American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

COMMITTEE REPORTS

4th Quarter 2018


Committee Update

Defence and National Security Committee

Since the Committee’s meeting on September 13 with The Hon. Steven Ciobo, Minister for Defence Industry, the committee has prepared the following position papers:

AmCham's Defence and National Security Committee met with Members of the Ministry, Shadow Cabinet, and Parliament during a Canberra Doorknock on October 15 to discuss the above issues.

The committee has also participated in the following briefings:

  • NTIB Briefing with Dr. Sheridan Kearnan, First Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy, Department of Defence; Alexandra Kelton, Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy, Department of Defence; Amy McDonnell, International Export Controls, Department of Defence; and
  • Indo-Pacific Strategy Briefing with Dr. John Randolph Wood, Director, Pacific Outreach, U.S. Pacific Command (J9).

An industry forum (NTIB Forum) will be convened in early 2019 to identify and discuss key NTIB obstacles faced by small and large defence industry companies with a view to equipping the Department and Government with information for its discussions with their counterparts in the U.S.

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Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Recently the Committee has facilitated a number of events nationally for AmCham members on gender equality, particularly the economic rationale, including:

  • A Diversity and Inclusion Conference featuring:
    • Vamsi Mohan V Thati, President, Coca-Cola South Pacific;
    • Kate Mason, Group Director, People & Culture, Coca-Cola Amatil;
    • Jenny Cermack, Partner, McKinsey & Company;
    • Chris Lamb, Group Head of Talent & Organisational Development, Lendlease;
    • Lucinda Gemmell, Group Executive – People, Virgin Australia;
    • Patrick Jordan, Human Resources Director, Coca-Cola;
    • Lily Tang, Assoicate Director Human Resources, Procter & Gamble;
    • Tracy Williams, Former Harlem Globetrotter;
    • Ming Long, Chair, AMP Capital Funds Management Limited; and
    • Div Pillay, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Mind Tribes.
  • Women in Leadership: 50/50, If Not Why Not? featuring:
    • Melissa Wong, General Manager, People & Culture, Medibank;
    • Hannah Piterman PhD, Professor of Practice, Deakin University; and
    • Stephanie Brebner, General Manager Australia, Altablue.
  • Quotas and Targets: How to Maximize Growth and Innovation featuring:
    • Kiersten Morkel, VP Culture and Capability, South32;
    • Denise Goldsworthy, Independent Director, Western Power;
    • Kristina Botsis, Manager – Commercial, Digital Transformation, Water Corporation;
    • Dr. Vanessa Guthrie, Chair, Minerals Council of Australia; and
    • Jose Castillo, Business Consultant, JC Management Consulting.

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Health Committee

The committee has prepared / revised position papers around the following topics:

AmCham’s Health Committee also met with Members of the Ministry, Shadow Cabinet, and Parliament; officials from the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Treasury; and representatives from the U.S. Embassy during a Canberra Doorknock on October 16 to discuss the above issues.

Over the next twelve months, the committee will be focused on Value Based Healthcare and IP / Innovation.

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Innovation Committee

The Innovation Committee convened a Cancer Moonshot Seminar on October 8 featuring:

  • Erica Kneipp Assistant Secretary, Office of Health and Medical Research, Health Economics and Research Division, Department of Health;
  • Doug Lowy, Deputy Director, U.S. National Cancer Institute;
  • Professor David Huang, Laboratory Head - Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter + Eliza Hall Institute;
  • Professor Roger Reddel, Co-Director, ProCan; and
  • Professor David Thomas, Director - The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Division Head - Cancer, Lab Head - Genomic Cancer Medicine, Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

Discussions centered on rapid developments in oncology research and clinical practice; best-practice collaborations between Australia and the U.S; and opportunities to enhance research efficiency, commercialisation, and importantly clinical outcomes for patients by leveraging this relationship.

The Committee also met with Members of the Ministry, Shadow Cabinet and Parliament; and officials from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science during a Canberra Doorknock on October 15 to discuss a range of issues including:

  • The importance of long term innovation policy;
  • Accessing global talent and best practice;
  • The social impact of innovation;
  • Digital regulation & reform; and
  • Biomedical innovation.

