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Christmas Eisstockschießen, Munich, December 2022

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On 11 December, the German Australian Business Council hosted a small informal get-together at the Wirtshaus Zum Straubinger. In freezing temperatures we celebrated the festive season over mulled wine and with Eisstockschießen (curling). It was great to have an exclusive group of old and new members and friends in attendance.

Despite the low temperature, spirits were certainly high – the Glühwein may have helped!

We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

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Ambassador Dinner, Berlin, November 2022

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On Thursday, 10th November 2022 the Ambassador Dinner took place at the Australian Embassy in Berlin, as the final Silver Jubilee Signature Event of the German Australian Business Council (GABC), celebrating 25 years of connecting Germany and Australia.

The Business Council was very pleased to have the Australian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Philip Green as well as Evangelos Kotsopoulos, CEO of Sonic Healthcare and Paul Webster on behalf of Investment NSW as speakers. Also in attendance was special guests the NZ Ambassador to Germany, H.E Craig Hawke. Among excellent speakers in a broad range of topics, most notably insights on mutual benefits of a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the EU.

Special thanks to the event sponsors, Sonic Healthcare, Investment NSW and ANZ. Thanks also is extended to AFL Germany for their support and special gifts to the Ambassador, presented by Manuell Gauding and Theresa Kresse, as well as the Australian Embassy staff who hosted the great event.

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Business Council Strategy Meeting, Frankfurt, October 2022

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The German Australian Business Council board had a successful meeting in Frankfurt on 29 October discussing our new vision and future strategy. Looking forward to sharing details with our members in the next few months! Many thanks to our corporate member Squire Patton Boggs for hosting us.

Left to right: Elisabeth Opie, Sergej Bukovac, Kiki Loukas, Eberhard Goihl, Peirui Tan, Dalibor Vukadin, Sabine Pittrof, André Haermeyer, Dietrich Klusemann.

Pictures taken by our amazing office staff Katja Bockwinkel and Suzanne Heim.

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The Great Reassessment: Perspectives from Australia and Germany, Frankfurt, October 2022

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ingeniam and the German Australian Business Council were pleased to host a joint event, in celebration of their respective 20th and 25th anniversaries on 24th of October 2022 at the ingeniam facilities in Frankfurt.

Both speakers:

  • Stephan Breitfeld – Managing Partner, ingeniam, Frankfurt
  • Allan Laurie – Managing Partner, NOVUS Search Partners,  Sydney

provided insights into recent phenomena called Great Reassessment both from Australian and German perspectives.

Many employees and employers are reviewing their opportunities worldwide, as remote working is becoming more common. Nevertheless, the legal framework to facilitate the so-called “Nomad-Visas” between Germany and Australia, neede to be enhanced by their respective governments. For the time being, remote working is allowed within the EU, for a certain period of time, in order to keep the remote worker subject of taxation in the member state of origin.

In Australia remote working is allowed between the different states, as Allan illustrated, working for  Novus based in Sydney, from his home in Regional Victoria. He also mentioned that certain companies in Australia are currently hiring remote workers from Latin America.

Beside his time at Novus, Allan also provided insights as the Chief Executive Officer of Munarra – Australia’s First Indigenous Led University –  beginning the operation in 2024.

Stephan informed that the extended periods of remote working might increase the flexibility to take on new jobs opportunities, which on the other hand, might decrease the loyalty. Inclusive work environments and soft skills like empathy, vulnerability of the leadership are becoming more important. Moderated by the Deputy Chair, Sabine Pittrof, the attendees were given the opportunity to shape actively the discourse e.g. asking how blue collar workers are trying to shift from their presence jobs into remote working.

The participants let the event fade away in a relaxing, networking atmosphere.

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Ambassador Dinner, Munich, October 2022

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On Thursday, 6th October 2022 the Ambassador Dinner took place at the Adina Hotel in Munich, as the Silver Jubilee Signature Event of the German Australian Business Council (GABC) celebrating 25 years of connecting Germany and Australia and the starting event for the 1st Munich Australia Week.

The Business Council was very pleased to have the Australian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Philip Green and Mr Brian Martin from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. as speakers. Also in attendance were special guests Christoph Haider as the representative of the City of Munich as well as Gudrun Weidmann as reprentative of Invest in Bavaria. Among other interesting topics, the guests gained a deeper insight into how Australia and Germany might develop a long-term hydrogen partnership.

Particular recognition goes to Mr Ralf Klepper from SuonaVoce for his individual sponsorship of Mr William Barton, widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading didgeridoo player and artists. The attendees were enthralled by his performance and his willingness to share his cultural background. In this context a particular tribute has been paid to Indigenous people of Australia. Another event highlight was the testing of Australian Whisky offered by Lucas-Andreas Werner from Starward Whisky.

