AmCham - Access Autumn 2016

Issue 4 Autumn 2016 American Chamber of Commerce OďŹƒcial Magazine

Offshore Technology Conference 2016

Digital News: Social Media for Business

Success: Renewable Energy

Page 10

Page 8

Page 6

Contents

Issue 4 Autumn 2016 American Chamber of Commerce Official Magazine

American Chamber of Commerce Head Office : Suite 9, Ground Level 88 Cumberland Street Sydney NSW 2000

Foreword 2

P: 02 8031 9000 E: nsw@amcham.com.au W: www.amcham.com.au AmCham offices in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide Published by:

ABN: 57 074 729 007 PO Box 824 Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 P: 1800 222 757 F: 1800 063 151

10

Cover Feature: Offshore Technology Conference 2016

AmCham Australia are orchestrating their 18th successive trade mission to the Offshore Oil and Gas Conference in Houston in May 2016.

Welcome 4 Big Picture:

Why the World’s Most Successful Companies Have Turned to Renewable Energy

Digital News:

Social Media for Business Offshore Technology Conference 2016

10

Women in Leadership: Kate Burleigh of Intel Australia 12

Trade and Government – A Snapshot

W: www.crowtherblayne.com.au

Lifestyle:

Production Controller: Yvonne Okseniuk

8

Cover Story:

E: publications@ crowtherblayne.com.au

Editor: Samantha Regan

6

14

Hilton Sydney 16

Podcast:

What is Driving Change in the Energy Sector?

18

Business Development Manager: Trish Riley

Energy and Resources – A Snapshot

20

Design Team: Andrew Crabb, Michelle Triana and Danny McGirr

Committee Round Up

22

AmCham New Zealand

25

State Round Up

26

Printed By: Newstyle Printing

Access Autumn 2016 1

Foreword

Welcome to 2016’s first edition of Access Maureen Dougherty, Chairman AmCham Australia President, Boeing Australia and South Pacific

For many American companies operating here in Australia, we picked up this year where we left off in 2015: focused on innovation.

The Commonwealth’s release of the National Innovation & Science Agenda last year is a significant step forward for business in Australia. When I speak with business leaders here and back in the US, there is an undeniable feeling of excitement and promise about doing business in Australia.

2 www.amcham.com.au

Much of that enthusiasm is related to innovation. Many of us who are involved with AmCham also work for an innovative company, and it’s important to remember that innovation doesn’t always generate a shiny new product. Sometimes, it’s a business model that is innovative. Or, perhaps, it’s an innovative process. Maybe it’s a single person who thinks about the world a little bit differently than his or her peers.

In fact, innovation comes in all shapes and sizes. That’s what makes it such a great area for Australian and US companies to collaborate on over the long term.

That was a message a number of us from AmCham heard as we participated in the Australia United States Business Week in February, led by the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Special Envoy for Trade and Investment, and Assistant Minister for Innovation Hon Wyatt Roy. With briefings from such notable companies as HP, GE, Airbnb, Andreessen Horowitz, and NASDAQ, it was a really thought-provoking week of engagement and dialogue between government, business and universities who are all operating at the tip of the innovation spear.

It wa s a g reat sta r t for t he yea r for AmCham and the Australian-US business community.

Welcome

From the USA in February to China in April – and then to Washington Niels Marquardt, CEO AmCham Australia

Welcome to this first edition of Access for 2016. Henceforth, Access will appear quarterly. We at AmCham are proud of Access and hope you will enjoy it either online or in its printed version.

It is meant to celebrate the USAustralia commercial relationship with in-depth articles and other coverage of specific examples of how that relationship is working on both sides of the Pacific. Let me know what you think, and feel free to make suggestions on content you would like to see in it.

4 www.amcham.com.au

In each edition, we will tell you what AmCham is up to. Trade missions and other business travel are important elements of our fulfilment of the AmCham mission, bridging the vast ocean joining Australia and America, and also joining Australia with the rest of the Asia-Pacific Regions.

AmCham was delighted to be part of the Australia-US Business Week led by former Trade & Investment Minister Andrew Robb in February. AUSBW visited seven major American cities over a 10day span. AmCham was well represented at AUSBW with four of our nine Directors: President Maureen Dougherty of Boeing, Director Geoff Culbert of GE, Director Bill Townsend of INPEX, and myself. NSW/ACT General Manager Robert Hossary also participated in the AUSBW visits to San Francisco and Houston. This demonstrated AmCham’s commitment to supporting government initiatives that can add so much to private sector connections made by our members. It was especially impressive to be in San Francisco with newly-appointed Ambassador Joe Hockey and five other actual or former ministers: Andrew Robb, his successor as Trade & Investment Minister Steve Ciobo (who delivered the keynote on his very first day in that role), Health Minister Sussan Ley, Assistant Innovation Minister Wyatt Roy MP, and NSW Trade Minister Stuart Ayres. The ballroom full of American and Australian business leaders was clearly impressed by such a demonstration of Australian engagement with its leading economic partner, the United States.

This month, AmCham is off to another critical Australian trading partner, China. As members of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of

Commerce (APCAC), we are delighted that this year’s annual APCAC Business Summit is taking place in Beijing, April 14-15. Concerns about Chinese growth, stock market and currency fluctuations, and the overall stability of economic conditions there make this a very interesting time to visit China’s political capital. Our sister AmCham in Beijing has organized a terrific program intended to unlock critical secrets, impart valuable insights, and provide unparalleled access to decision-makers in China. As this goes to press, we hope to have with us a significant delegation of AmCham-Australia members keen to understand better both the threats and opportunities presented by this enormous but often challenging market.

We are also preparing our next APCAC Washington Doorknock, June 21-24 in the American capital. Every year AmChams from around the region lobby Congress on the “3 T’s” -- trade, travel, and taxation issues that affect our members. This year will be especially interesting given the crazy US electoral process that will be nearing the convention stage for both parties. The surprisingly successful candidacy of Donald Trump on the Republican side of American politics perhaps adds a “4th T” of deep interest to many members (and, dare I say, concern to others). Whatever your politics, consider joining AmCham on this fascinating insiders’ trip into the heart of the US political system, with calls not just on Capitol Hill but also visits to key members of the Obama administration, think tankers, and business associations. This trip will give you an uncommon grasp of what is really happening there and what it could mean for Australia and the region.

Is your IP delivering?

An essential part of any innovative company is having a nuanced IP strategy: one that builds value, remains aligned to growth and is cost-effective.

Organisations get most from their intellectual assets when they are effectively leveraged, not just managed.

For over 150 years Watermark has been helping the world’s best innovators and brand owners to build competitive advantage through their IP. Our involvement in AmCham’s Innovation Committee reflects our commitment and contribution to innovative industries from grass roots to global enterprises.

Let us know if we can help you too.

OUR SERVICES

OUR LOCATIONS

GET IN TOUCH

• • • • •

Victoria T +61 3 9819 1664

E mail@watermark.com.au W watermark.com.au B intellectualassetmanagement.com.au

Patents & Designs Trade Marks IP Legal IP Advisory Competitive Business Intelligence

New South Wales T +61 2 9888 6600 Western Australia T +61 8 9325 1900

Big Picture

Why the World’s Most Successful Companies Have Turned to Renewable Energy Freddy Sharpe, CEO Climate Friendly

The way the world creates and uses energy has been in the spotlight and the Climate Change negotiations in Paris last year have given global economies another boost to increase clean electricity production. Governments all over the world are striving to find solutions that curb their countries’ carbon emissions.

