March 2020


After 40 years in aerospace and six years as AmCham Chair, Maureen Dougherty is stepping down and moving back to the US. The Board of Directors, CEO, staff and members have benefited greatly from her expertise, experience, generosity and leadership. We sincerely thank her for all she has contributed and wish her all the best in the future.

 

Dr Brendan Nelson AO has been appointed President and Chairman of Boeing in Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific. He has also been selected by the AmCham Board to take up the role of Chairman of the Chamber. Most recently, Dr Nelson served as the director of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. He began his career in 1985 as a medical practitioner before going on to lead the Australian Medical Association. In 1996, he was elected to the Federal Parliament of Australia where he went on to serve as Minister for Education, Science and Training and then as Minister for Defence. He was elected leader of Australia’s Liberal Party in 2007 and led the Opposition until 2008. He later served as Australia’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO until 2012.

 

We would also like to announce the appointment of William (Bill) Ruh who will be joining the AmCham Board as Vice Chair. Bill Ruh brings knowledge and expertise from previous roles as a senior executive at GE Digital and Cisco Services.

Brendan Nelson AO

Maureen Dougherty

Bill Ruh


 

Three months into the current health crisis, we are all aware of and take seriously the spread of COVID-19. Like our members, AmCham is following current guidance from authorities to protect the health and well-being of employees, members, and guests. These changes in how people and goods move around the globe are having an economic impact on several sectors including travel, exports, and higher education. However, savvy CEOs will be alert to the opportunities any forced change in behaviour brings about.

 

For example, according to a study published by the University of Oxford, a significant number of Londoners stuck to new routes they discovered when some stations closed for a two-day tube strike in 2014. Clearly, the current virus outbreak will impact the corporate world much more than subway strikes. Corporate earnings growth could dry up. Regional business activity has fallen dramatically and is likely to weaken elsewhere as the virus spreads. Apart from face masks, hand sanitiser and toilet paper, consumers don’t seem to be spending much. Pessimism about our ability to control the spread of the virus had a very negative impact on markets. At the AFR Business Summit, Prime Minister Morrison noted the public health crisis “has quickly moved to weaken demand, disrupt supply chains and crunch cashflows.”

 

Some companies are choosing to postpone conferences, convert face-to-face meetings to video, and limit overseas travel. Most companies will revert to normal once the threat is managed, just like the majority of English commuters. But for some, changes to business that were already being considered may be accelerated due to the virus. For example, are we ready to implement mass remote working? Will travel budgets be slashed? Will companies with tenuous supply chains reconfigure them? And will this episode reinforce to us that "business is personal" and remind us of the role face-to-face meetings play?

 

All we can be certain of is that this health crisis will be resolved. We don’t know when the trough will be, we don’t know whether it will be a u-shape or a v-shape recovery, we don’t know the extent of damage it will cause or ingenuity it will spark. All we know is that we must remain flexible and adaptable in this dynamic environment. So please join us in taking a level-headed, data-driven approach to the health challenge. Let's keep our people safe and also keep our economy moving.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support,

April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer

American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

E

P 02 8031 9000


AmCham's New Zealand Trade Mission 2020

Earlier this month, AmCham Australia’s Board of Directors and a delegation of AmCham company leaders visited AmCham New Zealand in Wellington. The delegation was invited to a reception at the residence of US Ambassador Scott Brown and shown his huge collection of Rock & Roll memorabilia. The next day, Finance Minister Grant Robertson addressed the group, followed by a panel discussion on APEC, the WTO, and regional trade opportunities. NZ Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor also addressed the group. And the Parliamentary Friends of North America hosted a private reception at Parliament House with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, and others.


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

CMAX Advisory
Fox Studios Australia
Heartland Solutions Group
Kaplan Professional
Open Market
Pacific Point
SeedSpace
World of Drones Education
Saba
VmWare

 
Upcoming Events

QLD

Advanced Manufacturing "A Collaborative Approach" Business Luncheon

Friday 3 April 2020

The Westin Brisbane

NSW

Meet The Minister for Finance, Senator The Hon Mathias Cormann

Wednesday 22 April 2020

Sydney CBD

VIC

Cyber Security: To Risk or Not to Risk Business Luncheon

Thursday 24 April 2020

Hall & Wilcox

WA

Business Briefing with Lonnie Bossi, Chief Operating Officer, Crown

Wednesday 13 May 2020

Crown Perth

SA

Renewables and Clean Energy Policy with Robyn Denholm, CEO, Tesla

Friday 22 May 2020

InterContinental North Terrace


 
Premium Network News

Arthur Sinodinos

Ambassador of Australia to the United States

 

Last month, Arthur Sinodinos presented his credentials to President Trump to become the Australian Ambassador to the US. He replaces Joe Hockey, who is remaining in Washington to start his own consultancy (see related story below). Ambassador Sinodinos previously served as Prime Minister Howard’s chief of staff (1997 to 2006). After several years in the business world, he was elected in 2011 as a liberal Senator, and during that time served as a Cabinet minister in the Malcolm Turnbull government. He was appointed Assistant Treasurer in the Abbott Government in 2013. Before being appointed to fill a vacant seat in the Senate, Sinodinos spent periods working for Goldman Sachs and the National Australia bank.

 

Check out his first tweets since presenting his credentials .

