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Ambassador’s Dinner 2017 Frankfurt

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This year’s Ambassador’s Dinner was a particularly festive event. 2017 is the year that the German Australian Business Council (GABC) celebrates 20 years of connecting Germany and Australia.

Held on the 12th of September at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel in central Frankfurt, we were honoured to welcome both our Co-Patrons, Her Excellency Lynette Wood, Australian Ambassador to Germany, as well as Richard Leather, Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian Consulate-General in Frankfurt. We also had the pleasure of the company  of The Honourable Martin Hamilton-Smith MP, South Australian Minister for Investment and Trade, Defence Industries and Veterans’ Affairs as well as many other distinguished guests both at Federal and State level.

Almost 120 international guests spanning across the business, political, educational and cultural spheres took part in this year’s Ambassador’s Dinner.

The evening debuted with a networking pre-dinner cocktail. The diversity, generous curiosity and open-mindedness of our guests allowed for the evening to immediately start off in great spirits, with many new contacts being established.

Once in the dining room, GABC Chair, Sabine Pittrof, welcomed all guests and took us through the past 20 years since the creation of GABC: an incredibly rich programme of events and business opportunities, to say the least!

Following, for the first time as our Patron, the Australian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Lynette Wood, addressed our guests, highlighting the current business and political climate between Australia and Germany.

We also heard from the South Australian Minister, who touched upon numerous topics relevant to German Australian business relations, including those of innovation and renewable energy.

On a different note, Markus Svensson, European General Manager for Qantas, focused on the outlook of the airline industry, briefly outlining the plans for non-stop flight to Europe.

Our Master of Ceremony for the event, Evangelos Kotsopoulos, CEO Continental Europe for Sonic Healthcare and GABC Board Member, led us nicely throughout the entire evening.

The evening was concluded by an abundant business card draw as a way to celebrate our 20 year anniversary, followed by closing remarks and a word of thank you by Sabine Pittrof.

Events such as the Ambassador’s Dinner would not be possible without the generous support of our Corporate Members and sponsors. Sonic Healthcare (Gold Sponsor), State of South Australia (Gold Sponsor), Qantas (Gold Sponsor), Squire Patton Boggs (Silver Sponsor) and the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) (Silver Sponsor) supported the 2017 Ambassador’s Dinner. The German Australian Business Council would like to warmly thank our sponsors for their kind support.

 

 

 

 

All photos by Jens Braune del Angel, Frankfurt

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EU – Australia Framework Agreement

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The EU – Australia Framework Agreement was signed by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, on the 7th of August, 2017, in Manila, The Philippines.

Marking the beginning of a new era of strategic cooperation between the European Union and Australia, the EU – Australia Framework Agreement will enable the European Union and Australia to further address challenges dealing with foreign and security policy, sustainable development, climate change, and economic and trade matters.

Closer links between leaders across government, business and civil society will thus be encouraged. The EU – Australia Framework Agreement will guide future engagement between the European Union and Australia, accompanying work towards launching negotiations for a comprehensive EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

 

Reference:

https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/30843/eu-australia-sign-framework-agreement-closer-cooperation_en

 

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German Australian Business Council Board Members at the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee

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We are presenting on Monday to the trade sub-committee of the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Taking part will be board members Robert Harrison, Sabine Pittrof and Andre Haermeyer together with Jens Rintze from Squire Patton Boggs. We’re looking forward to discussing the implications of a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Australia. A livestream is available here http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament. 

 

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Business Networking Bavarian Style 20th Anniversary BBQ Munich

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On July 15th more than 20 participants came to Buchenhain in the south of Munich to commemorate 20 years of connecting Germany and Australia. As part of the Waldgasthof Buchenhain’s well established annual Sommerfest in Baierbrunn we had a separate area, where we were in the position to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in the Biergarten and listen to live music from three different bands. This event was a great chance for business networking with fellow German Australian Business Council corporates, members and friends.  We also had the pleasure to see a couple of new faces interested in our work.