To reduce emissions effectively in the long-term, governments must work together with businesses to transform the fossil fuel dependent energy sector.

Germany’s ‘Energiewende’ (energy transformation) and Obama’s Clean Power Plan show that the way we produce and consume energy can be changed. If the USA and Germany can change, so can Australia.

The right set of policies can stimulate investments in clean energy and Australia has the opportunity to showcase innovative technologies such as generating electricity from ocean waves and to install large-scale wind and solar farms to harvest energy from nature. Rooftop solar and battery storage will also transform energy production and the way we use the electricity grid in the next decades.

The Burning Question is:

How well will we do it?

Companies are diversifying their own energy mix for several reasons. They want to hedge against volatile energy prices, protect themselves from shortages in energy supply, take advantage of falling renewable energy technology costs and source renewable energy to achieve their sustainability targets.

HERE ARE FOUR OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO COMPANIES IN AUSTRALIA: POWER PURCHASE

GREENPOWER

AGREEMENTS

ROOFTOP SOLAR

6 www.amcham.com.au

GOLDPOWER

Big Picture

While Government policies and incentives are important, corporate Australia is also vital to driving this change. Companies can choose how they want to create, purchase and use energy. While investments in renewable energy have stalled recently, we can once again look to countries like Germany or the USA. American companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft and others are leaders in sourcing renewable energy for their operations around the world.

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) In Australia, compared to other countries, electricity is expensive and network costs are significant. Many organisations are now putting solar PV on the roofs of their facilities. An excellent approach, but one that reduces their fossil fuel consumption by only a fraction.

The market has considerable potential to follow the American market with PPAs and Australian and international businesses can reap the benefits from entering into long-term power purchases that hedge them against rising electricity costs. But how can it be done?

Companies with significant electricity consumption can now enter a direct purchase agreement with a wind farm or solar farm operator. While the energy is still distributed through the grid, the price for the electricity is locked in for 10 years or more and protects the buyer from rising electricity costs. The buyer also acquires the environmental attributes (Renewable Energy Cer-

tificates) from the renewable energy purchase and can therefore, report lower emissions under their local and global reporting requirements such as National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER), National Carbon Offset Standard and CDP reporting.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) Companies that don’t want to enter long-term contracts or have a high capital expenditure on their own rooftop solar system can demonstrate their sustainability credentials by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates. RECs are available in many forms and many countries. In Australia, RECs are typically known as GreenPower and bought and sold based on spot prices which have surged to over $80 per MWh in recent months. Internationally, there’s a variety of renewable energy products available that are based on international standards, including GoldPower, a REC product available at a fraction of the cost of GreenPower but with many of the same features and benefits.

Climate Friendly is a founding member of the Business Renewables Center established with the Rocky Mountain Institute and helps companies globally to access the renewable energy that’s right for them. The company is also well known for its high quality suite of climate change solutions internationally and in Australia.

To find out more about Climate Friendly v isit: www.climatefriendly.com, or get in touch on +61 2 9356 3600.

Access Autumn 2016 7

Digital News

Social Media for Business: 4 Power Platforms Georgina Evans, National Marketing Manager, AmCham Australia

The way we communicate has changed and is constantly changing.

Instead of the traditional marketing channels that ‘pushed’ our messages to our audiences, we can invite them to participate and engage with our brand, products and services in an open online dialogue.

Platform 1 – LinkedIn LinkedIn is a powerful B2B marketing tool. It is a transmedia storytelling platform. Think of LinkedIn as your own television station where you run all the controls. You can post video, imagery, self - published articles, share important links and engage through Groups or Slide Share. Groups are a way to reach networks of influence and to be seen as an influencer. Slide Share is a visual format that integrates infographics, documents or filmed content into an informative presentation.

You can establish yourself as a thought leader on subjects that are relevant to your clients through the multifaceted LinkedIn platform. Recently, LinkedIn has introduced sponsored updates so your company can target and reach more people and attract new followers, similar to Facebook boosted posts.

Platform 2 – Twitter Twitter is one of the greatest networking tools ever created. Twitter gives every voice the ability to echo around the world instantly. It is a living hub of real time interactivity. Twitter’s magic lies in the way it is used. The most effective way to maximise its potential is to authentically communicate with content that is relevant and helpful to your followers. Great content is retweeted by followers and pushed out to their own networks. It is the most ‘real time’ conversation tool out of all social media platforms. People want to know how much you care not how much you know, so tagging and retweeting your followers goes a long way to fuelling your conversations. The most successful interaction occurs when followers like, know and trust you and hence engage in conversations with your brand.

8 www.amcham.com.au

Platform 4 - YouTube The paradox of digital media is that users are trying to feel more human through using it. Post millennials who are our future leaders, especially look to connect and interact through video. YouTube and increasingly SnapChat (instant video messaging app) are the platforms providing this human to human link. YouTube is the second biggest website in the world and a catalyst for sharing rich media and developing connections that last. YouTube has one of the highest conversion rates of any other social site, and is a persuasive tool in generating business and driving sales. Quick tip for YouTube – talk about a problem, offer a solution, end with a call to action.

TIPS Touch Them 7 Times – Based on an old marketing adage which states that someone needs to see or hear from you seven times before they trust you and take action. Touch them 7 times across one or all of your social media touchpoints.

Platform 3 - Facebook According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Facebook has now reached 15 million users in Australia, meaning 62.5% of the population has a Facebook account.

Facebook content is often a mixture of original and shared content. Creating engaging and ‘shareable’ content is how Facebook can generate the most traction with your audiences. One thing to note, however, is while Facebook is possibly the most powerful social media tool (there are 1.01bn daily active users on the platform worldwide), you now need to boost your posts to reach your audience, even if they already ‘like’ your page. The benefit of this is Facebook also boasts comprehensive targeting tools, whereby you can segment and market to audiences that have already shown interest in the service or product you provide. Facebook allows you to run in depth analytics measuring reach, engagement (likes, comments and shares) and link clicks, to tell you which content your audience is responding well to.

Information Marketing – The more information you can provide for free on a regular basis builds a solid relationship with your followers. It generates trust along with conversions. They appreciate what you have offered them and want to give back, as well as learn more from you.

Relevance – Don’t republish the same content on every platform. Establish a specific tone of voice for each platform relevant to the target audience within your overarching brand identity. Quality posts are preferable over quantity.

Curate Your Content – Even if you are just sharing a link, add in your thoughts or opinion – say why you think the article or post is interesting. People are far more likely to click on the link if there is a personal recommendation from you.

Develop a Strategy – Create a monthly content strategy. Ensure your messaging is relevant and consistent by planning your content in advance with a clear schedule you can stick to. Be responsive to customer feedback, be it positive or negative. Transparency and conversation are the most important points to gaining your audience’s trust.

“Caring for the world, one person at a time” inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson.

We embrace research and science bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people.

OUR FAMILY OF COMPANIES COMPRISES: • The world’s largest and most diverse medical devices company • The world’s premier consumer health company • The world’s fifth largest biologics company, and • The world’s eighth-largest pharmaceuticals company Globally, Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies has more than 250 operating companies in 60 countries employing approximately 129,000 people. Johnson & Johnson has been operating in Australia since 1931.

