August 2020 Message from AmCham CEO

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August 2020

As Australian states grapple with varying levels of COVID restrictions, businesses across the country and around the world are seeing the public’s view of their work changing. As I wrote last year, business was already undergoing a major transformation from being focused solely on shareholders (profit) to stakeholders (values). Like with almost everything else, COVID-19 brought the future forward faster.

 

According to a new U.S. Axios/Harris poll, the public’s view of almost every industry has improved since the beginning of the pandemic, especially those that were directly involved in helping address the crisis. Companies like grocery stores and delivery companies rank the highest on favourability, but companies that package goods for consumers and focus on cleaning and children are also in the top 25. Consumers also gave high marks to streaming companies and pharmacies. The poll tested affinity (trust), citizenship, culture, vision, ethics, products and growth. Affinity was weighted higher than any other category. The poll finds that consumers approve of companies that address social and societal issues – and this emphasis will likely last long after the pandemic is managed.

 

Throughout the crisis, AmCham Australia has brought you thought leadership around this topic and many others. Our webinar series was the first to take off in Australia and we have been delivering multiple headline speakers several times a week for the past five months. This offering, like the public’s view about responsible business, will stay with us after the virus is behind us.

 

And as we move back to in-person meetings, AmCham’s role in bringing people together will be more important than ever. With business travel limited and more people connecting virtually, the high-level access, trusted partnership, and corporate visibility that AmCham can provide will be increasingly valuable. As one member told me about a contract that was just signed, “The origin for this deal was when you introduced us through an AmCham event.” Those are the kinds of interactions we look forward to facilitating for your company - now and in the future.

 

Yours sincerely,

April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer

American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

 

E

In the News

 

  • Earlier this month, the United States hosted the annual AUSMIN meetings in DC with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper meeting with Australian counterparts Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds. The talks focused on Indo-Pacific pandemic recovery, security, and prosperity; regional coordination; and bilateral defense cooperation. Notably, Australia and the United States committed to bilateral and regional health security cooperation “to prevent, prepare and respond to the collective threat posed by infectious diseases and pandemics.”

  • In a world first, the Australian Government issued a draft Media Bargaining Code. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that the government would require U.S. tech giants provided by media companies under a royalty-style system that will become law this year. Late last year, he had asked major U.S. tech companies to negotiate a voluntary deal with media companies to use their content, but the talks were inconclusive. Tech companies say that such intervention is unnecessary and the government should allow the market to work. The government has issued a draft news media bargaining code for public consultation that can be found . Comments are due by August 28.

  • Historic Choice: Last week, Joe Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris of California as his running mate for the 2020 Presidential election. Once an opponent of Biden during the Democratic primary process, Harris will now be the first Black woman and the first woman of Asian descent nominated for vice president by a major party. Mr. Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, described Ms. Harris as “one of the country’s finest public servants” in a tweet.

 

I’m delighted to welcome these new members and here are links to their websites:

Network News

The U.S. Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are accepting mail-in passport applications (forms and ), in addition to continued emergency citizenship services. U.S. citizens with immediate travel should contact their to request an emergency appointment. U.S. citizen voters or their representatives can drop off absentee ballots at the Embassy or Consulates for postage-free mailing to the United States; please find details .

 

Masks are now mandatory for any visitor to the Consulate General in Sydney. 

All visitors age 2 and older must wear a mask. If a visitor does not have a mask or cloth facial covering on arrival, the person will not be admitted and will have to reschedule any appointment. While in the Consulate, family members must stay close together and maintain social distancing from other applicants. This applies to U.S. citizens dropping off completed absentee ballots as well.

Network News

The National Cabinet met on 07 August to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, the Victoria outbreak, easing restrictions, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.

 

Caps on international passenger arrivals are extended until 24 October 2020 to manage quarantine arrangements across the various States and Territories.

 

The current caps are as follows:

 

  • Adelaide – limit of 500 passenger arrivals per week
  • Brisbane – limit of 500 passenger arrivals per week
  • Canberra, Darwin – passenger limits on each flight to be discussed with jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis
  • Hobart – no international flights
  • Melbourne – no international flights
  • Perth – limit of 525 passenger arrivals per week
  • Sydney – limit of 350 passenger arrivals per day

Restrictions on outbound travel for Australian citizens and permanent residence will remain in place to comply with current health advice to the Government.

 

Read the full details of the meeting .

