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Michael Rosemann – Munich’s first Breakfast Meeting

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

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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Christmas Networking Dinner Munich

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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The 2nd German Australian Business Council Oktoberfest Mittags Wies’n

The 2nd annual German Australian Oktoberfest Mittags Wies’n took place on 30 September 2016. 10 German Australian Business Council members and guests met at the Löwenbräu Festzelt and everybody enjoyed the unique atmosphere during lunch time.

Outside the typical Bavarian white blue sky could be seen and inside the tent we had nice music, some maß of beer and the obligatory Hendl.

New contacts and interesting talks took place.

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The 6th German Australian Business Council Oktoberfest Networking Event

The 6th German Australian Business Council Oktoberfest Event took place on 21 September 2016 and was proudly sponsored by our corporate member mic AG. 20 German Australian Business Council members and guests met at the Bräurosl Tent.

New contacts and interesting talks took place.

Everybody enjoyed the unique atmosphere at the Bräurosl tent until late at night.

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Before entering the Bräurosl tent.

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Starting the casual part…..

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German Australian Business Council Board Members Elisabeth Opie and Eberhard Goihl.

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Ambassador’s Dinner 2016

The Annual Ambassador’s Dinner was held on Monday 6th June at the Spatenhaus next to the Opera in Munich. We were delighted to be joined by the Australian Ambassador, H.E. Mr David Ritchie AO. We were also delighted to see so many of our members in attendance along with some of their corporate guests. We saw the typical Bavarian white-blue sky.

The evening commenced with pre-dinner drinks in the Maximiliansstube. We then moved to the Grosse Opern Stube for the dinner and speeches. Sabine Pittrof, Chair of the Board welcomed the attendees and his Excellency David Ritchie to the event as well as Rita Roider, the representative of the City of Munich.

We also had the pleasure to hear from Björn Behrendt, the German-Australian entrepreneur behind start-ups such as MadPaws, Luggage.co.nz, DocBook and ParcelPush Pty Ltd. Bjorn addressed us on the topic of „Innovation Playground Australia“ and shared his personal experience with innovative business start-ups.

The Ambassador’s speech focused on the topic of innovation as well as including information regarding the newly established landing pads in Berlin. Shanghai, Singapore, San Francisco and Tel Aviv. He also gave a status of implementation of the recommendations of the German Australian Advisory Group.

As he will leave Germany in July he concluded his speech with a comprehensive resume of his 41 years’ experience with Germany.

The GABC Board addressed a farewell and thanked him for his work and support as the patron of GABC in the last 2 and a half years.

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), 24 IP Law Group, Invest in Bavaria and Aesop supported the event. The German Australian Business Council would like to thank them once again for their ongoing support.

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Cross-border Succession Law and Asset Structuring

On 14 April 2016, Mario von Seelstrang, a partner, lawyer and tax advisor at the Munich based law firm FORUM Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Wirtschaftsprüfer gave a presentation about the current legal framework for cross-border succession and asset structuring. Mario’s presentation focused on expatriates, mixed nationality couples and German citizens with property interest in both Germany and Australia.

Due to some legislative changes that became effective in August 2015, Mario pointed out some important factors to consider in that context which led to a lively discussion while enjoying a typical Bavarian Brotzeit.

Larry Schulz from the American German Business Club was an interested attendee who contributed to the topic from his own experience at the American German Business Club. It was also great to have some of our new individual members with us for whom it was their first German Australian Business Council event and who provided very positive feedback.

We are delighted to announce that we are currently planning a similar event on the topic in Frankfurt and possibly Berlin. So look out for further information either by email or on our website.

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Australia Day Networking Event in Munich

“Collaborate and cooperate” was the theme of this year’s Australia Day celebration in Munich, sponsored by the Bavarian government’s Invest-in-Bavaria agency. Opening the event, the Hon André Haermeyer, former Victorian Government minister and Deputy Chair of the German Australian Business Council, emphasised the close and developing relationship between the Australia and Germany and highlighted the work of the advisory group set up by the two countries to foster and develop relationship between the two countries.

André was followed by a talk by Dr. Peter Moar of La Trobe University in Melbourne who highlighted with Dr. Andreas Eckhard some of their joint work with the German Aerospace Centre DLR and Dr. Moar’s push to put Australian students into German industry. The talk was met with a great deal of interest from the approximately 40 participants as Peter explained the advantages of their joint work and some of the frustrations in funding commercial opportunities. It was an inspiring talk as Peter and Andreas suggested ways forward for collaboration.

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Coral Covey Jewellry

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Coral Covey at 1st Entrepreneur’s Tisch, Munich

Laura Deakin, Australian jeweller and founder of Coral Covey jewellery was host for the 1st Entrepreneur’s Tisch organized by GABC on 30 November this year.  The evening took place at her pop-up exhibition in Munich, and was attended by Munich GABC members and friends.

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Penelope Richardson introduced the event with a few words about the value of creative industries to vitalizing cities and their economies. In the last decade cities that have embraced their creative sector have seen significant growth as well as renewal, such as Berlin, Leipzig and Melbourne.

According to the  ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) at the Queensland University of Technology  Australia the ‘the creative sector employ more than 5% of the workforce in Australia and encompasses advertising and marketing, architecture, design and visual arts, traditional arts, film, TV newspapers and radio, music and performing arts, publishing, software and digital content’. Creative businesses can take many forms and sizes. But they all have to start somewhere.

Members and friends had an opportunity to see the handmade silver jewellery unique to Coral Covey, to hear about Laura’s business idea and the philosophy underpinning it, acquire insight into getting the Munich start-up off the ground and get an understanding of the making processes.

Many questions were asked about the process of making the jewellery along with an interest in the knowing about Laura’s Australian/German connection and her studies at the Munich art academy. Participants also had a chance to see the work of Scottish printmaker, Freya Cummings, who showed her textiles, cards and fine art prints alongside Coral Covey, both eco-friendly businesses.

A great beginning to the new GABC Entrepreneur’s Tisch.

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC

Coral Covey GABC 1st Entrepreneur's Tisch

Coral Covey GABC 1st Entrepreneur's Tisch

Coral Covey Jewellry
Coral Covey jewellery & GABC 1st Entrepreneur’s Tisch

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Aesop Shop Opening

German Australian Business Council in Munich welcomes Aesop ….

 

On October 15 Aesop opened its first signature store in Munich. Visitors were able to explore and select from a complete range of skin, hair and body care products, distinguished by botanical and laboratory-generated ingredients of the highest quality.

Aesop was founded in Melbourne in 1987.

German Australian Business Council Board members Elisabeth Opie, Penelope Richardson, Rob Harrison and Eberhard Goihl were invited to examine the extraordinary facility located in the Luitpoldblock.

AESOP

Pascale Thouzery (Aesop Head of Marketing), Penelope Richardson (German Australian Business Council Board), Elisabeth Opie (German Australian Business Council Board)