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Expat in the City Fair 2017 in Munich

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On Sunday 11 March, The German Australian Business Council participated in the Expat in the City Fair in Munich for the first time.

The Expat in the City Fair was a one-day event full of information and inspiration for all internationals living in Munich. Questions about topics such as finances, insurances, education, daycare, expat life, job search and fun things to do in the Munich area were all answered at the fair – all in one day and all under one roof at the BMW Welt.

More than 2700 visitors came looking for and found all the great information and inspiration provided for them.

We had a lot of interesting conversations and found many new contacts and business opportunities.

Rita Roider, City of Munich opened the fair

German Australian Business Council Board members Eberhard Goihl and Rob Harrison ran the booth together with Susanne Schierok and Dali Vukadin.

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Michael Rosemann – Munich’s first Breakfast Meeting

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How can we use idle spaces? That was one of the questions proved by Prof. Michael Rosemann, honorary German Consul in Brisbane, and Head of the Information Systems School at the Queensland University of Technology in a recent meeting in Munich. Michael inaugurated what will hopefully become a regular series of informal „Boomerang Breakfasts“ in the city. He explained how we need to use or refuse facilities that are lying idle for other purposes – for example toilets to measure the health of their users? He is interested in how we can better exploit infrastructure for uses for which it was not designed.

Michael is also interested in supporting young entrepreneurial companies. He looks at twinning up startup hubs in various cities, which lead to a discussion of Munich’s advantages over Berlin (the location of Australia’s start up landing pad). As one of the participants pointed out, Berlin might be good for IT, but Bavaria and Southern Germany has more traditional industry that are starting to reach out and look for opportunities.

Michael also wants to reach out into the wider community in Brisbane and promote Germany. He’s working on German weeks in the city and supporting German language clubs for students and teachers. He is also extremely excited about a German-Australia Startup summit being organised in November in Brisbane.

A great speaker and we hope that we can have him back soon.

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Australia Day Business Networking Event in Munich

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The German Australian Business Council kicked off its 20th anniversary and first official event of 2017 in Munich with our Australia Day Business Networking Event at the Academy of the Martini Club Munich.

We were pleased to have Gabi Thye from Wacker Chemie AG as guest speaker. Gabi is a globally experienced Executive Business Manager in the chemical industry with assignments in Europe, North America, Greater China and Australia. Gabi and attendees shared German-Australian experiences at the event in the spirit of celebrating Australia day.

Eberhard Goihl, German Australian Business Council Board member highlighted in his welcome the ‘Australianow2017 initiative’ and launched the new ABIE International website. Abie.eu is a collaboration between the different ABIE groups – currently Australia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, United Kingdom – and provides a common platform highlighting various initiatives taking place across Europe.

25 attendees enjoyed the event in an excellent environment with a Flying Buffet and special Cocktails.

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Australia Day Business Networking Lunch in Frankfurt

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The German Australian Business Council kicked off its 20th anniversary and first official event of 2017 with our Australia Day Business Networking Lunch at the newly opened Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt.

Our special guest all the way from Sydney was Mr Jason Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the European Australian Business Council, who provided us with a thorough background and fascinating insights into the proposed Australia – European Union Free Trade Agreement. The session sparked off a great deal of discussion among the 35 participants as they debated the opportunities and challenges of the proposed agreement.

Mr Richard York, fellow member of the Australian Business in Europe network, ABIE Czech Republic also joined the event to launch the new ABIE International website. Abie.eu is a collaboration between the different ABIE groups – currently Australia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, United Kingdom – and provides a common platform highlighting various initiatives taking place across Europe.

Those in attendance were also treated to an Australian menu comprising fresh seafood, lamb, and Pavlova specially created by the Adina team.

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Australia Day Reception at the Australian Embassy

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German Australian Business Council board members took part and networked on the occasion of the Australia Day reception at the Australian Embassy Berlin. In her speech, Ambassador to Germany Ms Lynette Wood pointed out the latest achievements in Australian German relations as well as prospects for the future. Highlights among others during the last year were various visits by members of the government to Germany showing the strong ties between the two countries. Among the prospects for the future is a great number of cultural events of the Australia Now 2017 campaign. This outlook as well as the embracing hospitality of the ambassador and the staff of the Australian Embassy Berlin once again showed our members that Australia is a close friend rather than a distant nation.

 

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Christmas Business Networking Reception in Frankfurt

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To mark the start of the festive season, the German Australian Business Council was given the privilege of holding the annual Christmas event at the residence of the Australian Consul General, Richard Leather, in Frankfurt.

The Consul General warmly welcomed German Australian Business Council members and their friends into this intimate environment and as on many occasions before, proved to be an excellent host.

