Last Thursday, we were fortunate enough to host the Hon Cameron Dick MP, Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, for a business lunch in Brisbane.

Thank you to the Treasurer for sharing your insights on the burgeoning relationship between Queensland and the United Kingdom, and on all the great work happening up in the Sunshine State.

Thanks are also owed to our event partners, Chris Tilling, Managing Director, AJEKA; and Martin England, Go to Market Leader, Arup.

Photos by Marty Kincel

🏏⚽🏉 We had an absolute ball hosting the UK's 2023 Sports Economy Trade Mission last week!

Hosted at our Principal Sponsor, Mott MacDonald's Brisbane office, the evening offered delegates the opportunity to network and share more about plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, and to meet with key Queensland stakeholders, such as Trade and Investment Queensland and British Consul General Brisbane, Richard Cowin.

Thank you to Madeleine Burns, Deputy Director, Campaigns and Sports Economy, and Mark Donovan, Senior Business Relationship Manager (Life Sciences & Healthcare and Sports Economy), Department for Business and Trade, for sharing this event experience with us. A massive thank you to Peter Josey, State Manager QLD, Mott MacDonald, for your hospitality.

Photos by Marty Kincel.

When asked if there was anything our #IWDSydney guests could do to better the lives of women nationally, Christine Holgate, CEO at Team Global Express, responded, 'write to your local MP and campaign for more affordable housing.'

Christine not only shed light on the ‘shameful misuse of women in the workplace’ but shared her own experiences of homelessness, hardship, and trauma. It was incredibly inspiring to hear such vulnerability, authenticity and strength – thank you for sharing your story, Christine.

Additional thanks are owed to our event partners, Amanda Taylor, Head of Large Corporates and Sustainable Finance, HSBC Australia; and Helen Fraser - General Manager – People, Laing O'Rourke, for their continued support of such an important breakfast.

#abcciwd2023 #safetyrespectequity #embraceequity

Ticky Fullerton made her debut as Chamber CEO in a most pertinent way - by moderating our #InternationalWomensDay breakfast down in Melbourne!

Our focus this year was on celebrating women who have made a significant contribution to improving the personal and professional lives of women in Australia. We feel so fortunate to have heard and interacted with a collective of female leaders using their voices to forge change across the nation.

Thank you to our guest speakers, Louise Adams, COO, Aurecon and Member of Champions of Change Consult Australia Group; Patricia Cross, Chair and Non-Executive Director, Founder 30% Club; and Christine Corbet, CEO Designate, Incitec Pivot Fertilisers.

We were also joined by British High Commissioner to Australia, HE Vicki Treadell CMG, MVO; British Consul General, Stephen Lysaght; and Deputy Consul General, VIC, SA, TAS, Catriona Boyd.

We would like to thank our long-standing #IWD partners, Vivienne Trinh, Regional Manager, HSBC Australia, and Helen Fraser, General Manager – People, Laing O’Rourke, for their continued support of such a fantastic event.

Photos by Mark Avellino

We said goodbye to summer in the perfect way at the Chamber, hosting another excellent networking drinks event at the Governors Pavilion at Brisbane Showgrounds last Thursday.

We had the pleasure of hosting Richard Cowin, British Consul General – Brisbane; and Country Director, Australia, Department for Business and Trade. Congratulations to Richard on this appointment – we look forward to working closely with you throughout the year!

Thanks are owed to our own Queensland Director, Penny Hall, Principal – Markets & Clients Queensland Leader, Arup and to the Brisbane Showgrounds for your hospitality.

The smiles say it all! We had such a fantastic time at our Sydney Summer Drinks, and we're sure our guests did too.

Thank you to everyone who braved the weather and joined us for a great evening. Special thanks are owed to Louise Cantillon, British Consul General Sydney and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific (Australia & New Zealand), and Lucy Joyce OBE, British High Commissioner to Tonga, Department for Business and Trade for attending.

We look forward to seeing you all at our next Sydney events, with The Lord Mayor of the City of London Corporation, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, joining us for breakfast on Monday 27 February, and Christine Holgate, Group Chief Executive Officer at Team Global Express joining us at our International Women's Day Breakfast on Friday 3 March. Get your tickets now: https://lnkd.in/gTgpt8nX

Photos by Evan Maclean Photography

Event photo album: https://lnkd.in/gcdZfs3f

Our Brisbane Christmas Party was certainly a treat!

We not only had the pleasure of hosting Lord Ian Botham OBE, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Australia, during his week-long visit down under, but were spoiled with delicious Sunshine & Son’s cocktails and best of all – our Members’ company.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this final celebration in Queensland, to Lord Ian Botham and to Joanne Freeman, Consul General Queensland and Northern Territory and Director of Trade Australia & New Zealand, Department for International Trade.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Additional thanks are owed to Daniel Vinson and Sunshine & Son’s for your generosity, and to the DAWN Bar for their hospitality.

We love nothing more than catching up and connecting with our Members, and last Thursday we were fortunate enough to round out 2022 with our Melbourne Christmas Party.

It was excellent to reconnect one last time before we break for the holiday period – thank you to all of our wonderful guests, especially Demetrio Zema and the Law Squared team for being such fabulous hosts.

