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Destination NSW is recruiting a new Business Development/Marketing Manager for their Frankfurt am Main office.
Further information regarding the position, including how to apply can be found here.
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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.
(L-R) Dietrich Klusemann, Irene Klusemann, Hon Andre Haermeyer
Speaker Frank Fuchs
(L-R) Susanne Muller and Kirsten Laupp
Susanne Stellberg from Visit Victoria
Guests networking
Grand prize winner Elizabeth Wood
Best Dressed Gentleman Uli Hein
Best Dressed Lady Bri Connelly
Council Chair Sabine Pittrof with Catherine Stephen
Excellent spread by Mantis Roofgarden
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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, with Board members of the German Australian Business Council, Sabine Pittrof and Evangelos Kotsopoulos.
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GABC corporate member Sonic Healthcare has announced two acquisitions in Germany, further expanding in the country´s clinical lab market and also continuing a focus on innovative technology.
Through the acquisition of Munich-based Staber Laboratory Group, Sonic gains around 1,000 new staff in 17 laboratory sites across the country. Founded in 1982, the Staber Group operates three well-established hub laboratories in Munich, Dresden and Kassel as well as regional, specialty and hospital labs.
In a separate move, Sonic increased its stake in GLP systems, an innovative technology company headquartered in Hamburg, to 80%. With ongoing support from Sonic Healthcare laboratories, GLP systems has developed a cutting-edge laboratory automation technology which has now reached the stage of international commercialization. This technology includes a modular track system with a revolutionary single-tube transport system on intelligent “cars” which dynamically transport patient specimen to and from diagnostic instruments, storage modules and work areas.
Sonic Healthcare laboratories in Hamburg, Berlin and Sydney acted as co-development and beta-sites for the evaluation of this technology which has meanwhile been installed in several external customer labs as well, including in the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Sonic Healthcare is the leading clinical laboratory group in Germany and employs over 5,500 staff in 40 laboratory sites. It offers referring physicians, hospitals and other customers the full spectrum of clinical diagnostics services ranging from routine blood testing to a complex and innovative genetics portfolio.
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Representatives of nine organisations belonging to the international ABIE (Australian Business in Europe) network met in Prague on 21st and 22nd October 2016. Hosted by ABIE Czech Republic in the marvellous surroundings of the Grandhotel Bohemia, delegates listened to member reports, resolved on governance and participation issues, and discussed potential policy topics that could warrant input from business groups. The meeting was also presented with a draft of the common umbrella website soon to go live. The meeting provided an excellent forum for the ABIE representatives to get to know each other after delegate changes in almost every affiliated organisation. A lot of momentum was created and possibilities for leveraging off each other and joint activities were discussed. Many thanks are due to the representatives of ABIE Czech Republic as the host and the EABC (European Australian Business Council) as the current coordinator for their splendid organisation of the meeting.
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The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is seeking a motivated and client-focused professional to join its team:
Business Development Manager (m/f)
Frankfurt
The incumbent will play a key role in attracting productive foreign direct investment to Australia and in supporting Australian businesses with market entry strategies.
This role involves:
The successful candidate has:
The successful candidate will enjoy an international working environment and a broad range of exciting and challenging tasks. Austrade is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For more information and to submit an application please follow the link below.
http://www.austrade.gov.au/InvMgrFRA
The closing date for applications is 23.30 hrs on Saturday, 19 November 2016.
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Official portrait Hon Hon Steven Ciobo MP
Australian Trade Minister, Hon. Steve Ciobo, apparently told members of the European Parliament on Thursday that the country would prioritise its planned free trade agreement with the European Union over that with the United Kingdom, according to a report on the politics.co.uk website.
The minister’s address to the Parliament can be found here. In it he does not mention the UK but talks of the fact that the European Union is Australia’s second largest trading partner, when taken as a bloc.
The UK and Australia have agreed to establish a working group on trade which will transition to full negotiations once the UK has formally left the European Union.
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The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP, today launched the EU‑Australia Leadership Forum at the headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels.
The Leadership Forum will provide a platform for leaders, senior and emerging, from the fields of business, media, non-governmental organisations, civil society, think tanks, politics and academia from both countries to collaborate on new ideas to promote and deepen the relationship between the European Union and Australia.
“Our relationship with Australia already benefits from high levels of cooperation, as you would expect from close partners”, said the High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini ahead of the launch. “I am hopeful that the Leadership Forum will help to bring together creative minds, of all ages and of all backgrounds, to take our cooperation still further”, she added.
“The Leadership Forum will encourage senior and emerging leaders across industries in Australia and the European Union to work together on ideas to further strengthen the Australia-EU relationship and promote close collaboration on addressing global challenges”, the Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop said.
The Leadership Forum will be composed of an EU-Australia Senior Leaders’ Forum, and an EU-Australia Emerging Leaders Forum, held back to back annually, alternately in Australia and in Europe, with the inaugural event to be hosted in Australia in the first half of 2017, and regular sectoral policy workshops covering topics including security, counter terrorism, trade, education, innovation, migration and development.
The launch of the Leadership Forum reflects the overall strengthening of relations between the European Union and Australia. Recent progress on an EU-Australia Framework Agreement, the joint scoping for a free trade agreement and now the Leadership Forum are exciting developments enhancing an already strong relationship. The High Representative also looked forward to welcoming Ms Bishop to Brussels on 4-5 October for the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan.
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The Australian Foreign Minister announced on 26 August 2016 the appointment of Ms Lynette Wood as Australia’s next Ambassador to Germany.
The Minister emphasised that Germany and Australia have a close and productive relationship, sharing common strategic and security objectives. She announced that the two countries will further strengthen our engagement on shared foreign, defence and security priorities through the inaugural 2+2 strategic dialogue between Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries, taking place in September.
Germany is Australia’s eleventh largest trading partner and fifth largest destination for foreign investment and she stated that Australia also looks forward to engaging with Germany throughout their G20 Presidency in 2017.
In Canberra, Ms Wood was First Assistant Secretary, International Division with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). She has served as Assistant Secretary, Middle East Branch and Executive Branch at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Ms Wood has also served overseas with postings in Canada and Germany.
Ms Wood holds a Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney.
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At the time of writing, all seats in the House of Representatives have been declared, except for Herbert (Queensland). In Hindmarsh (South Australia) the result is considered close and could be open to challenge. There are currently only 16 votes differences in Herbert between the two candidates, after preferences have been taken into account.
Whatever the result in Herbert – with the Liberal National Party currently ahead – the Liberal/National Coalition of Malcolm Turnbull will have a majority in the House of Representatives with at least 76 seats. Several of the cross-benchers / independents have indicated their support for the existing government.
The final results for the Senate will take some time due to the new voting system. Currently the coalition are predicted to win 30-31 seats and the labor party 26-27 seats. The Australian Greens will probably have 8-9 seats.