Enclosed is a paper outlining the committees’ position on the above issues. [Click here to download]

Leading on from a number of extremely effective meetings, the Innovation Committee sought specific examples of the impediments holding back further investment in Australia from members at the request of Parliamentary Members, particularly around immigration and visas (i.e. the Global Talent Scheme), the R&D tax incentive, innovation policy generally, and how companies are being supported from a future workforce / reskilling perspective. April Palmerlee returned to Canberra on December 5 to share these stories.

AmCham has held constructive conversations about expanding the Accredited sponsorship scheme with the Office of The Hon. Minister Coleman, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Further information will be forthcoming from the Ministers’ office shortly.

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NEXT: Network For Future Leaders Committee

The NEXT: Network For Future Leaders Committee has been focused on the national roll out of an AmCham Academy in 2019.

The 2019 AmCham Academy will consist of a series of 12 events throughout 2019. Each month, the rising stars of AmCham member companies will gather for a learning and networking opportunity. The aim of the Academy is to provide talented junior executives with relevant and engaging seminars on career development best practices, peer-to-peer networking, and dialogue with senior executives from industry-leading companies. The AmCham Academy will help tomorrow’s leaders develop the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to be global pacesetters in the modern business world.

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Trade and Government Committee

The Trade and Government Committee met with Members of the Ministry, Shadow Cabinet and Parliament, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and representatives from the U.S Embassy during a Canberra Doorknock on October 15 to discuss a range of issues including:

  • Australia / U.S. economic relations;
  • U.S.foreign direct investment;
  • Bilateral trade and investment opportunities;
  • Use of cleared advisors in connection with trade negotiations and other trade and investment matters;
  • AmCham’s position on IP protection and the importance of protecting intellectual property;
  • The U.S. Indo Pacific Strategy and the Australian Government’s role and views;
  • The importance of service exports to the U.S. and of promoting mutual recognition harmonisation of standards;
  • WTO reform;
  • WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement;
  • AUSFTA Joint Committees and Working Groups—are they important and if so how to promote them;
  • TPP11;
  • U.S. / Mexico / Canada Agreement; and
  • Importance of a rules- based order for international trade and investment.

Over the coming 12 months, the committee will be focused on the importance of free trade.

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Taxation Committee

AmCham’s Taxation Committee has prepared the following submissions:

The Committee also participated in the Board of Taxation’s consultation on Income Tax Residency Rules for Individuals on October 26.

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Trade and Investment Advisory Committee

Recently, the committee participated in briefings with the following:

  • John Goyer, Executive Director, Southeast Asia, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and
  • Moore Hallmark, Executive Director Southeast Region, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The committee also held its first Trade and Investment Advisory Roundtable on Navigating Cross Border Trade with guest speaker Jason Israel on October 23.

Over the coming 12 months, the committee will continue to focus on navigating cross border trade and will hold a number of webinars and roundtable luncheons to address this.

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Expressions of Interest

The Chamber aims to ensure diverse and expert representation on AmCham Committees. To be eligible, nominees must represent a corporate financial member of the Chamber.

Expressions of interest are currently open for the following committees:

  • Human Capital

    In 2019, the Human Capital Committee will be focused on delivering a Health and Wellness Conference and will meet with various experts in the lead up to the conference to discuss same.

  • Fast Moving Consumer Goods

    Changes to the external environment (technological, consumer preferences) significantly impacts industry due to the implementation of additional regulatory measures which can inhibit an organisation’s ability to do business. This committee will aim to address these challenges by liaising with government to ensure sustainable FMCG trade policy.

  • Energy and Resources

    The Australian energy and resources policy environment is dynamic and challenging. This has and will continue to create enormous uncertainty and will impact on future investment decisions. To combat these issues, the committee’s mission is to advocate for Australia’s energy and resources sector and promote the national importance of U.S. investment.

  • Diversity and Inclusion

Interested nominees may submit their expressions of interest in any of the above committees or any of the other committees by completing a Nomination Form and emailing it to the Committee Secretariat at [email protected]. Completed nomination forms and accompanying documentation will be submitted to the relevant Chair for consideration.

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Part 1V of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Committee participants abide by Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and in particular the obligation on the part of every attendee and participant not to engage in any activity that may be construed as anti-competitive in effect or purpose, or which may be likely to have such an effect or purpose.

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Further Information

Should you have any queries regarding the above, are interested in finding out more or wish to become involved in AmCham’s Committees, we encourage you to reach out to the Committee Secretariat at [email protected].