Network News

Mission of the United States of America to Australia

 

The  Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Australia due to COVID-19. Read the full Travel Advisory .

Member Spotlight

Nick Nichola | Managing Partner

K&L Gates

 

Nick Nichola is Managing Partner, Australia for K&L Gates. He was previously Managing Partner of the Australian national firm Middletons from 2005 - 2012, during which time he guided the firm through strong growth in the Australian market. Nick's focus remains on ensuring quality service is provided to clients across the Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney offices, as well as connecting clients with the resources of the firm's extensive global platform.

 

Nick previously practised in corporate and commercial law and advised some of Australia's leading organisations across a range of industries with a particular focus on the telecommunications sector.

 

1. Childhood dream job?

A primary school teacher. Children have the remarkable ability to ground us and remind us what's really important in life. I love their wide-eyed amazement of the world, their absolute delight in discovering and learning new things and their disarming honesty.

 

2. Most rewarding part about your job?

It allows me to meet a wide range of talented and diverse people from all walks of life from around the world. It's a delight to learn from them. My role also affords me the wonderful opportunity to observe up-close and personal the growth and development of the many people with whom I closely work as we meet the day to day challenges of business life in general.

 

3. Proudest moment so far?

The birth of my two sons. I really don't know why fathers take any credit for all the hard work mothers do!

 

4. Dream dinner companion?

Pliny the Younger. To be able to converse firsthand about Pompeii, the Mount Vesuvius eruption, and other matters of Roman history would be fascinating.

 

5. Best advice you ever received?

Always be your authentic self and bring that to everything you say and do. Above all else, treat others as they would like to be treated.

Company Spotlight

Laureate Education, Inc. and Strategic Education, Inc. Enter into Definitive Agreement for Sale of Laureate’s Australian and New Zealand Operations

Laureate Education

 

On a daily basis, Torrens University Australia, Think Education and the Media Design School demonstrate that private investment in education can deliver significant public good. This could not have been achieved without the support and investment Laureate Education provided to create the first new university in Australia in over twenty years, which now educates our more than 19,000 students.

 

Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAUR) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA) for the sale of its Australian and New Zealand operations – Torrens University Australia and Think Education in Australia and Media Design School in New Zealand.

 

The three operations have approximately 19,000 students enrolled in technical, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a variety of academic disciplines, including Business, Education, Hospitality, Design and Creative Technology, and Health. Torrens University was founded by Laureate in 2014 and was the first new university to open in Australia in 20 years. Think Education joined Laureate in 2013, seven years after it was established. Media Design School, founded in New Zealand 22 years ago, became part of the Laureate network in 2011.

 

Strategic Education, Inc. is an established operator of campus-based and online higher education institutions in the United States, including Capella and Strayer Universities.

Network News

Autonomous Building Summit 2020

Lendlease

The inaugural Autonomous Building Summit 2020 is a virtual event by Lendlease, bringing together international thought leaders from government, property, construction, technology and industry, taking place on 10 September 2020.

 

Providing a full day of quality keynote and specialist sessions, live Q&A and access to a virtual suite of product demonstrations and solutions, you can attend as much or as little as you need. Please join us as we re-imagine our world, as we move from bricks to bytes, from smart to autonomous and shape a new era of life, work and play.

 

To find out more and to register, please .

You(th) are not Alone

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia

Big Brothers Big Sisters will address the problem on Youth Loneliness, and how it is underpinned by three main causes, the negative perceptions young people have of themselves and their environments, i.e. their mindset, the level of resilience and soft skills they possess, and the quality of relationships they experience.

 

The purpose of the Summit is to present effective outcomes to address these causes through a two-pronged approach: changing mindsets and improving young people's soft skills and quality relationships to increase social connections.

 

To find out more and register for the event taking place on 28 August 2020 at 3.00 PM AEST, please .

The End of JobKeeper: What Next for Employers?

DW Fox Tucker Lawyers

If you want to ensure your business is prepared for the end of JobKeeper, this is a webinar not to be missed. During this webinar, our employment expert, Ben Duggan, will explore some of the key issues employers will face and provide a framework that will help them to prepare for the end of JobKeeper.