Our primary focus is to make life-changing, long-term difference to human health by targeting the major health-related issues in Australia and New Zealand.

Johnson & Johnson Medical produces a range of innovative products and solutions used primarily by health care professionals in the fields of orthopaedics, neurological disease, vision care, diabetes care, infection prevention, diagnostics, cardiovascular disease, and aesthetics. We are the largest medical technology provider in Australia selling to more than 1,000 customers. Across Australia and New Zealand, we employ more than 950 people.

Working across both the public and private sectors, Johnson & Johnson is significantly invested in providing products and services to support the health of Australians. We have more than 30 major new products undergoing a regulatory submission in the next two years. These products will further improve patient outcomes and expand our market leadership while facilitating the development of new business models.

INNOVATION AT JOHNSON & JOHNSON Johnson & Johnson believes that innovation is critical to our mission of caring and saving lives. We are uniquely positioned to lead the advancement of health care delivery by developing customer-focused solutions and collaborating to bring innovation to life. We believe this will help us to develop new products and total solutions for patients and health care providers.

Globally, our commitment to innovation continues to deliver strong results for the business, with more than 85% of key platforms in #1 or #2 leadership positions across general and plastic surgery, orthopaedics, neurology, bariatric surgery, infection prevention, urology, gynaecology, sports medicine, cardiovascular disease.

Locally, Johnson & Johnson Medical embraces innovation through local partnerships and programs that help shape the medical technology industry. Our innovation activities harness the expertise of industry and community peers, with the strong belief that together, we are stronger.

Johnson & Johnson Pty Ltd | 1-5 Khartoum Road | North Ryde | NSW | 2113

JJM201505_9

Cover Story

Offshore Technology Conference 2016 Penelope Williamson, General Manager WA, AmCham Australia

In keeping with the Chamber’s objective to provide access for Australian companies by connecting them to the world stage, AmCham Australia is orchestrating the 18th successive trade mission to the world’s largest Offshore Oil and Gas Conference (OTC), being held in Houston in May.

Founded in 1969, the annual Offshore Technology Conference is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge, for offshore resources and environmental matters.

In 2015, more than 94,700 attendees from 130 countries gathered at the conference, demonstrating OTC’s position as the leading forum for exchanging ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for the safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable development of offshore oil and gas resources.

In recent years OTC has expanded technically and globally through the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brazil and OTC Asia.

Each year the AmCham delegation, made up of representatives from 30 Australian companies, travels to Houston via destinations that add value to delegates. This year the delegates will go via Dallas-Fort Worth to attend site visits with major U.S. companies such as Lockheed Martin.

In Houston delegates will benefit from Global Head Office personal introductions and briefings to U.S.A. companies, including Chevron and ConocoPhillips as well as a variety of functions and meetings to facilitate networking with international contacts at a senior level.

10 www.amcham.com.au

Cover Story

Speaking of the trade mission as a former, and current delegate, John Slade, Business Development and Marketing Manager of Lockforce says: “The experience of attending the AmCham trade delegation to OTC Houston in 2015 was insightful, educational and inspiring, and I am looking forward to more of the same this year.

“The schedule was busy but completely relevant, providing unparalleled access to industry briefings, networking and business development opportunities such as those delivered by sponsors Chevron and INPEX, and senior representatives of Schlumberger and Baker Hughes.

“We were also fortunate enough to receive a presentation on Global Energy Trends projected to 2030 from Exxon Mobil, and were welcomed to Dallas by representatives from Y-TEXAS, which is a membership association comprised of chief executives who are relocating or expanding their businesses into the state of Texas.”

When asked about Lockforce’s motivation for participating in the trade mission for a second year, Slade says: “In the current operating environment, cost minimisation and the ability to remain relevant and necessary within the supply chain has become critical. There is an increased need to market strategically, particularly on a relationship basis. This means being face to face with key prospects to fully explain the safety and strategic security risk assessment services we deliver in Australia and South East Asia, and what makes us different to competitors.”

Penelope Williamson, General Manager of AmCham Western Australia and convenor of the trade mission, understands the importance of developing these networks, effectively ensuring that there are pre-departure opportunities for delegates to meet and communicate their key services and objectives to fellow attendees.

“While not every delegate will offer new business potential, they are in related fields and able to provide insight, awareness of

trends and key industry drivers,” says Williamson, “and more importantly, they are all able to act as extensions of the whole Australian contingent while in Houston.”

In addition to the opportunities created by AmCham, both in Australia and overseas, delegates are exposed to OTC speakers including major, independent and national oil companies; federal and regional government officials; and academics—presenting their views on a wide variety of topics, including future industry directions, operational integrity and risk management.

With 2016 being the tenth attendance of the OTC, the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) is the longest serving attendee of this particular AmCham initiative. Business Development Manager of the AMC, Gordon Milner says: “The OTC trade mission provides an invaluable opportunity for us to raise awareness of the unique landside and waterside capabilities of AMC. “With international credentials for the repair, maintenance and construction of naval and commercial vessels, as well as infrastructure for the fabrication and assembly of offshore oil and gas modules, the AMC facilities are easily positioned as a world-class centre for manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, maintenance and technology development, servicing the marine,

defence and resource industries, and the OTC provides the ideal platform to do that.”

Houston is home to more than 5,000 energy related firms, and with a broad industrial base in the energy, aeronautics, and technology industries, is considered to be the Energy Capital of the world.

“AMC have spent months researching and establishing a complimentary calendar of site visits with major US companies and meetings with prospects, and the AmCham trade mission has made it possible, adds Milner.”

In addition to the renowned conference, OTC offers over 650,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to offshore products and services available from companies around the globe.

Other OTC initiatives include the Rice Alliance Startup Roundup, an event whereby emerging companies have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors. The event offers a great opportunity for attendees to learn more about these startups and enable potential partnerships and investments.

AmCham’s delegation has the endorsement of the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of Western Australia, as well as the support of the major Sponsors and industry supporters.

Access Autumn 2016 11

Women in Leadership

Kate Burleigh, Managing Director, Intel Australia Kate Burleigh is Managing Director for Intel Australia / New Zealand.

Kate is responsible for Intel’s overall business within Australia and New Zealand and is committed to ensuring Intel’s customers benefit from the diverse breadth of products and services the company offers; from personal computing, the cloud and big data solutions, to the Internet of Things and data security offerings.

12 www.amcham.com.au

Women in Leadership

With a strong reputation in high-tech sales and brand marketing built over a 20-year career, Kate is passionate about the potential for technology to vastly improve how we live, work, and play within this increasingly connected world. She is a strong advocate for boosting educational efforts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) and advocates the need for smart government policy and industry leadership on how we harness technology to drive innovation.

Kate sits on the board of the Australian IT Industry Association (AIIA) and is deputy-chair of the National i-Awards steering committee. Additionally, Kate sits on the Camp Quality board.

Kate holds a Masters of Business and Marketing from University of Technology Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sydney University. She lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters.

What do you believe is driving change in the IT sector?

“One of the biggest drivers currently is SMAC (Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud) all of which enable optimal data collection and analysis as well as operational efficiency and significant cost reductions.

“The expansion of connectivity and the popularity of smartphones has increased investment in the Internet of Things as well.”

What do you feel has been your greatest career accomplishment to date and how did it equip you for this position?