The elegant yet festive soundtrack to this evening was provided by one of the German Australian Business Council members  – Cherokee Bech, an Australian DJ now resident in Frankfurt. Australian wine accompanied the excellent catering for the evening, making the networking all that more enjoyable!

Our chair, Sabine Pittrof also gave a brief overview of the past year’s events, major topics and changes to the association. We welcomed a number of new members on this occasion, joining us for the first time in one of our regular events and coming from as far away as Hamburg just for this occasion.

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Australian Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner in Frankfurt, Richard Leather welcomes our members and their friends to his residence.

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German Australian Business Council Chair, Sabine Pittrof giving an overview of our engagements and successes in 2016.

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German Australian Business Council members and their friends networking and enjoying a festive evening at the Consul General’s residence.

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Christmas Networking Dinner Munich

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On December 15 the German Australian Business Council invited members and friends to a joint Christmas Networking Dinner together with the Munich based Anglo Bavarian Club (ABC). As in previous years it was an ideal opportunity to meet new people and discuss the 2016 events as well as the basics for 2017. There was a fantastic buffet and everybody enjoyed the pre-Christmas atmosphere.

One highlight was the chorus of all participants singing two Christmas songs conducted by Hamish Douglas, the chairman of the ABC.

Some impressions from the event below.

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German Australian Business Council at Down Under Fair in Stuttgart

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On November 25, 2016 GOstralia!-GOzealand! held the Career, Studies and Research in Australia and New Zealand Fair in Stuttgart. The fair was in cooperation with Austrade, Education New Zealand and Baden-Württemberg International. The German Australian Business Council also supported. German Australian Business Council Board Members Melanie Töpfer and Evangelos Kotsopoulos were part of the speakers and shared their experiences with the attendees, Board Member Eberhard Goihl was responsible for the German Australian Business Council booth which was beside the stands of main universities of Australia and New Zealand.

It was a big opportunity to make German Australian Business Council available to a big group of young people.

The feedback was overwhelming.

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Melbourne Cup Business Networking Dinner in Frankfurt

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On 1 November 2016, over 50 of our German Australian Business Council members and friends gathered at the Mantis Roofgarden in Frankfurt for a touch of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Guests enjoyed an Aussie-style BBQ buffet while listening to a presentation on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Dr Frank Fuchs. This was followed by a presentation by Susanne Stellberg from Visit Victoria and a delayed telecast of the race.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Wood from Clifford Chance LLP who was the lucky winner of our sweepstake, which included a return Emirates flight to Melbourne, two Victoria Racing Club passes to the AAMI Victoria Derby Day and Emirates Melbourne Cup Day 2017, and a night’s accommodation at the Fraser Place Melbourne.

Other stylish winners included Uli Hein from Thai Airways for his rebel outfit in the Best Dressed Gentleman category, kindly sponsored by Bob’s Fine Wines; and Bri Connelly from Deutsche Flugsicherung for her elegant hat in the Best Dressed Lady category, kindly sponsored by the Australien Wine Store.

The German Australian Business Council expresses our appreciation to our generous sponsors and partners for the successful evening: Aesop, Australien Wine Store, Bob’s Fine Wines, Emirates, Fraser Place Melbourne, Victoria Racing Club, and Visit Victoria.

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(L-R) Dietrich Klusemann, Irene Klusemann, Hon Andre Haermeyer

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Speaker Frank Fuchs

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(L-R) Susanne Muller and Kirsten Laupp

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Susanne Stellberg from Visit Victoria

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Guests networking

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Grand prize winner Elizabeth Wood

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Best Dressed Gentleman Uli Hein

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Best Dressed Lady Bri Connelly

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Council Chair Sabine Pittrof with Catherine Stephen

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Excellent spread by Mantis Roofgarden

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Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP visits Berlin

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At the occasion of the Minister Julie Bishop´s state visit to Germany, the Australian Embassy in Berlin hosted an evening reception on 6 September which was attended by several GABC members. The Minister led an Australian Government delegation to attend the first German-Australian “2+2” consultations. This new format brings together the two country´s respective Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence and was attended by Minister Julie Bishop, the Australian Minister for Defence, The Hon Marise Payne, and their German counterparts Federal Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

In her speech to the evening reception´s guests, Minister Julie Bishop also announced the program of the 2017 Australia now initiative. This year-long series of predominantly cultural events seeks to highlight Australia´s creativity and power of innovation. Dubbed a “celebration of Australia´s culture in Germany”, the program will raise Australia´s profile in Germany and highlight the country´s cultural richness and diversity.

Julie Bishop, Foreign Minister of Australia, attends a reception at the Australian Embassy. Berlin, 06.09.2016. Copyright: Adam Berry/photothek.net

Julie Bishop, Foreign Minister of Australia, with Board members of the German Australian Business Council, Sabine Pittrof and Evangelos Kotsopoulos.