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Lesley Gillespie (CACC Director), Dr. Stewart Gill (Masters, Queen's College), Professor Joanne Tompkins (Australian Research Council), Zac Hatzantonis (PwC), Misha Ketchel (The Conversation), Dr Tim Gravelle (University of Melbourne) and Erik Denison (CACC Melbourne Committee) How to build bridges and take down the silo walls that separate academics from the business community was the topic of lively discussion at the most recent event hosted by the CACC’s Melbourne Committee. One of the strengths of the CACC is to foster connections for business and trade. The Building Bridges event went one step further in an effort to include the world of academia in these important connections. Hosted by Master of Queens College, Professor Stewart Gill, OAM, academics and business leaders came together to discuss how the two could improve the ways in which they could work together. Further details on each of the panelists can be found here. “It’s terrific that Canada is able to lead the way…and that the CACC is bringing the two sectors together to look at how we inform one another and, how we help one another,” said Professor Gill. Throughout the course of the discussion it was very clear: both the business sector and academia are very willing to work together. They key theme of how to build the bridge between academia and business is ‘relationships’. Professor Joanne Tompkins spoke about the importance of “brokering relationships”, effectively meeting a range of people with whom to get to know and in time exchange ideas. Agreeing with Professor Tompkins was Zac Hatzantonis, Partner with PwC, “Our firm’s purpose is to build trust in solving complex problems. Having partnerships in place with experts means that we can collaborate instantly and prepare our reports within the time lines that we are given.” Dr Tim Gravelle who has straddled the corporate world...

In late November 2017, Export Development Canada (EDC) will officially open its Australian operation in Sydney with a special event featuring Peter Hall, Vice-President and Chief Economist, EDC. The Sydney operation marks EDC’s 20th international representation. A Crown corporation that operates at arm’s length from Government, Export Development Canada is Canada’s export credit agency. EDC supports and develops Canada’s export trade by helping Canadian companies respond to international opportunities. With a formal presence in Australia, EDC will be well situated to build and strengthen bilateral trade between Canada and Australia. EDC will do so by offering financing to Australian companies and project owners that have, or are considering, business with Canadian companies or their affiliates in the region. Export Development Canada has a history of supporting a number of Australian companies such as Origin Energy, Woodside, GoldLinQ and Optus, to name but a few. The role of the Sydney-based EDC team will be to connect Australian and Canadian companies while providing financial solutions to both. In addition, EDC will facilitate introduction to make doing business with one another as easy as possible. Export Development Canada also helps by matching Australian companies with strategically selected Canadian companies that have the specific capabilities the Australian company is seeking in its supply chain. Export Development Canada can be of support to Canadian businesses currently operating in Australia that may require various contracts in Australia.  And, EDC may be of further support to Canadian businesses seeking to expand beyond Australia into the greater Asia-Pacific region. An important aspect of EDC is that it partners with local and international financial institutions to increase the reach of its support. EDC proactively seeks lending opportunities and/or participation in syndication transactions in Australia. Heading up the Australian operation of EDC is Chief Representative, Teri Nizzola. Ms Nizzola is...

Honourary Consul General of Canada in Melbourne, Mr. Rene Lalande The Melbourne Committee of the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) fêted René Lalande on his appointment to Honorary Consul of Canada in Melbourne at a gathering of business leaders at PwC, Riverside Quay, Melbourne on 3 October. In a show of support for Canada’s newest Honorary Consul in Melbourne, the CACC’s Melbourne Committee hosted its inaugural event by congratulating René Lalande, CEO of Transdev Australasia on his recent appointment. Lesley Gillespie, OAM, CACC Board Member and Chair of its Melbourne Committee, launched the event by introducing Mr. Lalande to a gathering of approximately 40 members from Melbourne’s business community. Also in attendance were dignitaries Charles Reeves, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada and Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie, Honorary Consul-General of France in Melbourne. “On both sides of the Pacific, René is a recognised business leader,” said Mrs. Gillespie. “We, the CACC, and the Melbourne Committee in particular, are very excited about working with René to advance economic opportunities between our two countries and of course, doing our part to support him in his role.” Mr. Lalande, having moved with his family from Canada to Melbourne four years ago, presented a keynote address on the topic of living in the world’s most livable city, after having lived in one of the world’s most livable countries. “Australia and Canada share some deep similarities – high quality of education, good infrastructure and other positive factors – which make them great places to live and great places to do business, “ said Mr. Lalande. Mr. Lalande also spoke to the great relationship shared by Australia and Canada. “We have strong mutual respect and shared values such as ‘having a fair go’, a passion for sports and an unshakeable desire to maintain our democratic, inclusive societies. “There...

