These Terms and Conditions apply to membership of Zest Canberra and HerZest, including membership communities, private groups, events, programs and other member benefits offered by Zest Canberra.
By purchasing, accepting or continuing a membership, members agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions.
Membership
Membership provides access to the benefits associated with the membership level selected at the time of joining.
Membership benefits may include access to events, private online groups, networking opportunities, member directories, member-only content, resources, discounts, programs and other benefits made available from time to time.
Membership benefits, activities and inclusions may be updated or changed as Zest Canberra evolves.
Membership is personal to the individual or business to whom it is issued and cannot be transferred to another person without prior approval from Zest Canberra.
Our Community
Zest Canberra and HerZest are communities built around connection, learning, collaboration and supporting businesses and professionals within the Canberra region.
Members are expected to contribute to a professional, welcoming and respectful environment.
Members must:
- treat other members, guests, speakers, partners, volunteers and members of the Zest Canberra team with respect;
- communicate professionally and courteously;
- respect differing backgrounds, experiences and opinions;
- behave appropriately at Zest Canberra and HerZest events and within online communities;
- respect the confidentiality and privacy of other members;
- avoid bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation or offensive behaviour; and
- avoid conduct which could reasonably damage the reputation, safety or integrity of Zest Canberra, HerZest or its community.
Disagreement is not prohibited. Members are welcome to have different views, provided those views are communicated respectfully and appropriately.
Promotion Within Member Communities
We encourage members to share their businesses, services, events and achievements within member communities where appropriate.
However, membership is not intended to provide unrestricted advertising access to the Zest Canberra or HerZest community.
Promotional content must be relevant, appropriate and consistent with the purpose of the group in which it is posted.
Zest Canberra may introduce or amend guidelines relating to promotional posts, frequency of posting, member offers and other promotional activity.
Where a member promotes a product, service, event or special offer within a Zest Canberra or HerZest member community, they must provide a genuine benefit, discount or exclusive offer specifically for Zest Canberra or HerZest members. General promotions or offers that are available to the wider public do not satisfy this requirement.
Zest Canberra reserves the right to remove promotional content which does not comply with these Terms and Conditions or any applicable group guidelines.
Competing Groups, Communities and Events
Members must not use Zest Canberra or HerZest platforms, private groups, events, directories, contact lists or other membership resources to promote, recruit for or build a competing organisation, network, membership community or event.
This includes promoting or soliciting participation in groups, events, programs or communities which:
- directly compete with an event, program, membership offering or activity operated by Zest Canberra or HerZest;
- substantially replicate the purpose, structure or offering of Zest Canberra or HerZest;
- seek to recruit Zest Canberra or HerZest members into a competing membership group or network;
- intentionally divert members, participants, partners or commercial opportunities away from Zest Canberra or HerZest; or
- otherwise create a material conflict with the activities or interests of Zest Canberra or HerZest.
This does not mean members cannot participate in, attend or belong to other professional, business or community organisations.
The restriction relates specifically to using the Zest Canberra or HerZest community, platforms, member relationships or resources to actively promote or grow an activity that conflicts with Zest Canberra or HerZest.
If a member is unsure whether an event, group or promotional activity may create a conflict, they should seek approval before posting or promoting it.
Zest Canberra reserves the right to determine whether an activity creates a conflict for the purposes of these Terms and Conditions.
Solicitation and Member Information
Members must not harvest, copy, download or use membership lists, contact details or information obtained through the Zest Canberra or HerZest community for unsolicited marketing, mass communications or recruitment.
Connecting directly with another member following a genuine professional introduction or networking interaction is encouraged.
However, members must respect the preferences of other members and must stop contacting another member if requested.
Information available through private member groups and directories must not be provided, sold or distributed to third parties without permission.
Confidentiality
From time to time, members may share personal, professional or commercially sensitive information within private member groups, meetings, workshops or events.
Members are expected to respect the confidential nature of information shared within these settings.
Information which is clearly personal, confidential or commercially sensitive must not be shared outside the community without the permission of the person who provided it.
Nothing in this clause prevents a member from complying with a legal obligation or reporting conduct where there are legitimate safety, legal or regulatory concerns.