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Bayerisches Wirtschaftsgespräch mit Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel

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Yesterday German Australian Business Council Board Members Eberhard Goihl and Robert Harrison were invited to listen to a speech of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel in Munich. It was very interesting to be provided with first hand information on both business and social policy as well as impressions of the G20 meeting in Hamburg.

See the article below for further information:

https://www.vbw-bayern.de/vbw/Aktionsfelder/Wirtschaft-und-Gesellschaft/Politischer-Dialog/R%C3%BCckblick-39.-Bayerisches-Wirtschaftsgespr%C3%A4ch-mit-Bundeskanzlerin-Dr.-Angela-Merkel.jsp

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Breakfast Briefing with German Honorary Consul

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Members and friends of the German Australian Business Council gathered in Frankfurt on 7 July 2017 for a breakfast briefing with German Honorary Consul Prof. Michael Rosemann. Prof. Rosemann shared with attendees the various German initiatives that take place in Brisbane such as German week and David meets Goliath. He also captivated his audience with fascinating stories about how the universities help businesses transition to a digitalized world and adapting to a different mindset by thinking in a “bigger box”.

It was a great event to start the work day with attendees taking away a lot of food for thought.

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Dinner with Australian Finance Minister

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Business Council Chair, Sabine Pittrof, was invited to a dinner with Sen. The Hon. Mathias Cormann in Frankfurt on 3rd July 2017. The evening was organized by Federal MP Volkmar Klein, who chairs the German Australian New Zealand parliamentary group. Mr Klein had invited a number of companies from his electorate with business dealings in Australia. In addition, there were some German bank representatives that are active in Australia. Attendees enjoyed listening to the various success stories in an informal atmosphere. It was a great networking opportunity and may also result in additional members for the German Australian Business Council.

The photo shows Volkmar Klein and delegates from the Siegen-Wittgenstein electorate with Minister Cormann with Business Council Chair kindly invited to join the photo.

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Frankfurt Summer Networking Event at feinform

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The German Australian Business Council’s special summer networking event revolved around art, design and beauty. For the first time, GABC expanded its scope by venturing into New Zealand territory. The event took place in our member Rena Jarosewitsch’s jewellery gallery, atelier and shop in Frankfurt, called feinform.

It was indeed a pleasant, inspiring and much appreciated evening. GABC members and friends eagerly listened to Rena’s fascinating story, taking her all the way to New Zealand where she worked over a decade as a glass artist. Back in Germany, Rena switched careers to specialise in jewellery design: two distinct crafts with overlapping traits such as work with light and reflections. Rena has featured in various exhibitions around the world. Guests learnt about the craft of jewellery design whilst admiring Rena’s own beautiful collection, as well as those of her other national and international colleagues. It was also a perfect opportunity to discuss and network while enjoying a glass of delicious Australian wine. An all-round successful evening!

feinform

Rena Jarosewitsch

http://www.galerie-feinform.de

Weckmarkt 3, 60322 Frankfurt am Main

r.jarosewitsch@feinform.de

+49 (0)69 29 22 88

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Australian Indigenous Art Exhibition

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Sculpture Park Wesenberg, Künstler Bei Wu, Mecklenburg
Germany
Opening: Saturday June 24th

13:45 Welcoming drinks
14:00 Opening speeches 
14:30 Concert / A concert to celebrate the inauguration of the Australian Indigenous Art Centre
15:30 Viewing of the exhibition & cocktail
Download exhibition catalogue

With the support of the Australian Embassies in Paris & Berlin
and in collaboration with the programme of Australia now Germany 2017
Exhibition: 25 June – 31 October 2017
Tuesdays to sundays: 10:00 am –  4:00 pm

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Vacant position – Marketing and Member Relations Manager (Aust-UK Chamber of Commerce)

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The Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce is looking for someone to take on the role of Marketing and Member Relations Manager, an exciting position at the forefront of the Chamber’s community and activities. They’ll need to be a committed, adaptable and proactive individual with experience in marketing, strong people skills and a demonstrable understanding of Australia.

Further details can be found at the following address:

We’re hiring!