More than 1,000 business leaders and chambers of commerce members from 100 countries descended upon Sydney 19-21 September for the 10th World Chambers Congress, held at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour. Under the theme “Where Business Connects” delegates had the opportunity to discuss some of the world’s most pressing challenges. It was also an opportunity for members to meet and strengthen existing business relationships. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian officially opened the Congress noting that in this time of disruption and rapid economic change, “chambers of commerce were vital as partners for governments and the community in pursuing economic opportunities and generating investment, innovation and jobs.” Chambers must promote global stability How can businesses with limited time and resources make a difference when it comes to peace-building efforts? This was a question raised in the first plenary session of the Congress which focused on business, conflict and terrorism. Session moderator Steve Killelea, president of the Institute for Economics and Peace, honed in on the interplay between business, peace and economic development and urged chamber members to be pivotal in communicating this relationship to governments. Delegates also attended sessions on infrastructure, changing chamber business models, and alliances on day one. The second day, presenters turned their attention to sustainability, global mobility, tourism as a driver for economic growth, workplace diversity, SME finance and working with media. Enlightening the audience with ways to attain sustainable business models, author and ZERI founder Gunter Pauli called on delegates to ditch business planning in favour of taking concrete action, which got delegates going on Twitter. “Scan for opportunities to implement new business models that will transform economies,” he urged. Chambers members need to encourage refugees In a talk about how protectionism around migration is leading to missed opportunities delegates were called upon...

PICTURE: Jack Cowin, CACC Patron and Michael Bacina, Chair of SME Committee A lifetime of business success in Australia hasn’t taken the quiet Canadian out of Jack Cowin. As icy winds battered the windows of KPMG’s Sydney offices, the Chairman and Managing Director of Competitive Foods Australia was quietly reflective and self-deprecating as guest speaker at a recent CACC lunch. Touching on his frugal, but warm-hearted upbringing by Depression-era parents, his experience selling plants as an enterprising teenager and the highs and lows of business life, the 75-year-old got laughs from the 70 people in attendance when he joked: “Life is like a football match. We’ve got quarters and unfortunately I’ve just entered the last one.” Last quarter or not, he’s not planning on retiring just yet because the myriad of business opportunities that have come his way continue to keep him “occupied and entertained.” An Australian Financial Review Rich Lister and CACC’s Patron, Mr Cowin is best known for his fast food investments, including Hungry Jack’s, KFC and Domino’s Pizza. This is where the bulk of his wealth has been created. But after his initial success in the industry, he wanted to diversify his holdings to see if he could make money outside of the fast food sector. This started with shares in Network 10 where he was an investor, buying the television station out of receivership in 1992. Mr Cowin invested $4.5 million and sold his shares in the TV network for $72 million just five years later. He remained a Network 10 director for 20 years until 2015. Today, Mr. Cowin has shares in Fairfax Media, investment bank Moelis Australia, technology firm Bailador and Sydney’s BridgeClimb. At one time, he even invested in the largest cattle company in the world, but after a disagreement with one of...

Brian Hansen, Director and President of the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC), is pleased to announce the organisation’s first Honourary Member, Dr Sophie Galaise, and welcomes her to the CACC’s Melbourne Committee. “Dr Galaise is an internationally recognised leader in the Arts who we are fortunate to have contributing to the leadership of our country’s cultural community,” said Mr Hansen. “I am particularly thrilled that Dr Galaise will also be contributing to the CACC’s Melbourne Committee as an Honourary Member.” Dr Galaise joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as its first female director in April 2016. In 2015, Dr Galaise was a winner in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence, in the category of Culture. “As an Honourary Member of the CACC, I look forward to supporting the organisation in representing Australian interests in Canada, and likewise, representing Canadian interests here in Australia, especially the cultural aspects of these two countries from my new home, Melbourne, one of the world’s most livable, most cultural cities,” Dr Galaise said. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Dr Galaise started her career as a flautist. As a professional musician, Dr Galaise played with the German Orchestra in Bremen and in time worked as a Musicologist in Basel, Switzerland before moving on to Paris. Following her success as a Coordinator of Music for the Quebec Arts Council and completing her PhD in Musicology (University of Montreal) and an Executive MBA (McGill University/HEC Montreal), Dr Galaise was appointed Executive and Artistic Director of the Orford Arts Centre (Orford, Canada). In time, Dr Galaise was appointed Executive Director of the Quebec Symphony Orchestrea before being appointed in 2013 as Chief Executive Director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. “The Melbourne Committee welcomes the involvement of our first Honourary Member, Dr Sophie Galaise whose renowned, extensive...