The US Chamber of Commerce

GIPC Releases 2020 Intellectual Property Rankings

 

In February, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) released its eighth annual International IP Index. The report evaluates how 53 global economies approach intellectual property (IP)—from patent and copyright policies to commercialization of IP assets and ratification of international treaties.

 

Australia's overall rank is 14 out of the 53, with the country being a global leader on copyright enforcement in the online space. .

 

Bondi Partners

Providing high-quality real time intelligence, stakeholder engagement and business solutions

 

In the spirit of the US-Australian bilateral relationship, former Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey and Alex Tureman have started Bondi Partners, an advisory and investment firm counseling a range of US/Australian clients on market entry strategies, and the challenges and opportunities each market presents.

 

The first office in Washington is open for business and will soon be followed by a Sydney office, opening in the coming weeks.

 

MinterEllison

Anton Hermann Memorial Scholarship

 

Together with Monash University, MinterEllison have proudly launched the Anton Hermann Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship honours the memory of Anton Hermann (Monash alumnus, lawyer and community leader) who devoted his life to supporting marginalised and disadvantaged Australians....

 

Clayton Utz

Legal Services Blood Challenge

 

The Legal Services LifeBlood Challenge is back! Last year, Clayton Utz took out first place with national donations, saving a potential of 552 lives.

 

Join their team this year! .

 

McKinsey & Company

Women in Tech

 

How can more women get into tech? Entrepreneur First founder and McKinsey alum Alice Bentinck shares some ideas in a sneak peek of our video series on women in STEM. .

 


 

Andrew Ure | Head of Public Affairs, Asia-Pacific

Google

 

Andrew has worked on some of the most pressing technology policy issues facing governments in the region, including artificial intelligence, privacy, digital trade and skilling for the digital economy. Prior to Google, he was Managing Director of OgilvyEarth Australia, a sustainability consultancy. He previously spent eight years as a diplomat with the Australian Government, where he worked on UN climate negotiations and was posted to the Australian Embassy in Iran. He has degrees from Oxford University and Australian National University and recently moved back to Sydney. He is on the board of the National Centre for APEC.

 

Favourite fictional character and why?

I love the flawed determination of Cervantes’s Don Quixote. At school I was told by a teacher that my attempts to rewrite the rules of German grammar reminded him of Don Quixote. It was not meant as a compliment.

 

Dream dinner companion?

My partner Paul. He lives in Hong Kong so each dinner is precious.

 

Something that your social media followers don’t know about you?

I have recently started doing stand-up comedy as a hobby. The fact that very few people know this says a lot about its quality.

 

Biggest roadblock in your career, and how were you able to overcome it?

Finding a pathway to the private sector after a long time in government was not easy. I sought a lot of advice from some very smart people. But mostly I was lucky for the leap of faith that my new boss, Kieran Moore at WPP, took hiring me. I remain in awe of Kieran; she is one of the bravest leaders I know.

 

Proudest moment so far?

I spent several years as a diplomat working in the UN climate change process. Although it involved a lot of late nights, roadblocks and frustration, the work we did over several years laid the foundation for the Paris Agreement. Australia has the most marginal climate in the OECD and it was satisfying to play a small role in advancing the global action we need. There is still a long way to go.


 

3M Australia

 

International Women’s Day not only belongs to one specific country, group or organization. It belongs to the collective, everywhere. Each year, on March 8, people around the globe come together to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, in addition to raising awareness around the need to accelerate women’s equality.

 

As part of 3M’s commitment to providing an inclusive workplace for all employees, they have been promoting Women in STEM in the Asia Pacific Region with a few of their programs running below.

 

Eureka Prizes – Australian Museum

 

Each year, 3M sponsor the “Emerging Leader in Science” award as part of the Australian Museum’s Eureka Prizes. Last year, 3M awarded Melody Ding the prize of AU$10,000 to honour and support her continuing work in her STEM field. While this award is not restricted to female nominees only, 3M have awarded a female in 2019 and also in 2018....

 

Australian Academy of Science

 

In 2019, 3M provided US$35,000 to the Australian Academy of Science to run the 2019 Science at the Shine Dome Schools Program. This program brought 10 Science Extension NSW students and 10 of their teachers to Canberra to participate in the Academy’s annual Science at the Shine Dome event. The students and teachers participated in workshops, seminars, and breakout sessions in addition to having the opportunity to meet and be inspired by Australia’s top scientists. The criteria for this program ensured that at least 5/10 of the students were female (in the end, 7/10 were female)....

 

In May 2020, the program will run again, sponsored by 3M with US$70,000. This year, 3M will invite 12 students and 12 of their teachers with the same 50/50 gender split/quota requirement.

 

FIRST Robotics

 

3M has also sponsored Pymble Ladies College FIRST Robotics team for 2020. This is an all-female team made up of over 70 students from grades 5 to 12 who work on building a robot for the annual FIRST Robotics competitions. They have competed nationally and also internationally in the past and have ambitious goals to do the same again this year. 3M has sponsored the team with US$5,000 and Kosta K. from 3M’s Australian office technical team will be volunteering his time and expertise to enhance their project and learning experience throughout the year.

 

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The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

Website | ABN 62 000 361 633

SYDNEY/CANBERRA

02 8031 9000

MELBOURNE

03 9027 5633

ADELAIDE

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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