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Advance (“we” or “Advance.org”) are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This privacy policy (together with the terms of use (the “Terms of Use”) sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you when you visit the Advance.org site, will be processed by us. By using the Advance.org site, you agree with the terms and conditions of this privacy policy and the Terms of Use.

For the purpose of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the “Act”), the data controller is Advance Global Professionals Inc. of London, United Kingdom. 

  1. The information we collect
  2. Where we store your personal data
  3. How we use and share Personal Customer Information
  4. Communications from Advance.org
  5. Linking to third-party web sites
  6. Access to information
  7. Changes to Privacy Policy
  8. Questions or comments

1. The information we collect

When you use our site, we receive and collect certain information. The information that we receive and collect depends on what you do when you visit Advance.org.

  • Automatically Collected Information. Some information is automatically received and sometimes collected from you when you visit the Advance.org site. We receive and collect the name of the domain and host from which you access the Internet; the Internet protocol (IP) address of the computer you are using; the browser software you use and your operating system; the date and time you access our site; and the Internet address of the web site from which you linked directly to our site. We use this information to monitor the usage of our site. Also, when we send emails to you, we may be able to identify information about your email address, such as whether you can read graphic-rich HTML emails. All of the information we automatically capture provides us with the ability to enhance our customers’ online experiences and to determine aggregate information about our user base and usage patterns.
  • Information Collected via Cookies. We use cookies to enhance the browsing and event registration experience on the Advance.org site. “Cookies” are small files or records that we place on your computer’s hard drive to collect information about your activities on the Advance.org site. The cookies transmit this information back to the computers at Advance.org or our third-party distributors of banners and newsletters; these computers are, generally speaking, the only computers which are authorized to read such information. The information captured makes it possible for us: (i) to speed navigation, keep track of items in your shopping cart, and provide you with custom tailored content; (ii) to remember information you gave to us so you don’t have to reenter it each time you visit the Advance.org site; (iii) to monitor the effectiveness of certain of our marketing email campaigns; and (iv) to monitor total number of visitors, pages viewed, and the total number of banners served.

Most people do not know that cookies are being placed on their computers when they visit the Advance.org site or most websites because browsers are typically set to accept cookies. You can choose to have your browser warn you every time a cookie is being sent to you or you can turn off cookie placement. If you refuse cookies, you will not be able to open an Advance.org Shopping Cart and therefore will not be able to complete an event registration payment with us online. Also, by not using cookies, your overall Internet browsing experience will be affected. You will need to log into the site each time you visit because cookies enable Advance.org to remember your login name and password. Please note that our advertisers, over which we have no control, may also use cookies.

  • Information Collected Using Pixel Tags or Clear GIFs. To help us understand the effectiveness of certain of our email marketing efforts, Advance.org may use “message format” and “message open” sensing technologies. Both technologies require the use of pixel tags or clear GIFs (also called web beacons). The “message format” sensing technology allows us to recognize whether you have enabled your email program to receive HTML emails; if so, this information is then associated with your email address so that subsequent messages can be sent to you in HTML format. The “message open” sensing technology allows us to recognize whether you have opened our email message. We can only detect this if you have enabled your email program to receive HTML emails.
  • Information You Actively Submit to Advance.org. For most of the browsing services we provide, we neither require nor collect “Personal Customer Information” — your name, email address, billing address, shipping address(es), phone number and credit card information. You can browse the Advance.org site and take as much time as you want to review our articles, events, services and reviews without having to submit such Personal Customer Information.
  • In the following instances, however, we do need you to actively submit Personal Customer Information: when you want to: (i) become an Advance member; (ii) become an Advance.org site user; (iii) submit articles to the Advance.org website; or (iv) submit events to the Advance.org website.
    • Creating an Advance.org Membership. You can create an Advance.org membership that will allow you to search the Advance member database, register for events, post your resume, and search the jobs board. To become a member, you will need to create a password-protected account with us. In doing so, we require that you provide us with the following Personal Customer Information: your name, email address, home or office address, telephone number, Australian state of origin, the industry in which you work, and your Australian education information. We use industry standard e-commerce security technology to protect the Personal Customer Information that you transmit to us when you establish your membership and each time you access your account information. When setting up the account, we ask you to create a password. When you want to change your stored Personal Customer Information, we approve your access by verifying your email address with your password.
    • Completing an Order. Some Advance events require online payment. When you check out you will be asked for the following Personal Customer Information: your name, email address, billing address, shipping address(es) and credit card information. We use industry standard e-commerce security technology to protect the Personal Customer Information that you transmit to us when you establish your account and each time you access your account information. See our Security Policy for further details. When setting up the account, we ask you to create a password. When you want to make a purchase or change your stored Personal Customer Information, we approve your access by verifying your email address with your password.
    • Articles. If an article you submit to the Advance.org website is approved for publication, your email address will appear alongside the article. You can choose not to have your email address displayed with your article. We only use the information you provide to us to chronicle your article. Because your email address at your election can be displayed with your article, we can make no assurance that others will not use the information you have provided.

