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PICTURE: Lesley Gillespie, Director of Bakers Delight Holdings Ltd Brian Hansen, Director and President of the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC), is delighted to announce the appointment of Lesley Gillespie OAM to the organisation’s Board of Directors. With this appointment, Mrs Gillespie becomes the second female Director on the CACC’s Board. “Mrs Gillespie is a recognised business leader in both Australia and Canada, the CACC is privileged to have her involved,” said Mr Hansen. “With a successful family business (Bakers Delight) that has expanded across Canada, Mrs Gillespie’s entrepreneurship is a testament to the work of the CACC, which is to forge trade and business activities between the two countries.” Currently, Mrs Gillespie is Director of Bakers Delight Holdings Ltd which overseas all bakery operations across four countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA). “My relationship with Canada goes back to 2003 when I relocated from Melbourne to Vancouver with my husband and children to launch our first Canadian bakery, COBS Bread,” said Mrs Gillespie. “Since then, the Canadian aspect of our business has expanded to nearly 100 locations across four provinces. “I am proud to represent the CACC, promoting and encouraging business connections between Australia and Canada.” In her role as Chair of the CACC’s Melbourne Committee, Mrs Gillespie will specifically focus on furthering the work of the CACC in the Melbourne market. Melbourne-based CACC Director, Mike McGrath said of Mrs Gillespie’s appointment, “The CACC overall will benefit from Mrs Gillespie’s significant international experience, as will Melbourne, in particular." “Mrs Gillespie’s business reach is international, however her roots are here, in Melbourne. I am thrilled to have Mrs Gillespie here, supporting the local perspective of the CACC,” he said. Mrs Gillespie has been recognised for her many achievements with: Fellowship from Monash University in 2013, where she earned...

In July, the CACC had the pleasure of hosting Andrew Ireland, CEO Sydney Swans and Mike Pyke, Canadian and ex-Sydney Swans player, to talk about business in sport.  Members were treated to an intimate and honest discussion about the ins and outs of running an AFL team and insights on being a professional athlete.  The Old Growler in Woolloomooloo hosted the event and members were treated to chicken wings and poutine to kick off the evening’s festivities. Monica Lunin, Director of Mojologic, CACC Director and CACC Events Committee chair, began with a warm welcome to Jack Cowin, CACC Patron and Chairman and Managing Director or Competitive Foods.  Monica also highlighted the mutual love of sports that is shared by both Australians and Canadians with the colours of the Sydney Swans being close to the “hearts of Canadians”. Jesse Landry, Founder and Publisher of The Australian Business Executive and CACC Events Committee member, moderated the event and started the discussion by recapping the careers of both Andrew and Mike and how they both ended up meeting at the Swans. In talking about the business of running a sports club, Andrew highlighted how the AFL has been successful at making the competition between teams as equal as possible. He remarked that purely on membership and attendance numbers, some teams would never be able to match the game revenue of the Swans - even if they filled the stadium for every game. The AFL has been successful at getting high levels of participation. Mike sees it as a family-driven thing: “If you don’t get the basic drivers of participation, generationally, you’re going to struggle.”  The discussion continued with how the AFL has been better at filling stadiums than other codes.  Andrew puts it down to several factors - the long-term investment that the...

To mark Canada’s sesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Mr Anthony Howard QC hosted more than 100 people, including special guests His Excellency Mr Paul Maddison, High Commissioner of Canada and Mrs Fay Maddison at Government House on Friday, 21 July in Melbourne. The theme of the celebrations was recognition of the ties that bind Australia and Canada.  The Governor spoke about the good friendship between the two countries, in particular how Australia and Canada have fought side by side in wars across more than a century; share commercial connections by way of two-way trade substantial investment ties, and shared priorities for sustainable economic growth, global health and gender equality. Above all, the Governor commented that it is the personal connections between the two countries that are the most important. With both countries having in common their respective Indigenous Peoples, each with proud and dignified histories. Her Excellency highlighted several Canadians who have made significant contributions to Australia such as Alexander Robertson and John Wagner who made their fortunes on the gold fields of Victoria and were behind the famous Cobb & Co. It was Wagner who designed Stonnington House that was home to seven Governors of Victoria in the early part of the 20th century. Another interesting Canadian connection shared by the Governor was the story of Captain Henry Ross who designed and was the standard bearer of the Southern Cross flag that flew over the Eureka Stockade. Being Melbourne, there is of course, an AFL connection, too. Andrew McGrath, originally from Ontario, plays Half-back Flanker for the Essendon Bombers Football Club. In fact, His Excellency Mr Paul Maddison has been a supporter of the Essendon Bombers since he attended a Bombers match at the MCG back in 2007....