“I am fortunate enough to have had a long and diverse career with Intel and have been involved in a lot of interesting things during that time, but if I have to choose one then it would be back in 2003 when I took on the role of Asia Pacific Category Manager out of Hong Kong for the worldwide launch of Centrino® mobile technology.

“I learnt so much about the company, distribution channels and all the nuanc-

“Intel is fortunate enough to hold a high market penetration. This position is a privilege and one that I know takes a lot of hard work to maintain. We constantly have to explore and mine additional seams to be able to offer new opportunities ALSO and angles.

es of taking a product to market. Having to bridge my work and family life from Hong Kong made for a fantastic experience both from a career and personal growth perspective.”

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

“I

ACTIVELY LISTEN TO INPUT AND

FEEDBACK FROM STAFF

“As to what keeps me awake? Comparing ourselves to the massive emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil, and developing strategies to stay ahead of them.”

“For me those atAND CUSTOMERS tributes are ongoABOUT HOW TO DO ing, it’s a matter of learning everyday. As THINGS BETTER.” a leader I consider myself a work in progress. I What do you see for the participate in training and acfuture of women in leadership tively seek council from other leaders. positions in your industry?

“I also actively listen to input and feed“Only an upside. The truth of the matback from staff and customers about how ter though, is that women are vastly to do things better.” underrepresented in the ICT sector, comprising just 24% of the total workHow do you encourage creative force. Within purely technical roles the thinking and encourage other percentages are estimated to favour men leaders within your organization? even more strongly.”

“Intel is inherently a creative and innova“We have a long way to go but the ICT intive company – in every aspect, not just dustry is maturing and there is increased in how they take products to market. Derecognition of the need for gender equalivelopment and encouragement is organic ty across the sector. and the people we hire are creative, curious and naturally solutions orientated.

“It is an exciting industry for those who like change, are innovative and inquisi“So saying, we do partake in old fashioned tive and if women do embark on a career off site strategic and creative sessions in IT there is more chance that they could where participants are encouraged to realise their full potential than in many think ‘outside the box’. I believe that soluother sectors. tions rarely come from one single person, and am a great advocate of putting people “If more young women can be persuaded and teams together on a regular basis to to enter the IT profession, I believe that review tasks and challenges and to come both they and the industry will benefit.” up with innovative solutions.”

What are the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization? What strategic issues keep you up at night?

“The most important decisions I make are always about people, and ensuring we have the right resources in place to be able to deliver ongoing growth.

Access Autumn 2016 13

Committee Feature

Trade and Government – A Snapshot As Chairman of the AmCham Trade and Government Committee – the longest serving Association Committee – Patrick Fazzone of Montgomery Fazzone PLLC is justifiably proud of the work undertaken by the group since the early 1990’s.

Responsible for developing and promoting AmCham policy on trade matters and liaising with Government on issues affecting members, the Trade and Government Committee has been closely involved in a number of landmark initiatives designed to promote trade and investment between Australia and the United States. Among the most notable is the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), which came into effect on 1 January 2005, effectively ensuring greater access to the United States market for Australian exports.

This Agreement enhances prospects for Australian goods and services trade, opens significant sectors of the U.S. government procurement market, improves the regulatory and overall investment environment between the two countries, and ultimately has led to far greater business mobility.

Another important international initiative of ongoing interest to the committee is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies promoting free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies, and the need for more practical trade facilitation in the region, APEC focuses on developing non-binding programs to simplify and promote trade among the member economies. The Committee has closely monitored the activities of APEC, provided valuable information to AmCham members on developments and new initiatives and provided input to U.S. and Australian government departments on member priorities for APEC action. During the U.S. host year in 2011, Chairman Patrick Fazzone was invited to attend the APEC Trade Ministers’ meeting as part of the Australian business delegation.

One of the principal strengths of the Committee is the expertise and hands on experience of its various members, who come from a cross-section of industries.

“The Committee provides members with ongoing expertise and exclusive access to thought leadership, communities of interest, policy advice, business advocacy, information, and relationships with business and government,” Fazzone says.

“We take a very pro-active approach to communication ensuring that members have access to alerts and information relevant to their interests.

“Occasionally the Committee is asked to intervene or take a position on specific issues that can be contentious such as multinational tax laws, the viability of specific investments and more recently the protection of investors from expropriation. The rule of the Committee is that if there is a divergence in views among

14 www.amcham.com.au

Committee Feature

members on an issue, the Committee will not recommend AmCham taking a position,” adds Fazzone.

“In recent years, the Committee has been particularly focused and active regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement recently signed by twelve Pacific Rim countries. The most ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement ever negotiated, the TPP seeks to promote commerce and investment in the region in landmark ways and among a very diverse group of economies. Its goals include: to promote economic growth; support the creation and retention of jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in the countries involved; and promote transparency, good governance and enhanced labour and environmental protections. The agreement, which was seven years ‘in the making’ and has now been completed, is still to be ratified by the countries involved.

“The signing of the TPP was very much welcomed by the U.S. and Australian business communities. While, as in any trade agreement, there are some areas where greater commitments were sought by business, such as in the area of data exclusivity, AmCham members have been uniformly aligned on the importance of this trade agreement.”

Through Vice Chairman Geoff Short, the Committee has actively involved in connection with the establishment of the Australian Trusted Trader Alliance, a program that seeks to provide trade facilitation benefits to those businesses with strong security practices and a history of compliant behaviour.

“We like to believe that we are the ‘goto’ Committee on trade and investment within AmCham. We continually seek to provide members with support to help them grow their businesses efficiently and intelligently,” concludes Fazzone.

Trusted in Risk Management Lockforce Consultancy International specialises in the provision of Management Systems, Auditing, Compliance, Safety and Security Response services to the Oil & Gas, Mining, and Maritime industries.

We help you manage increased operational complexity and provide a pre-emptive response in Risk & Crisis Management, Risk Consulting, HSEQ Compliance, Business Continuity and Resilience Planning through offices located in Australia, the Philippines and Malaysia. www.lockforce.com.au O I L

-

G A S

-

M I N I N G

-

M A R I T I M E

Patrick Fazzone specialises in sophisticated commercial transactions, corporate law, technology transfers and international trade law. His clients include U.S. and overseas private and quasi-governmental entities, including those in high technology industries.

Mr. Fazzone also provides advice and assistance on U.S. customs, export controls, and other international trade matters, and has served as Vice Chairman for Trade and APEC for the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce.

Section Name

H ILTON SY D N E Y TH E FACTS

Recognised as a Sydney landmark, this contemporary hotel is centrally located close to all of the city’s attractions.

Enjoy award-winning dining, stylish bars, refined guest rooms and an expansive conference centre.

16 www.amcham.com.au

AT A GLANCE • Conveniently located in the heart of Sydney • 579 beautifully-appointed guest rooms • 23 meeting rooms • High speed wireless internet in all guest rooms • glass brasserie – run by celebrated chef Luke Mangan • 3 vibrant bars to enjoy cocktails, wines and live music • Complimentary access to LivingWell Health Club

Section Name

O U R ROOMS GUEST ROOMS Enjoy upscale amenities including a king bed, pillow menu and blackout blinds for restful sleep.

C services and a wealth of extras are supplied, including LCD TV, alarm clock with CD and MP3 player, and high speed wireless internet.

G U E S T R O O M S P LU S These rooms feature all the benefits of a standard guest room plus a spacious shower with unique Aquavision™ TV and stylish amenities.