 

You will learn about:

 

  • The post JobKeeper workplace
  • Consultation/Restructure/
    Redundancies
  • Varying existing contracts, policies and practices
  • Flexible workplace practices
  • Management of employment claims risk
  • Future Government Stimulus

 

RSVP by Monday 31 August 2020, to:

 

Innovating Through Technology in a Time of Change

Zebra Technologies

Join Zebra Technologies and their industry experts in this 5-part webinar series discussing the rapid changes and uncertainties affecting different industries, and how businesses can get back on track by leveraging innovative technology solutions.

 

Learn about:

  • Rising demands in Supply Chain and Warehouse Management
  • Leveraging new technology to gain greater levels of operational visibility and productivity, and improve customer experience
  • How RFID can fuel business transformation and help you reveal opportunities hidden in plain sight

 

Bite to Fight Cancer

The Hospital Research Foundation

Get your staff together for team bonding or to reward their hard work during the pandemic, why not raise money for cancer research at the same time?!

 

The Hospital Research Foundation has launched its annual cancer fundraiser The Longest Table and wants you on board!

 

You can hold a physical event, a virtual event or simply fundraise for cancer research without an event at all. Learn more .

Appointment of New General Manager- Asia Pacific

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has appointed Christine Zeitz general manager for the Asia Pacific region, responsible for all aspects of program performance and strategic growth in Australia, Japan and South Korea.

 

Zeitz will report to Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president, Defense Systems sector; and will partner with Northrop Grumman’s chief executives in the Asia Pacific region. Zeitz will be based in Canberra, Australia.

 

Read the full press release

Industry Forecast Forum: Good health, Wellbeing and Resilience

The University of Sydney

27th August, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 

How do we rebuild the pandemic? Bringing experts from mental health, economics, business disaster response, the discussion will map the ecosystem that's required for a strong recovery, identify opportunities for shared value and develop unlikely coalitions for rebuilding. Keynote by NSW Resilience Commissioner, Shane Fitsimmons.

 

To find out more or register to attend email

 

Virgin Group’s Holly Branson discusses the benefits of Neurodiversity in Technology Consulting

Auticon

At the launch of Auticon’s Global Impact Report, Holly Branson, daughter of Sir Richard Branson, discusses the benefits of employing people on the spectrum, Virgin has been working with Auticon since 2016.

 

Sir Richard Branson, at Auticon’s launch in Australia late last year said, “Autistic adults often have wonderful cognitive abilities. Auticon taps into this potential, producing a great solution for clients and people on the spectrum, as well as for society,”

 

Read the article .

For more information, please visit:

Success stories are not case studies

Anecdote

Case studies have become formulaic marketing tools: “This was the situation, this is what we did, and here’s how great things are now.” (Aren’t we wonderful?) Situation, solution, result. A success story is a narrative told from the perspective of a client who has achieved success. They resonate with clients as they are able to see themselves in the same position and see themselves succeed similarly.

 

Join us for a free 45-minute webinar on Wednesday, August 19th at 8:00am or 5:00pm (AEST – Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne). You’ll learn how to tell specific, visual, and memorable success stories using our six-part framework.

 

Click to register.

Education + Business – Designing the agenda for a new world

Steam Capital

The 2020 Australia New Zealand MBA Directors Forum has launched its agenda and program for 2020. Due to COVID-19 the event is now fully virtual giving industry and business a unique opportunity to connect, engage with university and business school leaders gaining greater insight into an industry in change, the impacts of COVID-19, current academic programs, partnership and collaboration opportunities.

 

The event has attracted over 25 speakers from around the world including economist Chris Richardson, Deloitte Access Economics, ARC Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla, UNSW; Sara Caplan, PwC; Joe North, Lockheed Martin, Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Vice Chancellor & President, QUT and Director Universities Australia. Learn more about this unique education and business event .

 

Click to register.

Episode 20

ICMI

ICMI is hosting a weekly online series to kickstart your Wednesdays. It’s jam-packed with generous helpings of knowledge and morsels of motivation.

 

This Wednesday at 9.00AM AEST, they will feature Jean Kittson, Marcus Pearse and Andrew Klein, each presenting for 5 minutes, followed by a live Q&A session. The series runs via Zoom and is facilitated by a professional host. All up, the event runs for 30 minutes, maximum.

 

Register

Australian Law Awards 2020

Clayton Utz

The Real Estate group at Clayton Utz has won Property Team of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2020!

 

Teams that collaborate effectively not only meet the urgent needs of their clients, they are also more likely to be thought leaders in their fields of practice.

 

Find out more

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The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

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