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As the 2025 World Chambers Congress gets underway in Melbourne, the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC), in collaboration with Global Victoria, hosted an energising Boardroom Briefing Breakfast to welcome Canada’s official delegation on the morning the Congress began. The event brought together Canadian and Victorian business leaders, government representatives, and innovators for a dynamic morning of connection, conversation, and collaboration. PICTURED (left to right): Melissa Wharton (CEO - CACC), Fiona Letos (Executive Director, Trade, Global Engagement, International Education, Migration - Global Victoria), Daniel Tisch (President & CEO - Ontario Chamber of Commerce), David Tsui (Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner - Consulate General of Canada in Sydney), Lesley Gillespie (Director & Co-Founder - Bakers Delight), Paul O'Hagan (Lead - UK, Europe & North America - Global Victoria) The breakfast opened with remarks from Fiona Letos, Executive Director of Trade, Global Engagement, International Education and Migration at Global Victoria, setting the stage for a day of optimism and opportunity. Featured keynote speakers included David Tsui, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney, Lesley Gillespie OAM, Co-Founder of Bakers Delight and COBS Bread and Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Discussions throughout the morning reflected the deep and enduring ties between Canada and Australia. Both nations share a long history of working together for mutual benefit, and the conversation focused on how to build on that foundation in a period of rapid geopolitical change. Speakers highlighted the importance of unity, determination, and practical action in strengthening bilateral trade and investment, particularly in sectors where the two nations’ strengths align. PICTURED: Fiona Letos (Executive Director, Trade, Global Engagement, International Education, Migration - Global Victoria) and David Tsui (Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner - Consulate General of Canada in Sydney) The session also...

In May, the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC), in partnership with global law firm Dentons, hosted its inaugural Energy Boardroom Briefing in Calgary. The theme of the roundtable was “Navigating the Energy Transition.” This event brought together a select group of senior leaders from Western Canada’s energy sector and key government stakeholders to tackle emerging industry challenges.PICTURED (left to right): Hazel Saffery (Partner - Dentons), Melissa Wharton (CEO - CACC) and Elyse MacDonald (Associate Director - EMM Consulting) Mel Wharton, CACC CEO, opened the lunch with welcome remarks, setting the stage for an engaging and solutions-focused discussion, with Hazel Saffery, Partner in Dentons’ Energy group moderating the roundtable. The conversation provided an opportunity for candid dialogue on how energy companies are balancing near-term pressures with long-term commitments to sustainability and decarbonization. The session focused on five key themes: strategy, portfolio, capital allocation, technology, and M&A. Participants shared how they are navigating today’s volatile environment—where oil and gas remain essential, but low-carbon alternatives are becoming increasingly viable. With Alberta’s energy sector accounting for 25% of the province’s GDP and employing over 140,000 people, it is essential to get the transition right. PICTURED (left to right): Hazel Saffery (Partner - Dentons), Jack Yuan (Associate - Dentons) and Miki Reeder (CEO - Connect Partnership Group) Central to the discussion was the challenge of balancing short-term profitability with long-term transformation. Companies revealed varying approaches to defining the "right mix" of conventional and low-carbon assets over the next decade. Capital strategy was also a key focus. Attendees explored how financing priorities are shifting in response to both shareholder expectations and policy incentives. There was also reflection on recent M&A activity—highlighting deals that delivered strategic value and cautionary tales that prompted a re-evaluation of risk. Notably, the event took place just weeks before Calgary hosted...