Thanks to the time difference, Australia was one of the first countries to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial. And the CACC was no exception, co-hosting a member cocktail party two days ahead of schedule with staff at the Canadian Consulate in Sydney. Just over 100 CACC members attended the event to mark Canada’s 150th birthday, including Chamber Patron, Jack Cowin, and guest of honour, Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister for Infrastructure and Communities. Mr. Sohi was in Australia for four days to attend the Australian Financial Review Infrastructure Summit and meetings related to his portfolio. While CACC members drank Ontario wines and enjoyed Canadian-inspired nibbles, Mr. Cowin opened the formal portion of the evening, noting the high turnout and praising founding members of the chamber for having the vision to establish a business group representing Canadian and Australian business interests many years before. PICTURE: Doug Wright (Chair of Communications & Member Engagement Committee) & Helen Shephard (Altus Group) “You don’t have to walk too far to be able to see the inroads Canadian and Australian businesses are making every day and the great relationships that are being built between the two countries,” he said. In his speech, Mr. Sohi noted that Canada 150 was an opportunity to reflect on what makes the country great and for Canadians to make the next 150 years even better by building a more inclusive and fair society for all. He talked about the importance of engaging young people, celebrating the country’s diversity, reconciliation with indigenous peoples and environmental sustainability. The former Edmonton city councilor drew from his own experience as a 17-year-old, when he immigrated to Edmonton from the Punjab in 1981, sponsored by an older brother. He said Canada changed its immigration system for the better 50 years ago and he sees the positive effects across...

On June 21st, CACC and AMCHAM, along with Drake International, hosted some of the stars of the Ice Hockey Classic between Team Canada and Team USA in Melbourne.  Lucky members were able to network with each other and mingle with coaches, trainers, captains and players from both teams in a relaxed and personal setting.  The mixer also raised funds for the StopConcussions Foundation. PICTURE: Dave "Tiger" Williams, Scott Messick - Acting U.S. Consul General (Melbourne), Mike McGrath - CACC Director & Managing Partner, CMO at PwC Australia, H.E. Mr. Paul Maddison - High Commissioner of Canada in Australia, Darryl Sittler, Kerry Goulet - Co-Founder StopConcussions, Ray Doyle - AMCHAM Representatives from both the Canadian and U.S. governments also attended the event, including H.E. Mr. Paul Maddison, High Commissioner of Canada in Australia and Scott Messick, Acting U.S. Consul General (Melbourne).  Mr. Messick remarked, “The Ice Hockey Classic is a great opportunity to highlight the sport of hockey at its highest levels to our Australian friends and shine a light on the importance of concussion awareness and research.” PICTURE: H.E. Mr. Paul Maddison, High Commissioner of Canada in Australia Mr. Maddison recapped the evening by saying, “International sporting events are great catalysts for strengthening diplomatic relationships on so many levels. The Ice Hockey Classic mixer was no exception, with the great hockey talent and Drake’s superb venue combining to create an outstanding corporate networking opportunity for many in Melbourne’s CBD, while concurrently raising support for a great charity – the StopConcussions Foundation. It was a privilege to attend, to meet new friends in Melbourne, to catch up with old friends, and to hang with NHL greats Darryl Sittler and Tiger Williams.” PICTURE: StopConcussions, Zonte's Footsteps (Brad Rey, Director) and Empire Liquor (Brenton Quirini, Managing Director) The CACC would like to thank the StopConcussions Foundation, the AMCHAM,...