Code Of Ethics

Sydney Women’s Network: Code of ethics

As members of Sydney Women’s Network, we recognise the importance of making known to each other and to the general public the ethical principles that guide us. For this reason, we have developed a Code of Ethics for all members to abide by.

SWN Code of Ethics

Sydney Women’s Network (SWN) is a networking community with the aim of being inspired, engaged, and connected with other like-minded and empowered business women. We are here to give back to and create a successful business community. We are also here to continually learn in all facets of life (business, financial, health, family-life balance and spirituality - whatever that means to you).

As SWN Members:

· We believe that networking is about developing business relationships, sharing knowledge and experience, and building trust. We understand that networking is not the same as selling, and that over time, building relationships and trust will generate referrals and develop our businesses.

· We commit to being proactive members of a positive and supportive environment.

· We treat other members and guests with respect, fairness and in good faith.

· We will provide the highest level of service for all members, referrals and other clients, and adhere to the highest Code of Ethics for our industry. Our dealings will be unbiased, open, honest, respectful and courteous at all times.

· We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties, and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims for Sydney Women’s Network and of its members.

· We protect each member’s and non-member’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to any personal information.

· We respect the property of other Members, guests and of the venues we attend for SWN events.

· We do not advance private interests at the expense of other members or guests.

· We strive for excellence as a like-minded community by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of ALL, and by fostering the aspirations of members and guests at SWN events.

Anti-Spam Policy

At Sydney Women’s Network, we are serious about spam and adhering to anti-spam legislation. For this reason, we have developed an Anti-Spam Policy that all members must agree to comply with the law and ensure their networking does not become a nuisance to other members.

‘Spam’ is any email you send to someone who has not given their direct permission to contact them on the topic of that email.

Australia’s Spam Act of 2003 requires all commercial emails to:

· have consent to send the recipient marketing via email or SMS, and if requested, be able to prove this

· identify the sender by including their name and physical address

· have a free, automatic unsubscribe option with the email.

To send email marketing to anyone, you must have clearly obtained their permission to do so. In a networking environment, this means:

· If someone gives you their business card at a networking lunch, expo or other function, you must explicitly ask them for permission to contact them.

· If they dropped their card into a container at a function, there must be a clear sign indicating that they will be contacted by email about that specific topic.

· If someone completes an offline form like a survey or enters a competition, you can only contact them if it was explained to them that they would be contacted by email AND they ticked a box indicating they would like to be contacted. A checkbox cannot be filled in by default as the person must willingly select the option to indicate they would like to hear from you.

Basically, you cannot contact anyone who has not given you permission to do so. You may have someone’s email address, but if you do not have permission to contact them, you are acting illegally. If you think about it from the recipient’s point of view, if they do not know who you are or are not interested in what you are selling, they will think you are a spammer - affecting your business image and tainting your networking relationships.

For further information about spam legislation or to make a complaint, contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at www.spam.acma.gov.au.

To make a query or complaint regarding the SWN Code Of Ethics or Anti-Spam Policy, contact Sydney Women’s Network.

Policies developed for SWN by Fiona Morsink-Ryan, Art Attack Web & Graphic Design, www.artattack.com.au.