JUNIOR SUITES

An award-winning three-zone boutique room

The perfect retreat to relax, this spacious and modern suite is well-appointed with a five-point bathroom with double sink, contemporary glass work desk, LCD TV and DVD player and access to Executive Benefits.

hydro spa and three-jet shower, a LCD TV and a plush bed for absolute relaxation.

R E L A X AT I O N S U I T E S Our thoughtfully-designed suites provide a king bed, three LCD TVs, two DVD players, separate bed, bath and lounge areas, and Executive Benefits. Unwind in the extra-large, double spa bath or work at the glass desk while taking in the city views.

KING SUITES

Upgrade from a Deluxe room to the Executive Floor and enjoy the benefits of the Executive Lounge including Peter Thomas Roth® bath amenities, continental breakfast, evening drinks and canapés.

O U R FACILITIE S

E AT & DRIN K

MARBLE BAR

A LYS I U M DAY S PA

G L A S S B R E A K FA S T

Enrich mind, body and soul with a soothing treatment at the A a range of services, from hand and foot massage to full spa packages based on traditional methods and authentic natural healing techniques.

Sample the finest breakfast in the city, featuring

Z E TA B A R A contemporary cocktail bar and exclusive escape in the city. Stylish and sophisticated, Zeta is internationally acclaimed as one of the most cutting-edge cocktail bars in the area.

well as wine and beer.

IN-ROOM DINING Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

LOC ATIO N Getting out and about in Sydney is easy, with many travel options available. The train runs from Central Station, through Townhall Station, all the way to Circular Quay. The Monorail has two stations next to the hotel and along Pitt Street circling the city centre and Darling Harbour for easy access to shops, restaurants, bars and the Sydney Aquarium.

Town Hall And Railway Station

sydney.hilton.com

a Victori Queen Building

York

CKS AND TO THE RO BRIDGE HARBOUR

t

Stree

George

Street

St Th ate ea tre Monorail

Mall Pitt Streetdney Tower

Sy eld and Westfi Sydney

Pitt Street

Martin Place

Theatre Royal

MLC Tower

Castlereagh Street

H I LTO N SY DNEY 488 George Street | Sydney | NSW 2000 Australia

Elizabeth Street

Jam

Hyde Park

St

T: +61 2 9266 2000 F: +61 2 9265 6065 E: sydney@hilton.com

TO DARLING HARBOUR

King Street

et

and executive roundtables, Hilton Sydney meets all your business needs. Features include 4,000m2 of multi-function space, 23 dedicated meeting rooms, Grand Ballroom seating for 1,200 people, exhibition space for 48 booths, 24-hour Business Centre and Executive Lounge.

State-of-the-art technology and on-site audiovisual and technology services are provided by Staging Connections and high speed wireless internet is accessible throughout the hotel.

CAFFÉ CINO Enjoy a quick lunch, host an informal business C Cino

t Stre

MEE TIN GS

Indulge in the definitive Sydney dining experience featuring the exceptional culinary expertise of highly-awarded chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan. Using fresh local produce throughout the menu, glass brasserie is ideal for lunches and relaxed dinners.

GLASS WINE BAR Sip wine by the glass as you order fresh oysters or cheese from the tapas menu, while admiring the views of the illuminated Queen Victoria Building.

Three 13m towers stacked with over 3,000 bottles of wine dominate the glass wine bar.

Druit

Enjoy complimentary use of personal health and fitness technology, with over 60 group fitness classes per week, large spa, saunas, steam rooms and a 25m indoor pool.

GLASS BRASSERIE

Marble Bar remains one of Sydney’s best-loved bars, featuring live music Wednesday to Saturday.

Built in 1893, the original Victorian-style décor and artwork make Marble Bar a must-see.

Park Street

L I V I N G W E L L H E A LT H C LU B

Australian delicacies, while enjoying captivating views of the Queen Victoria Building.

This stunning suite features comfort and privacy befitting an executive’s lifestyle. A separate lounge and dining area, extra-large bathroom with exceptional amenities and access to Executive Benefits turn this suite into an ideal sanctuary.

es Road

EXECUTIVE ROOMS

R E L A X AT I O N R O O M S

eet et Str

Relax with sweeping city views from a choice of king or twin beds. The four-point bathroom boasts a separate bath and shower plus special touches including Peter Thomas Roth® bath amenities, bathrobe and slippers.

Mark

D E LU X E R O O M S

College St. Australian Museum

St. Marys Cathedral

et

Phillip Stre

Macquarie Street

Sydney Hospital

Parliament House

TO THE OPERA HOUSE

Access Autumn 2016 17

Podcast: Bringing Business to You

What is Driving Change in the Energy Sector?

Interview with Andy Vesey, Head of Australia Utility AGL Energy

The AmCham Podcast is an on-demand talk radio show, hosted by Dr Duff Watkins of ExecSearch International, that brings the most pioneering and influential minds of the business world to you.

What is driving change in the energy sector? “Technology.” Andrew Vesey says unequivocally that technology is the major external force facing every company today. And for the energy sector it’s not just renewable resources such as solar and wind, but how the value chain is shifting to the consumer.

“Consumers have become market savvy and their expectation of the interface between themselves and service providers has changed dramatically.

“Consumers want greater understanding and control with regard to managing products that can be tailored to work within their time and budget framework, as well as meet their needs.

“In turn, service providers need to become intimate with the client interface, and to understand the capabilities that technology is providing today but also tomorrow. To serve a customer well we need to change their interaction with us from purely economic to experiential.

“At AGL, we want to continually provide value to our customers so they understand the impact they are having, what products are available to use, and which best suit their lifestyle – it’s no longer just about providing light and heat.

“WE NEED TO BECOME PRE-ACTIVE”

18 www.amcham.com.au

“Australia has an extremely competitive energy market and we need to give consumers a full internet-like experience.”

To make his point Vesey introduces ‘Oliver’, the AGL consumer of the future. Referring to the marketing visual of a twoyear old child playing with a tablet, Vesey postulates: “What will Oliver need and want in 35 years? What will his expectations be? What is his world going to be like? How are we going to be able to meet his demands?”

“We’re really challenging ourselves: how else do we want to approach the customer, how do we want to change that relationship, how are we going to use the technology that is available, whether it’s storage or generation, or just an app on a smart phone to change the way ‘he’ manages and consumes electricity?”

“For AGL it’s about changing our business definition. When people ask if we are a retailer, a generator, or a gentailer, well no, we’re in the business of harnessing insights to enrich our customer’s experience.

“But just how does one prepare for such a rapidly evolving environment?”

Vesey believes it starts with how you think about the business overall. There has to be a move towards creating a participative culture and a means of building in the capacity to construct scenarios and anticipate the future.

“We need to become pre-active. We have the computational capabilities to get a lot of data and make sense out of a number of hard and soft trends as cheaply as possi-

Podcast: Bringing Business to You

ble. We need to predict how ‘Oliver’ will think about the future because we can see the influences that are most likely to shape it. That’s flash foresight.

“In this future-scaping environment companies need to ensure they have a system that allows them to be rapid learning organisations that can pivot quickly based on lean processing, adaptive supply chain and business partnerships and responsive portfolio management.

“Make a bet on the future and then find out everything that will keep you from dismounting if you are headed in the wrong direction,” he says. “Be ready for change.

– solar, wind and rotating; and a range of new technologies – battery storage, electric vehicles, smart controls and is exploring the smart meter market.