2. Where we store your personal data

The data that we collect from you, or you provide to us, may be transferred to, and stored at, a destination outside the European Union, including the United States and Australia. It may also be processed by staff operating outside the European Union who work for us or for one of our partners. Such staff may be engaged in, among other things, the fulfillment of your order, the processing of your payment details, the processing of your membership details, and the provision of support services. By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this privacy policy.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to our site; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorized access.

3. How we use and share Personal Customer Information

We may disclose your Personal Customer Information to any Advance.org entity. In addition, occasionally we use Personal Customer Information to market products and services. You can opt-out from us using your information for this purpose at any time by logging in and deselecting the correspondence you no longer wish to receive. 

We share Personal Customer Information that we collect as follows:

  • Subcontractors. We send Personal Customer Information to third-party subcontractors and agents that work on our behalf to provide certain services. These third parties do not have the right to use the Personal Customer Information beyond what is necessary to assist us. They are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Personal Customer Information and are restricted from using such information in any way not expressly authorized by Advance.org.
  • Service Providers. We send Personal Customer Information to third-party organizers of events that you may sign up for from time to time on our site (e.g., universities, Australian state governments). Like subcontractors, these third parties do not have the right to use the Personal Customer Information beyond what is necessary to assist us or in connection with a given event. They are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Personal Customer Information and are restricted from using such information in any way not expressly authorized by Advance.org.
  • Partner Programs. We work with certain partners (e.g Tourism Australia, Australian Universities and Australian States) to fulfill the objectives of Advance, Inc. We disclose only the information required to make these programs work and we have privacy agreements with each organization to protect your personal information.
  • Credit Card Companies. Credit card transactions are handled by a third-party financial institution and their vendors, which receive the credit card number and other personal identifying information only to verify the credit card numbers and process transactions.
  • Trustworthy Third Parties. From time to time, on limited bases, we share with trustworthy third parties contact information of our registered customers so that such third parties can promote their products and services. As a registered customer, you can opt out from our disclosure of your information for this purpose by checking certain boxes on the forms we use to collect your data, or by emailing us at [email protected].
  • Law Enforcement Investigations. Advance.org may release Personal Customer Information when we believe, in our good judgment, that such release is reasonably necessary to comply with law, enforce or apply the terms of any of our policies or user agreements, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Advance.org, our users, or others.

4. Communications from Advance.org

As a member, you may receive the following communications from Advance.org:

  • Newsletters and Invitations. When you sign up for Advance.org membership, you may sign up for free email newsletters and invitations to events. You can unsubscribe from email newsletters and event invitations at any time by logging into your membership account and deselecting the correspondence you no longer wish to receive. An option is also available in every newsletter post to unsubscribe from individual newsletters, as well as global correspondence.
  • Communications related to transaction and account maintenance activities. These communications include without limitation: event registration confirmations; event payment confirmations; event update notices; event reminder notices; and notices regarding material changes to site policies and account management procedures.
  • Communications containing information about Advance.org and its partners, products and services. We send promotional emails and other outbound communications to Advance.org customers regarding products and services from Advance.org, its subsidiaries and trustworthy third parties.

** Members who do not wish to receive communications from Advance.org can choose to opt out of email correspondence by logging into Advance.org and changing their email preference in their “User” account.

5. Linking to third-party web sites

When you click on links and banners on our site that take you to third-party web sites, you will be subject to the third parties’ privacy policies. While we support the protection of privacy on the Internet, Advance.org cannot be responsible for the actions of any third-party web sites. We encourage you to read the posted privacy statement of any and every site you visit, whether you are linking from our site or browsing on your own.

6. Access to Information

The Act gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the Act.

7. Effective Date

This privacy policy was last changed on May 21, 2010. Advance.org reserves the right to modify or amend this policy at any time by posting the revised privacy policy on our site, and, where appropriate, notified to you by email. The changes will only affect the information we collect after the effective date of the change to our privacy policy unless we clearly express otherwise.

8. Questions or comments

If you have any questions regarding our privacy policy, please email us at [email protected].
 

Security Policy 

1. Protecting your information

The Personal Customer Information you provide — including your credit card information — to establish an account with us and to make purchases from us is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology. We use this SSL technology to prevent such information from being intercepted and read as it is transmitted over the Internet. The encrypted data goes to a secure site where your information is stored on restricted-access computers located at restricted-access sites.

2. Password security

To further secure your Personal Customer Information, we require you to create a customer password when you establish an account with us. We encourage you to use a password that is not easily guessed (e.g., don’t use your name or street name). Keep your password secret; do not share it with anyone. The only way you can place an order with us online is by entering both your registered email address and password. 

If you forget your password, you can have it emailed to you from the login page. It will be sent to the email address under which your Advance.org account is assigned. If you want to change your password or other account information, simply log into the Advance.org website and click “Edit Record”.

3. Remember to sign out

To further prevent unauthorized access to your account, remember that, after you sign in, you should sign out once you have (i) completed your transaction, (ii) completed managing your account, or (iii) decided to step away from your computer. Anyone who accesses your computer after you have signed in but before you have signed out can access your account.

4. Changes to security

This security policy was last changed on May 21, 2010. Advance.org reserves the right to modify or amend this policy at any time by posting the revised security policy on our site. The changes will only affect the information we collect after the effective date of the change to our security policy unless we clearly express otherwise.