Special thanks to our the event sponsor ANZ. Thanks also is extended to the City of Munich and Starward Whisky for their support.

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Oktoberfest, Munich, September 2022

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On the 25th of September 2022, more than 150 participants from the Munich International Networking Groups attended the Oktoberfest Business Networking Event – which included the German Australian Business Council (GABC), American-German Business Club (AGBC), Swiss Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Irish Business Network (IBN). Business Council Members and guests enjoyed a traditional Oktoberfest menu at the Schottenhamel tent, raising glasses and singing along with the Bavarian folk music being performed on the central orchestra stage. There was also an opportunity for networking and discussion in person. Everybody enjoyed the special and joyful atmosphere.

   

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Silver Jubilee AFLG Exhibition Match, Berlin, September 2022

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The German Australian Business Council was proud to host an exhibition game with AFL Germany to celebrate its 25 year Silver Jubilee, at Jungfernheide Volkspark, Berlin on 17 September.

The German national team played a practice match in preparation for the European Championship in Zagreb in October. While the women’s team played a practice match against Poland.

The players, families, coaches and GABC members then enjoyed some networking over food and drinks after the match.

The GABC would like to thank AFL Germany for their ongoing support. Further information will be available regarding fundraising auction items to support AFL Germany.

     

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Official Opening of CSL Behring’s R&D Centre, Marburg, September 2022

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CSL Behring in Marburg has grown and grown that space for groundbreaking research were becoming tight and research talents were spread throughout the site. Thanks to R&D managing directors Vicky Pirzas and Lars Grönke and the investment of CSL global, the new M600 R&D centre has become a reality, bringing 500 CSL innovators together under one roof.

The CO2-neutral building is architecturally designed with future ways of activity-based working in mind and offers an inspiring environment with state-of-the-art laboratories. Coworking spaces combine collaborative and individual work situations through an open space design.

Marburg is an area of the world important to CSL as its CSL Behring business has an industry-leading manufacturing presence, and the company’s history is rooted in the town. There Emil von Behring, the first Nobel Prize in Medicine winner, pioneered the use of plasma to treat patients suffering from diphtheria. The science and innovation taking place in Marburg and across the region will drive further development of the region into a globally recognized innovation center

The German Australian Business Centre is very proud of having such a driver of innovation in its membership and thank Vicky Pirzas for inviting us to witness this momentous event.

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FEINFORM Summer Event, Frankfurt, 18 August 2022

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Members and friends of the German Australian Business Council enjoyed an informal summer networking event at Rena Jarosewitsch’s atélier FEINFORM in the beautiful Frankfurter ‘new Altstadt’, with delicious chocolates courtesy of Valrhona, natural wine from Nature’s Calling and a selection of delightful Australian drops from the AustralienWinestore.

Starting life training in glass art, Rena is a goldsmith and jewellery designer, as well as a long-time member of the Business Council. As well as the Rhein-Main region, she spent several years living and working in New Zealand, and exhibited in New Zealand, Australia, the USA as well as Germany. Her stain-glass windows can be found in churches and museums in Auckland and Christchurch.

She was delighted to be able to open her atélier FEINFORM in the newly renovated Altstadt in Frankfurt in 2018. Passionate in preserving history in the Frankfurter Alstadt, Rena immortalizes images of the Frankfurter Dom and its rose window on her latest pendant creation, as well as images of the buildings and streets (then and now) in her book of the Altstadt.

Valrhona believes in and the people behind the product, ensuring transparency to chocolate lovers of knowing the stories behind their delights. The people behind the product are just as important to Nature’s Calling, that anyone wanting to know can call a telephone number on their bottles.

Thank you, Rena, for hosting us and organising the yummy refreshments!

 

 

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Ambassadors’ Dinner, Frankfurt, July 2022

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On Monday, 4th July 2022 the Ambassadors’ Dinner took place as the Silver Jubilee Signature Event of the German Australian Business Council (GABC) celebrating 25 years of connecting Germany and Australia.

GABC was very pleased to have both the Australian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Philip Green, and the European Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Dr. Michael Pulch, attend and to have Tim Pallas, Member of the Victorian Government and Xavier Simonet, CEO of Austrade, as additional speakers. Guests heard about the significance of the Free Trade Agreement, a topic that the Business Council together with ABIE colleagues from around Europe will address in the coming months with Australian foreign and trade ministers.

Over 100 high level professional guests, including The Hon. Jaala Pulford came together at the Restaurant Opéra inside the Alte Oper building in Frankfurt to benefit from both the speakers’ insights as well as the high profile networking opportunity.

Special thanks to the event sponsors of the Victorian Government, ANZ, Coorong Apiaries and FrankfurtRheinMain, as well as Austrade, for their mutual support which helps drive such high profile events.