“The refreshed greenhouse policy dictates that we will not extend the lives of our coal producing plants beyond 2048, unless new technology surfaces that enables operation without the production of CO2. These sites “TECHNOLOGY will need to be re-purposed.

PROVIDES CAPABILITIES

“Consumer production EXPONENTIALLY” and storage of premises-based energy is a reality, and the interaction of these systems with the network is what is driving growth.”

Vesey refers to a paper written in 1978, Another mega trend,” adds Vesey “is called the homeostatic control of electricity the inevitable move to decarbonisasystems. And making an argument for retion. It’s inevitable that carbon will al-time pricing, if you sent a real-time price, disappear from energy product cycle people would change their consumption. and it is our obligation to shareholders to de-risk that portfolio.

“Basically the theory was that the incremental electron that is consumed by any AGL is currently the largest stationery end user at any point of time is different producer of greenhouse gas emissions or in terms of value to any other end user. So CO2, but it is also the largest developer, there is always an arbitrage opportunity. owner and operator of renewable energy

TO THE END USER

“So, if that’s true, and you have batteries, you can produce your own stuff, and you can take it off the grid, and there are a lot of users there, people can be trading. You buy it and then you trade it. “Now think about the internet of things, where it is not the end user, it’s the end user device.

50 billion things connected - probably the most efficient network. So you will need less invested in generation, so read that as less environmental impact.

“Technology provides capabilities to the end user exponentially,” adds Vesey. On a graph you get this high sloping curve indicative of the great rates of change as opposed to social systems that develop linearly. The gap that is created between the two lines is called the technology disruption curve – meaning that not all things can be adopted because social systems just can’t keep up.

“New business models will evolve,” says Vesey “And they will be largely based on how the market responds to new technologies and the value chains they create.

The future is now and it is going to be up to the customer to shape how the energy industry develops.”

Listen to all AmCham Podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or by visiting www.amcham.com.au

Access Autumn 2016 19

Committee Feature

Energy and Resources – A Snapshot If the headlines and reports are to be believed, the Australian energy and resource sector is in the doldrums, with the Australian Index of Bulk Commodities prices falling more than 20 percent in the past 12 months. The reasons are complex and differ to some extent according to the commodity in question, but when combined with a fluctuating Dollar you end up with a negative economic sentiment.

Allan Drake-Brockman has been known as one of Australia's pre-eminent workplace relations and employment lawyers.

Now a workplace relations and business consultant, and Chairman of AmCham’s Energy and Resources Committee, he remains optimistic.

Speaking about his role in the newly established national Committee, Drake-Brockman expands on his bullish outlook: “History tells us the commodity cycle moves in peaks and troughs and often there is a major investment in production at times of high demand, that leads to price corrections like the ones we are seeing.

“Export led companies in particular should benefit from increased demand as overseas buyers see more value in their goods. Manufacturers are a good example of this, as are steel and resources companies.

With key commodity prices such as iron ore, coal and nickel languishing at multiyear lows, drilling, contract mining, labour and other major costs have come down across the industry, providing a significant benefit for local gold miners. Australia, and Western Australia in particular, are enjoying strong demand and unprecedented prices in Australian Dollar terms.

“So yes, it’s mostly bearish at the moment,” says “Price volatility, based on Drake-Brockman, “and supply and demand, is probably will be for simply part and par“FOR AUSTRALIA, the better part of cel of the history of ABUNDANT, LOW-COST 2016, but if you’re the resource secwilling to take a tor, but generalRENEWABLE ENERGY, longer view there ly the long-term LAND AVAILABILITY, AND is still compelfundamentals ling value in the of the sector rePROXIMITY TO EMERGING resources sector. main strong.”

MARKETS MAKE IT A

“And in the mean“Australia is one of PERFECT FIT.” time, the mining, the world’s key iron energy and resources ore and LNG producsectors are driving technoers and exporters, and logical innovation and change, coal continues to be Australia's leading the world in new technology, operlargest energy export earner providing ating trucks, trains and drilling equipment around 30 per cent of the world coal as well as being innovators and leaders in trade, and truth be told, there are a numrenewable energy – wind, solar, batteries, ber of domestic industries that stand to and tradeable energy commodities — such as gain from a lower Australian dollar,” adds biofuel, hydrogen or transmitted electricity.

Drake-Brockman.

20 www.amcham.com.au

For Australia, abundant, low-cost renewable energy, land availability, and proximity to emerging markets make it a perfect fit.”

“Recent reports highlight the massive opportunity ahead for Australian natural gas exports,” says Drake-Brockman. “It has in fact, been predicted that natural gas will be the world’s fastest growing traditional fuel with consumption increasing by 1.8 per cent a year to 2035.

“Natural gas is a safe, clean and reliable energy source for industry and millions of households, and is an irreplaceable feedstock for a range of industrial applications in the plastics and chemicals industries. If the massive investments by BP, Chevron, independent Murphy Oil and local player Santos in exploration projects in the Great Australian Bight, Ceduna, and the Pilbara, WA, are anything to go by these projects will generate significant economic benefits for Australia through investment, jobs, increased income and additional taxation revenues over the coming decades.

“Resources are indispensable to global growth and global progress,” adds Drake-Brockman, “And of all the major resource exporting countries, Australia is best placed to capitalise on future demand.

We are viewed as a reliable, high-quality supplier that is highly innovative, efficient and proximate to key markets.”

The Energy & Resources Committee is a national committee that is based in Perth and commenced in 2015.

The Goals of the Energy & Resources Committee are to: •

•

• •

Establish a national committee with a focus on research and debate regarding Energy & Resource issues; Educate and inform AmCham members on the Energy & Resources sector; Establish a steering committee with national representation; and Define a communications strategy to ensure members are informed and engaged.

www.pwc.com.au

Building relationships, creating value

Š 2016 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Australian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network.

Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Committee Round Up NEXT: Network for Future Leaders VIC Dr Marcele De Sanctis, Director, Centre for Leadership Advancement, Chair NEXT VIC

Women in Leadership (WIL) Committee NSW Teresa Liu, Partner, Fragomen Worldwide, Chair Women in Leadership Committee

The NSW Women in Leadership (WIL) Committee in Q1 of 2016 has been occupied in developing a plan of engagement with members on broader issues of diversity and leadership. Our program will be kicked off on 7th April 2016, when EY's Lynn Kraus, Managing Partner, Sydney Office & Managing Partner for Oceania Markets will talk about her “Journey to the Top”.

Gender diversity and leadership continues to be core to the committee and is part of the long history of AmCham and its support and promotion of women in leadership. In addition, there is also recognition by AmCham and the NSW WIL Committee as to the broader aspects of diversity and inclusion and the positive benefits that a diverse workforce and diverse leadership bring directly to business, the business community and economic outcomes. As a committee we were obviously very pleased that these issues have taken particular prominence with Lieutenant General (retired) David Morrision AO, and Chair of the Diversity Council Australia’s Board being awarded the prestigious title of 2016 Australian of the Year.

The Committee seeks to develop a dialogue and appreciation of the benefits of more inclusive and diverse workplaces and communities and hopes that the 2016 program

22 www.amcham.com.au

will further progress this broader agenda, first launched by WIL NSW in 2015.

Major events we are looking to engage with members on relate to gender, age (including millennials), the age gap, and flexibility in the workplace, particularly with regard to digital disruption.