Events
Attendance at Zest Canberra and HerZest events is subject to any additional event terms, ticketing conditions or venue requirements applying to that event.
Members are responsible for their own behaviour at events and must comply with reasonable instructions provided by Zest Canberra, venue staff, event organisers and presenters.
Zest Canberra may refuse admission to, or require a person to leave, an event where their conduct is disruptive, unsafe, inappropriate or inconsistent with these Terms and Conditions.
Member Directory
Where membership includes a directory listing, members are responsible for ensuring the information they provide is accurate and current.
Members must not provide misleading, unlawful or inappropriate material for publication.
Zest Canberra may edit, refuse or remove directory content where reasonably required.
Membership of Zest Canberra or HerZest does not constitute an endorsement, accreditation or recommendation of a member’s business, products or services.
Intellectual Property
Material provided by Zest Canberra or HerZest, including templates, guides, resources, presentations, training materials, branding and other content, remains the intellectual property of Zest Canberra or the relevant content owner unless otherwise stated.
Members may use materials provided for their own personal or internal business purposes but must not reproduce, sell, commercially distribute or substantially copy those materials without permission.
Members retain ownership of material they provide to Zest Canberra.
Where a member provides photographs, testimonials, comments, business information or other material for publication, the member gives Zest Canberra permission to use that material for the reasonable operation and promotion of Zest Canberra, HerZest and its activities.
Membership Fees
Membership fees are payable in accordance with the membership option selected.
Unless otherwise stated, membership fees are non-refundable once a membership period has commenced.
Failure to pay membership fees when due may result in suspension or cancellation of membership and removal of access to member benefits.
Any specific cancellation or renewal arrangements communicated at the time of joining will also apply.
Suspension or Cancellation of Membership
Zest Canberra may suspend or cancel a membership where a member:
- seriously or repeatedly breaches these Terms and Conditions;
- behaves in a way which is harmful, threatening, discriminatory, abusive or inappropriate;
- misuses membership information or member contact details;
- uses the community to promote or establish a conflicting or competing organisation or activity;
- engages in conduct which may materially damage the reputation or operation of Zest Canberra or HerZest; or
- fails to pay applicable membership fees.
Where appropriate, Zest Canberra may first speak with the member and provide them with an opportunity to address the concern.
However, Zest Canberra may immediately suspend or cancel a membership where the circumstances are sufficiently serious.
A person whose membership is cancelled may also be removed from private groups, directories, member programs and other membership platforms.
Membership fees may not be refunded where membership is terminated due to a breach of these Terms and Conditions.
Founder Decisions
The Founder of Zest Canberra has final decision-making authority in relation to the interpretation and administration of these Terms and Conditions, including questions relating to membership, community standards, conflicts of interest, promotional activities and membership suspension or cancellation.
Where practical, decisions will be made fairly and having regard to the circumstances involved and the interests of the broader Zest Canberra community.
No Guarantee of Business Outcomes
Zest Canberra provides opportunities for networking, connection, learning, visibility and business development.
Membership does not guarantee referrals, clients, revenue, business opportunities, partnerships or any particular commercial outcome.
Members remain responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into any business relationship with another member, speaker, partner or service provider.
Liability
To the extent permitted by law, Zest Canberra is not responsible for loss arising from:
- business dealings or arrangements entered into between members;
- advice, representations or services provided by another member, presenter, partner or third party;
- the cancellation or alteration of an event or membership activity;
- reliance on general information or educational material provided through membership; or
- circumstances outside the reasonable control of Zest Canberra.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes any rights or guarantees that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.
Privacy
Zest Canberra will collect and use personal information reasonably required to administer memberships, communicate with members, provide membership benefits and operate events and programs.
Member information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and any privacy policy published by Zest Canberra.
Changes to These Terms
Zest Canberra may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time as its memberships, services and community evolve.
Members will be notified of material changes where reasonably practicable.
Continued use of membership benefits following an update will constitute acceptance of the revised Terms and Conditions.
Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Australian Capital Territory and applicable Commonwealth laws of Australia.
By becoming or remaining a member of Zest Canberra or HerZest, members acknowledge that they have read, understood and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.