Ambassador’s Dinner, Berlin, June 2025

The Atrium of Australian Embassy in Berlin provided a fitting backdrop for the German-Australian Business Council’s flagship event, the Ambassador’s Dinner 2025. Welcoming over 100 members and guests, the evening was a celebration of our shared values and business culture, collaboration, and the ever-growing ties between Germany and Australia. Guests  enjoyed an exquisite three-course dinner while engaging in valuable networking and establishing new professional connections.

The evening was opened by our Co-Chair, Robert Harrison, who reflected on the importance of strengthening the German-Australian economic relationship.

We were honoured to hear from H.E. Ms Natasha Smith, Australian Ambassador to Germany, who highlighted our common challenges and ambitions, recent political developments in both countries, the importance of energy security, and the renewed momentum behind finalising the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Our Gold Sponsors, Sonic Healthcare and Vulcan Energy, provided inspiring insights into Australian business leadership in Germany. Evangelos Kotsopoulos, CEO of Sonic Healthcare Germany, reflected on the company’s 20 years of success in the country and announced a major new partnership with German family-owned company LADR Laborverbund Dr. Kramer. Representing Vulcan Energy, Cris Moreno, CEO of Vulcan Energy, shared the company’s pioneering vision for carbon-neutral lithium production – Europe’s first battery-grade lithium project and a lighthouse for sustainable industry.

We are also grateful to our Silver Sponsors: the Victorian State Government, Government of South Australia, and Trade and Investment Queensland as well as our Premium Sponsor, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, for their ongoing support.

The evening concluded with further networking and lively conversations at the art’otel Berlin, underscoring the spirit of collaboration and the strong business ties between Germany and Australia. We would also like to thank the Business Council board members and staff whose dedication and hard work made this flagship event possible, especially Jessica Walker, Kat Loughrey, Dietrich Klusemann and Suzanne Heim.