We are also looking at ways in which we can foster a digital platform for leadership and inclusion using AmCham’s current social and digital platforms and the vast experience and thought leadership of executives within AmCham’s corporate members. We are working through how this might best be promoted and hope to launch this at the start of Q2. In addition, we are keen to share and build alignment with the excellent work that the WIL committees in Victoria and Western Australia have made, and also work more closely with other committees at AmCham, such as the NEXT committee who we recognize as critical in the next generation and culture of leadership.

Lastly, the committee is looking at welcoming new committee members, both male and female, who have an interest and passion in this space, and would like to contribute. If any member is interested they should contact AmCham or myself directly on TLiu@Fragomen.com

NEXT: Network for Future Leaders is focused on connecting and developing young professionals and business people who share an interest in the commercial relationship between Australia and the United States, by facilitating valuable and practical networking, education and personal development opportunities.

In 2016, the NEXT Committee in Victoria is enthusiastically committed to delivering a series of diverse, practical and innovative networking, skills and professional development events/opportunities that energise young and emerging leaders across Melbourne. This includes 'learning satellite' events held at the Melbourne Business School, in which participants will gain knowledge and skills across highly relevant areas including career management and planning, building personal brand and crafting your 'leadership voice', resilience and entrepreneurship.  Over the last 12 months at our networking events, we have been very fortunate to attract high calibre speakers including young entrepreneurs, CEOs and regional leaders from digital start ups, privately held large organisations and listed companies. Given the enormous increase in young entrepreneurs and business leaders using social media to promote their product, we will continue to focus on attracting speakers who are building agile, thriving businesses through online marketing.

The NEXT Committee, comprising emerging leaders from a broad range of professions including law, accounting and finance, psychology, management consulting and professional services, will continue to promote the values and mission of NEXT and AmCham and looks forward to seeing you at one of our future events!

Committee Round Up

Human Capital Committee Chris Gardner, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw, Chair Human Capital Committee

The Human Capital Committee’s objectives are to discuss and develop AmCham’s position on Human Capital issues and create initiatives to this end. The future of the workplace is of enormous interest with research predicting that up to 40% of existing Australian jobs could disappear due to technological advancements by 2025-30. Not surprisingly, the digital world is transforming work itself, creating both threats and opportunities.

Trade Advisory Board Jeremy Hyman, Senior Communications Manager, Baker & McKenzie, Chair Trade Advisory Board

The Trade Advisory Board (TAB) was established to identify and evaluate key issues affecting AmCham members and deliver programs to address these issues. AmCham has long been an advocate for the implementation of some form of supply chain security (or Authorised Economic Operator) program by the Australian Government.

The Australian Border Force launched its pilot Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) pro-

gram on 1 July 2015 and involves a small selection of invited exporters and their service providers. ATT is being implemented in a phased approach starting with limited participation to test and refine processes before it is opened more broadly.

A number of Chamber members have stepped up to be amongst the first participants in the program. TAB will assist these efforts by hosting a boardroom style briefing for potential participants in the fully operational program due to commence in July this year. The briefings will be chaired by TAB member, Geoff Short from Tanda International who is representing AmCham on the Australian Trusted Trader Industry Advisory Group, providing a key link between the two organisations.

Geoff has already attended an industry summit on behalf of AmCham and the TAB where a strategic vision for the future of Australian border management was discussed and how we all can work together effectively to facilitate trade, travel and migration while protecting Australia from threats to the border.

In 2015, AmCham’s Human Capital Committee hosted a successful panel discussion on the future of work. This April, John Mullen, CEO of Asciano and newly appointed Telstra Chair, together with Nick Dickinson, Director of Human Resources at Metro Trains, will lead a round table discussion on “The Australian Workplace – Challenges and Opportunities”. A separate panel discussion on progressive workplace practices and digital disruption in the workplace is foreshadowed for later this year.

The Committee is also initiating a mentoring scheme matching senior and junior leaders.

This follows the consistent recognition of the importance of leadership in the business community together with the enormous currency which lies in the sharing of ideas.

Recently, the Committee explored the potential for its involvement in Victorian Government initiatives being “Back to Work” (which focusses on facilitating the return to work for retrenched and mature people) and “Reconnect” (aimed at 18 to 20 year olds who might benefit from being mentored for a return to work).

Whilst there is various research on the top current global trends in HR, culture and engagement, maximising workforce capability, coping with data, and the simplification of work tend to emerge as perennials. The Committee will continue to explore such themes and look for opportunities to engage with the AmCham membership in respect of them.

Access Autumn 2016 23

Event

SWITCH FESTIVAL AmCham is pleased to announce that we are forming a strategic partnership with SWITCH FESTIVAL, a boutique innovation event that will take place 20 - 21st July at UTS Business School in Ultimo.

What is SWITCH FESTIVAL? SWITCH is a two-day innovation tournament which brings world-class insight, ideation and competition to Sydney.

Designed to foster inter-industry linkages, collaboration and diversity of thought, the tournament blends top executives, from leading organisations (multinationals and ASX 150), and high performing graduate students, from top tier universities.

Why is it relevant?

In order to ensure content and workshops are always relevant and strategic, SWITCH FESTIVAL invites high-profile industry leaders and recognised innovators to form a Curation Committee that guides and advises them throughout the design process.

As a result of this consultation this year you shall hear from speakers such as: Professor Roy Green Dean of UTS Business School Minister Victor Dominello NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Dr Amantha Imber Founder of Inventium and Co-Creator of the BRW Most Innovative Companies List Mark Zawacki Founder of 650 Labs Tara McKentry Creative Director of Google APAC Michael Eales Design Strategist at Business Models Inc

Why should market leaders participate in SWITCH? To empower and activate change leaders SWITCH is a powerful learning and development tool as it is an invigorating mix of new ideas, thought provoking speakers, practical skill-based workshops and healthy competition.

It aims to change the way participants view the world by showcasing international speakers and case studies and getting participants to work in extremely diverse teams.

To receive high level coaching and support During the the tournament, teams will be guided, mentored and advised by industry and subject matter experts. This invaluable support ensures they can test their ideas and be challenged throughout.

To build strong inter-industry relationships The act of working together, rather than simply talking, forges strong relationships, thus offering you connections that are far stickier than those that come out of regular events.

To identify young, entrepreneurial talent Amongst the participants will be top-tier MBA, Masters and PhD students. Two days of ideation, deliberation and debate will provide companies wishing to talent scout the perfect opportunity to see which bright minds show the most potential in a ‘test case’, group work scenario.

To help find a cure for cancer SWITCH FESTIVAL is a not-for-profit event with all net proceeds going to Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

“SWITCH 2015 enabled the Blackmores Team to learn in a collaborative environment, thus building relationships across different industry sectors… We look forward to participating in SWITCH 2016 to take us to the next level !”

Paul Adams CEO of EverEdgeIP

- Nicole Steven, Head of Business Development, Blackmores

On topics as varied as: Australia’s New Innovation Agenda, Business Model Innovation, The Science of Creativity, Identifying and Monetising IP and Intangible Assets, Global Trends and Outlook, Digital Disruption, Big Data, Collaboration Techniques, Design Thinking, Customer Experience Design, Accelerated Decision Making, Strategic Storytelling, Context Mapping, Value Proposition Design and Data Analysis

Would you like to send a team?