Photos by GAZi Photography

🎄 That's a wrap in Sydney!

It was excellent getting our Chamber Members and friends together for one final event to celebrate an eventful and productive 2022.

We were so pleased to hear more about all the great work our Members are doing, and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. Thank you to all who attended - best wishes for the holiday season and here's to a prosperous 2023!

An additional thanks to Terry Oomens, Director of Sales & Marketing, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney for your hospitality.

Photos by Evan Maclean | Evan Maclean Photography

To NAB, relationship banking is personal, proactive and inclusive.

We had the pleasure of hearing more about making digital human from NAB's own Angela Mentis, Chief Digital, Data and Analytics Officer. Angela shared how NAB continues to deliver exceptional customer experiences by marrying technology with human connection.

Alongside Joanna Gurry, Chief Data Officer, Data Executive and Jessica Cutherbertson, Executive, Customer Decisioning & Data Science, Angela explained how NAB will deliver the "customer brain" in 2023, accelerating their ability to anticipate customer needs and provide more meaningful value.

Thank you to Angela, Joanna, and Jessica for sharing these insights. Additional thanks are owed to our event partner and Principal Sponsor, Guy Russell, Managing Director at Accenture.

Photos by Evan Maclean | Evan Maclean Photography

Read Angela's full speech here.

What an incredible night!

Thank you to all our fantastic guests that joined us aboard the Starship Vessel for the annual Cruise with the Europeans 2022. We hope to see you all on the Cruise next year!

Additional thanks are owed to the event sponsors: HDI Group, Lufthansa Group and lead organiser, the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, Australian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce NSW, Netherlands Chamber of Commerce Australia (NCCA), EACCI Estonian Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Finland Australia Chamber of Commerce, Inc., FACCI - French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia inc., Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Portrade - Portuguese Australian Chamber of Commerce, Slovenian Australian Chamber of Commerce (SloAusCham), Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce, Swiss Cham Australia, La Camara, The Spanish-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Western Australia's 20-year infrastructure strategy, 'Foundations for a stronger tomorrow,' marks the beginning of new exciting chapter of infrastructure planning and delivery across the state.

On Monday, we were fortunate enough to hear more about the vision, purpose and drive behind the strategy from Infrastructure WA's CEO, Phil Helberg.

Phil provided an excellent overview of the strategy's scope, explaining how the 93 recommendations will unlock economic growth, improve productivity and align public infrastructure investment with policy priorities.

Thank you to Phil for sharing your knowledge with us, and to Darryl Patterson, Principal, Arup, for your support on this event. Additional thanks are owed to our own Steve Scudamore, WA Chair.

Photos by Matt Jelonek.

Access 'Foundations for a stronger tomorrow' here: https://www.infrastructure.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-07/strategy_download/2022%20Final%20SIS.pdf

Last Wednesday, we hosted our 14th Budget Breakfast with our partners at KPMG Australia.

Our expert panel entertained and educated our in-person and online audience of 2600, providing an in-depth analysis on changes in the budget position, impacts to individuals and a broad industry overview.

Thank you to our excellent speakers: Dr. Sarah Hunter, Senior Economist & Partner, KPMG Australia; The Hon. Warwick Smith AO, Chairman, Advisory Board, Australian Capital Equity; Chairman, Ord Minnett; Ming Long AM, Non-Executive Director; and our fantastic moderator: Ticky Fullerton, Business Editor at Large, The Australian.

Additional thanks are owed to our event partners, Doug Ferguson, NSW Chairman and David Heathcote, National Managing Partner, Deals Tax & Legal, KPMG Australia, for your continued support of the Chamber.

Read KPMG's full Budget analysis here: https://lnkd.in/gdy9YcUD

Watch the Breakfast recording and access exclusive speaker insights here: https://lnkd.in/gjR_R35b

We had an excellent time at our Brisbane business lunch with Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist for Australia, New Zealand and Global Commodities, HSBC Bank Australia.

Thursday's discussion was focused on all things Australian economics - from policy makers' roles in subduing inflation, the impacts of heightened geopolitical tensions post-COVID and funnily enough - the price of iceberg lettuce!

Thank you to Paul for sharing your wealth of knowledge, our attendees and to our event partner, Chris Tilling, Managing Director, AJEKA

Photos by Marty K Photography

#australia #economy #postcovid #inflation #commodity #economic

Speaking at the Chamber's 'Green' Hydrogen lunch in Perth, Infinite Green Energy Chair - Peter Coleman - noted that the green energy transition will favour resources companies with existing infrastructure that can be scaled into renewables as oil and gas continues to decline.

Read the full article in The West Australian.

Melbourne, we had an excellent time as always at our business lunch with Tim Pallas MP, Treasurer of Victoria; Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Trade.

Thank you to the Treasurer for providing us with a comprehensive update, and for enlightening us on how the Budget will deliver better funding for Victorians across health, education, infrastructure and employment.

Additional thanks are owed to all who attended, as well as to Steph Lysaght, British Consul-General VIC, SA and TAS, and to our event sponsor, Lucy Nation, Vice President, Hydrogen, Asia Pacific, bp Australia.

Interested in attending a Chamber event? Visit our website today: https://lnkd.in/dJy2SJk

Photos by Mark Avellino