSA strength in its technical, policy and advocacy activities.”

Under the agreement, TSA would ultimately be the sole organisational entity, with SISFA being wound-up. All assets of SISFA would be transferred to TSA after payment of all of SISFA’s existing liabilities.

SISFA stated that members will be offered a no-cost membership of TSA and will continue to have representation on the board of TSA via Phil Broderick, who was nominated for this role by the SISFA board.

“Importantly, SISFA’s existing technical and policy committee would continue to do its work with its existing members, as would our regular chapter meetings and our annual forum,” the association stated.

The SISFA board has unanimously recommended that SISFA’s members also vote to agree to a merger with TSA.

“In arriving at its recommendation, SISFA’s board gave careful consideration to a number of factors including safeguarding SISFA’s legacy, the financial viability of SISFA meeting its objectives, as well as our fiduciary duties to protect members’ interests and our ability to positively impact their lives,” SISFA stated.