If you are part of an industry leading organisation, please contact our Festival Director, Edwina Floch, to find out more: edwina@switchfest.org Or join SWITCH FESTIVAL on LinkedIn and Facebook.

24 www.amcham.com.au

New Zealand

from the region and TPP. This year’s Doorknock coincides with the SelectUSA Summit and we are expecting a good sized New Zealand delegation to attend the Summit.

AmCham New Zealand In 2015 AmCham New Zealand celebrated our 50th anniversary at a gala awards dinner with over 500 people including Prime Minster John Key and US Ambassador Mark Gilbert. We were delighted that AmCham Australia Chairman Maureen Dougherty and a number of other AmCham Australia members were able to join us on the night.

One of the other highlights of 2015 was an inaugural joint board meeting between AmCham Australia and AmCham New Zealand, held in Sydney, to discuss common areas of interest and collaboration. Our thanks to Maureen Dougherty, Boeing and Geoff Culbert, GE, for hosting events on our behalf. We were delighted that US Ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert was able to join us.

Following the success of this visit, we have invited the AmCham Australia board and members to come to New Zealand in October for further discussions and briefings by government.

Last month Auckland hosted the signing of the TPP and AmCham held an event for Ambassador Michael Froman, USTR, to speak to members on TPP and trade.

Barbara Weisel, USTR, TPP Lead Nego-

tiator and Matt Matthews, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Official for APEC, US State Department were also at the event which allowed our members to discuss TPP in more detail and gain further insights into the negotiations.

In New Zealand the next stage of TPP is the Select Committee process and we are working with our members to write a submission to government by 11 March.

We are currently undertaking the 2016 annual Survey of US companies operating in NZ and are seeking their feedback on issues of doing business in NZ, their business growth expectations and their investment outlook. This survey assists us to provide feedback to both US and NZ governments.

In mid-May the second Auckland, Los Angeles, Guangzhou Tripartite Summit is taking place in Auckland. We are expecting LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to bring a strong LA delegation with the key themes of the Summit being - Entertainment and Digital; High-Value Foods; Advanced Materials; Smart Data; and Design.

The 2016 annual AmCham-DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards for companies doing business with the USA will be launched in late March with the awards dinner being held in August.

The key award categories are: • Importer of the Year from the USA • Exporter of the Year from NZ to the USA – under NZ$1m • Exporter of the Year from NZ to the USA – NZ$1m to NZ$10m • Exporter of the Year from NZ to the USA – over NZ$10m • The Eric & Kathy Hertz Award for Citizen Diplomacy • Investor of the Year to or from the USA We encourage any US company doing business in NZ or investing in NZ to enter these awards.

For more information about A mCham New Zealand see our website: www.amcham.co.nz or contact Mike Hearn, Executive Director, email: mike@amcham.co.nz

We will be back in Washington DC in June as part of the APCAC Washington Doorknock to lobby Congress on issues

Access Autumn 2016 25

State Round Up NSW

APCAC Washington Doorknock 2016 21-24 June Washington D.C. Each year, APCAC sends a delegation comprising business leaders and AmCham staff members to Washington D.C. to meet with officials from the Federal Government in order to discuss policy issues affecting American business in Asia. The annual APCAC Washington Doorknock gives American Chamber representatives from across the Asia-Pacific a chance to reinforce their connections in Washington and share regional knowledge.

NEXT: Network for Future Leaders 28 April Sydney Unconventional Leaders Our panel will explore what an unconventional leader is and how they themselves are innovating the business world.

Eddie Grobler Division President, Australasia, MasterCard Asia Pacific Paul Cholakos Executive General Manager Technical Services, Oil Search Solange Cunin Founder Quberider & #13 Top ANZ Females in Tech

26 www.amcham.com.au

State Round Up

VIC Victoria has a great events calendar for May; Andy Penn, CEO of Telstra will give a major presentation in Melbourne (19th May), this will be his first address to AmCham members since taking over from David Thodey. We have two impressive women presenting in May, Karen Stocks the Managing Director of Twitter Australia (4th May) and Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, CEO & Managing Director of the Mirvac Group (11th May). The month is rounded out with a presentation by Rod Simms, Chairman of the ACCC (20th May).

June is also shaping up well with a boardroom discussion on Retail trends lead by James Stewart from Azurium (1st June) and a presentation by Andrew Cole, Managing Director & CEO of OZ Minerals (9th June).

WA The WA economy is facing its toughest period in more than a decade, with growing fears and there are no new major projects to prop up the State.

As WA has nothing set to replace big-ticket building projects, a period of contraction lies ahead. This is the first time in the history of WA that there is a slowdown in Oil & Gas as at the same time as Mining.

Trade Missions

EyeLevel

Each year AmCham WA organises 2 fully escorted and all inclusive Trade Missions to overseas conferences and exhibitions.

Few people in business question the importance of thought leadership and sharing knowledge to aid in reputation building and business development.

What has become increasingly difficult is finding an effective way to differentiate and distribute engaging content.

AmCham has partnered with EyeLevel to provide our members with a truly unique opportunity that answers both these objectives.

Our first delegation was in 1999 and these Trade Missions are highly regarded as a successful way to do business both here and overseas.

In 2016 Our Trade Missions Visit Houston and Vegas: In May, we organise our 18th visit to the annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston.

Founded in 1969, OTC is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters.

In September, our delegation returns to MINExpo in Vegas, which is held every 4 years.

MINExpo International is the world’s largest and most comprehensive industry trade show, showcasing the latest and greatest mining equipment, products and technology. Thousands of contacts from all over the world – in one place over 3 days.

The AmCham Trade Missions: • Increase exposure both in Australia and overseas for companies participating • Showcase the latest technologies • Provide Global Head Office personal introductions • Facilitate site visits at major U.S. companies • Build strong business relationships between delegates

EyeLevel is a format that showcases a keynote video presentation on a topic of strategic importance to a particular business or industry. Five panellists of our members’ choosing are videoed, responding independently to five questions on that topic. Viewers can choose which question they are interested in and whose response they wish to view in an interactive online environment.

GE have recently created an EyeLevel presentation in partnership with AmCham on the topic “Innovate or be Replaced”.

Hear from thought leaders including: Geoff Culbert President and CEO, GE Australia Nick Wilson Managing Director, Hewlett-Packard, South Pacific David Gallagher Chairman and Managing Director, Pfizer Kate Burleigh Managing Director, Intel, Australia and New Zealand Robbert Rietbroek Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, Australia and New Zealand

Access Autumn 2016 27

Premium members

2016 New Members include: AIS International Group BTS Australasia Committee for Geelong Crowther Blayne Media Culture Map Donna Benstead & Accos Egencia Hegele Logistics Jet Couriers Kronos Australia M Squared & Associates QIC Limited Real Business Group Research Laboratory Services Stephenson Mansell Group The Ascott Limited The University of Sydney United Way Australia Xylem Water Solutions

28 www.amcham.com.au

SOLVING THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST HEALTH CHALLENGES TAKES ALL OF US. AbbVie starts with research and innovation to develop and deliver new treatments to manage Our global pharmaceutical company builds our pipeline to provide solutions in therapeutic areas served by our proven expertise.

To make new solutions available to patients, governments, and advocacy groups.

When we work together, the result is a remarkable impact on patients’ lives and the healthcare systems which serve them.

Learn more at abbvie.com.au

AbbVie Pty Ltd. Mascot NSW 2020. March 2016. AU-CORC-2016-1