December 2018 Message from AmCham CEO undefined
December 2018
Message From AmCham CEO April Palmerlee

AmCham Australia has had an exceptionally good year across the board. Let’s review some of what made 2018 so special:

  • over 160 events across the country from boardrooms to ballrooms;
  • overseas conferences on energy, cyber security, and the space industry;
  • trade delegations to the United States, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand;
  • state-based, national and international advocacy doorknocks;
  • the first AmCham Diversity and Inclusion Conference; and much more.

One of the most exciting aspects to the last month for me was our trade delegation focusing on the space industry. Under the leadership of Nova System’s Pam Melroy (retried USAF pilot and former NASA astronaut), Austrade and AmCham took 24 delegates to the US to find partners for their products and services. We focused on rockets and satellites as well as visiting many key sites for the US space industry. to see a summary of the site visits and testimonials from the participants.

AmCham Committees continue their good work across the country on a range of topics. Our final quarterly summary for the year is available . Previous summaries are available on the website. If you are interested in nominating someone for a committee, please .

 

And 2019 promises even more of the good stuff. We already have exciting plans in place, including the much-anticipated AmCham Academy in states across the country. Places are very limited, but the registration deadline has been extended until the end of the year, so please be sure to before you go on leave. We are also lining up a lot of government engagement after the NSW and Federal elections. We have delegations planned for the in Houston and an Innovation Mission to Tel Aviv and Silicon Valley. We will take a group to Washington for the annual doorknock as well as a trade mission to New Zealand. We have another D&I conference planned, as well as a Health and Wellness Conference and a day looking at Doing Business in America. And our committees will continue to do their important advocacy work.

 

AmCham Australia offices will be closed for a fortnight beginning on 24 December. See you on 7 January! Here’s to a great new year. Thank you for your ongoing support.

 

 

April Palmerlee

Chief Executive Officer

American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

P 02 8031 9000 | E

APCAC Business Summit
4-5 March 2019 in Hong Kong

 

Asia's continued rapid development has made the region the biggest engine of the global economy and has presented enormous opportunities for American multinational businesses. Against this backdrop of potentially seismic shifts in the world economic and political order, more than 300 top business and political leaders from around Asia and the U.S. will gather in the vibrant heart of Hong Kong's financial and business district for the 2019 APCAC Business Summit on March 4-5.

 

For details of the conference visit

 

US-China Trade War survey
conducted by AmCham Singapore

 

I’d like to share with you the results of a survey conducted by AmCham Singapore on the US-China trade war. Of the businesses they surveyed, most maintained a cautiously positive outlook.

 

Eight out of 10 business leaders surveyed expressed concern, and a quarter reported that it has become harder to do business in Southeast Asia (SEA) since the onset of the Trade War. Concern is higher among firms with large staff strength in SEA (94%), and among American firms (84%). Despite these concerns, only 14% of respondents have a negative business outlook for the coming six months, with the majority (56%) feeling positive about business prospects.

 

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Please join us in welcoming...

Doug Grant

General Manager NSW & ACT

American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

 

Doug Grant has joined AmCham as General Manager of NSW & ACT.

 

He has over 20 years’ experience working within the finance industry as a Business Development Manager, Broker, consultant and sales and marketing representative. In that time Doug has built a broad network of business clients and referral partner contacts across most industry sectors through his focus on relationship creation, ongoing relationship management and solutions sales.

 

Recent activities include non-conforming loan structure and financing solutions outside of mainstream financial industry services, and establishment of referrer partner networks and systems as sources of new business.

 

His understanding of sales processes, cycles and mindsets has enabled him to quickly establish and build rapport leading to constructive relationships with all business levels, from administrative staff through to senior executives.

 

Doug is looking forward to engaging with current members and forming new relationships to grow the membership base of valued AmCham business partnerships.

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Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines

AmCham's 2018 Official Travel Partner

 

Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines together, proudly serve more than 204 million customers annually through their extensive and integrated network of destinations. Operating 25 flights per week, connecting over 45 destinations in Australia and New Zealand with over 250 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

 

Through our partnership, we go above and beyond to deliver a world-class travel experience. Whether travelling for business or leisure, enjoy an unrivalled business class experience, with lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, chef-curated menus and luxury amenities. It’s everything business travel should be.

 

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McKinsey & Company

 

Digital strategy: The four fights you have to win

 

"People ask us about digital strategy. The reality is they just need a strategy in the digital age." - Tanguy Catlin, Senior Partner, Boston

 

Yesterday’s tentative approaches won’t deliver; you need absolute clarity about digital’s demands, galvanized leadership, unparalleled agility, and the resolve to bet boldly... .

 

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American Express

 

Introducing #AmexGo, a step forward for

corporate payment innovation

 

American Express has launched its new American Express Go digital credit card for Australian businesses today. The innovation in corporate payments is designed to help mid to large sized companies better manage the business expenses of temporary workers, contractors and other employees.

 

Businesses can use American Express Go to issue a unique virtual card to a mobile wallet which can be... .

 

The following companies have come on board as new members since my last newsletter:

Upcoming Trade Mission

OTC 2019 Trade Mission

OTC 2019 Trade Mission

6-9 May 2019

Houston, TX - USA

 

Join us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the largest Offshore Oil & Gas Conference in the world. AmCham’s Penelope Williamson has been taking Australian delegations to OTC for over 20 years. Her experience and contacts guarantee AmCham members have the best experience possible and return home with tangible ROI for their time and investment.

 

OTC showcases leading-edge technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC is the worlds foremost event for the development of offshore resources. The conference attracts attendees and exhibiting companies from around the globe.

 

In the current energy environment, the importance of innovation and technology is vital to meet the world's future energy needs.

 

For more information and to register your interest as a delegate:

 

E

P +61 (08) 9325 9540

Upcoming Events

 

Sydney: Business Luncheon

THE BUSINESS OF SPORT

WED 13 February | 12pm - 2pm | Sydney CBD

 

Mike Kane, CEO and Managing Director, Boral Limited

 

David Nilsson, Australia’s most well-known baseballer

 

What is the role of business in sports? At this lunch, Mike Kane and David Nilsson will discuss the case for involvement by the business community in the sporting world, be it amateur or professional.

 

Adelaide: Business Luncheon

DRIVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FUTURE INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

FRI 15 February | 11.45am - 2pm | InterContinental

 

Jim Whalley, Chief Entrepreneur and Chair, Nova Group

 

Jim McDowell, CEO, Dept of the Premier and Cabinet

 

Mohan Koo, Co-Founder and CTO, Dtex Systems

 

Can South Australia be the leading state for business startups? The Premier and the new Chief Entrepreneur, co-founder and chairman of Nova Group, Jim Whalley, thinks we can. Jim is supported by the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board consisting of prominent business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. Our panel will discuss what they and the government are doing to support this brave and audacious goal of encouraging entrepreneurs to seize opportunities and turn ideas into businesses.

 

Melbourne: Business Luncheon

AGRI TECH AND INNOVATION 4.0

THU 21 February | 12pm - 2pm | Allens

 

Hugh Killen, Managing Director and CEO, AACo

 

Ken Sloan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President (Enterprise), Monash University

 

Justin Webb, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, AgriWebb

 

Panel facilitated by Franki Ganter, Partner, Allens

 

The Ag 4.0 revolution offers enormous opportunities for Australia's Agriculture, Food and Agtech sectors. Please join our expert panellists their views on what the opportunities are; the challenges to realising those opportunities; and how Australia can play a leading role in the Ag 4.0 revolution.

 

Business Luncheon

AGTECH AND BLOCKCHAIN

FRI 22 February | 11.30am - 2pm | Brisbane CBD

 

Australian farmers must improve productivity to remain competitive in the global market. The mounting challenges in agriculture is pressuring Australian agri-businesses to adopt smarter and innovative technologies to raise productivity and better manage resources. The farming and agriculture industry will become arguably more important than ever before in the next few decades. How can blockchain revolutionise the agriculture industry? How can we bring trust and transparency in agri-business with blockchain?

 

Business Luncheon

BUSINESS BRIEFING WITH WOOD

WED 27 February | 12pm - 2pm | Perth CBD

 

Ralph Ellis, President Operations Services – APAC, Wood

 

Wood is a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering and technical services to energy and industrial markets. Wood operates in more than 60 countries, employing around 60,000 people, with revenues of over $10 billion. They provide performance-driven solutions throughout the asset life-cycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets including the upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas, power & process, environment and infrastructure, clean energy, mining, nuclear and general industrial sectors.

University-Industry Engagement Conference

11 – 13 February 2019

 

Organised by the University-Industry Interaction Network & University of Technology Sydney

 

In February 2019, UTS will host the 2019 University-Industry Interaction Conference. Already in its 7th year, this global conference is the largest event in the field of university-industry collaboration, entrepreneurial universities and innovation ecosystems and brings together a diverse range of university leaders, researchers, policymakers, innovation and entrepreneurship managers and industry partners.

 

Organised and supported by a wide variety of distinguished networks of key academics and practitioners, the conference is bound by a common vision of advancing collaborative innovation. Some are pioneers and industry leaders in the area of intellectual property management, while others specialize in accelerating and jump starting growth for entrepreneurial start-ups.

 

Headline presentations by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel; CIO of UniSuper, Anna Leibel; Director, Marketing & Operations for Microsoft, Rachel Bondi and Brooking’s Institute Julie Wagner, will offer unique insights into the best of the university-industry collaboration, global entrepreneurial activities and how partnerships drive innovation.

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 11 – 13 February 2019

Location: University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney

Registration: to register to attend (Tickets starting at $360)

Further details: Visit the for full agenda and more details about the conference.

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Website | ABN 62 000 361 633

SYDNEY/CANBERRA

02 8031 9000

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03 9027 5633

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08 8212 4688

BRISBANE

07 3220 2478

PERTH/DARWIN

08 9325 9540


Podcasts

Posted on 3/04/2018

How Business Really Works: Digital Journey with Moe Ali

What's new in technology and how can your business stay ahead of the game? Moe Ali, Group Vice President of Gartner ANZ, talks to Duff about cyber-security, the importance of incorporating technology insights and information to the core of business m

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