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Demonstrating its support for diversity and inclusion, CACC Corporate Sponsor MinterEllison held a boardroom briefing in Melbourne, entitled Leadership Diversity – from token to turning point. Distinguished guests included visiting CEO of Business Council of Canada, Goldy Hyder, both High Commissioners from Australia & Canada and various senior Australian & Canadian executives across all business sectors. CACC Director, Lesley Gillespie OAM, welcomed the President and CEO of Export Development Canada (EDC), Mairead Lavery as guest speaker to share her perspective on the topic as a business leader driving change. “As a young girl, I really remember thinking there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do if I worked for it. I really did see the world as a place of possibility,” she said. Despite being raised by a working-class family, and being female, Ms Lavery was determined to go to university, get a good job and make her mark on the world. Having grown up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she knows all too well the consequences of not having an inclusive community. “Growing up in Belfast, I learnt the value of neighbours and community; it was a place where you could rely on your neighbours to help you do something and that really speaks to community and to diversity and inclusion. Those values have stayed with me and those lessons and values helped me make the decision to join EDC.” “EDC is a place where we really strive to have diversity and inclusion – diversity of thought, diversity of our employees, and we truly want our employees to reflect the diversity of our customers.” Ms Lavery said she was incredibly proud to be the first female CEO in the organisation’s 75-year history and was working hard to ensure better gender diversity across the organisation. “We have gender diversity at all levels across...

The newly appointed High Commissioner for Canada, His Excellency Mark Glauser was excited to be back in Australia, a place he remembers fondly from his younger years. Hosted by the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce, the High Commissioner met with CACC members, sponsors and partners in Melbourne, hosted at PwC offices. [caption id="attachment_4259" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16 2019:CACC members reception at PWC on the 16th of December 2019 in Melbourne Australia. (Image/Martin Philbey)[/caption] He last visited Australia in 1987 as a backpacker, where he recalls attending a Billy Joel concert. Many things have changed in the 32 years since he last came down under. He said if you had asked him in 1987 who the big three powerhouses were, he would have said Ford, GM and Chrysler. But if you asked him today, he would say it is Facebook, Amazon and Google. “There are industries that are thriving today that didn’t exist in 1987,” Mr Glauser said. “In 2030 there are going to be companies that will be major influencers that don’t exist today, and maybe even industries that don’t exist today.” “This creates opportunities for businesses in Australia and Canada to capitalise on.” “You have to be agile enough to make the most of these opportunities. Smaller companies tend to be better at that than bigger companies.” Mr Glauser said he wanted to work with businesses to develop partnerships and maximise these business opportunities. “There is no better place to take advantage of these opportunities than through the Canada-Australia business partnership. I am delighted to be here to help make that happen and to walk that journey with you.” [caption id="attachment_4260" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] PICTURED (from left to right): Marc-Andre Hawkes, Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner - Canadian Consulate, Sydney, Melissa Wharton, CEO - CACC, H.E. Mark...

PICTURED (from left): Doug Carmichael, CACC President, H.E. Natasha Smith, Australian High Commissioner to Canada, Minh Dao, KPMG Partner, Mairead Lavery, EDC President and Goldy Hyder, Business Council of Canada President.   Are Super Funds the Investment of the Future? On February 11, 2020 the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) hosted a boardroom briefing, Rise of the Institutional Investor, a Canadian Australian Comparative. The event covered themes surrounding regulation & bureaucracy, environmental & social governance, and the flow of capital. CACC President, Doug Carmichael whom recently retired last year as CEO of Commbank Group Super facilitated the discussion with visiting guests Goldy Hyder, CEO of Business Council of Canada (BCC) and Mairead Lavery President of Export Development Canada (EDC). Opening remarks were made by Australian High Commissioner for Canada, Her Excellency Natasha Smith and the open discussion focussed on the trends changing the way in which asset owners are engaging with the corporate community both in Australia and in Canada.  Attendees included senior leaders from the Australian Superannuation Funds, Canadian Financial Services organisations, and industry stakeholders. The challenges Canadian investors are facing at home and the challenges Australian investors face when doing business in Canada were acknowledged, and a new scope surrounding the competitive landscape in Australia were discussed. Currently, co-investments between Canadian and Australian funds are rooted in infrastructure projects. However, there is room to grow for both countries to invest in mature development projects where better governance can be used to build stronger partnerships. Stakeholders Swati Dave, Managing Director of Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) and Mairead Lavery, President of Export Development Canada (EDC) were also present in the discussion, to highlight how the two credit agencies work to support and develop trade between Canada, Australia and other global countries. Both parties aim to maintain competitive...

Australian expats, Torontonians and members of the business community came together at The Great Hall in downtown Toronto this month to celebrate Australia Day. Hosted by the Australian Government and supported by several Australian organizations including the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce, the event drew a large crowd reassured that Australia remains open for business and tourism despite the ongoing bushfire situation across several states. Opening remarks from the High Commissioner and Consulate General thanked Canadians for their ongoing support during the fires and emphasized that the country was still open for business, noting that the best support for Australians was to continue traveling, investing and doing business there. PICTURED (from left): Dr Grayson Perry, Consul General & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Canada and H.E. Natasha Smith, Australian High Commissioner to Canada.   The event had an unquestionably distinct Aussie flair with guests enjoying classics including meat pies, sausage rolls, lamingtons and lamb while enjoying the best of Australian wines, music and imagery, including Paul Hogan advertisements. The message of tourism and business comes despite Tourism Australia pulling the ‘Matesong’ campaign in the UK featuring Kylie Minogue and Adam Hills due to the ongoing bush fires. With Australia still open for business, the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce can help facilitate conversations and provide support for Canadian businesses seeking to invest in Australia. Businesses, investors and entrepreneurial individuals can reach out to the Toronto Committee of the Chamber for additional information and support.   The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) is a non-profit, volunteer based organisation that aims to bring businesses together to facilitate a strong environment for economic trade and investment between Canada and Australia.  Written by Anthony Naimo CACC Member Engagement Committee 

  Make the most of your gap year and working-holiday by gaining international professional experience. By taking part in CAMP (Canadian Australian Mentoring Program), you will develop on both a professional and a personal level, which can lead to greater career prospects. The possibilities are endless and it's all about what you will make of your Overseas Experience. With CAMP, you can get some guidance on the local job market and career pathways. Workplaces in other countries may be very different to the one you are familiar with back home. Through CAMP you will have the opportunity to connect with local professionals, have meaningful intercultural experiences, and gain new perspectives. It will help you navigate sometimes tricky dialect differences, accents or cultures. Even if both countries speak the same language, you may find that there are differences between what a phrase means at home and what it means in the country you are visiting. It's also important to understand nuances in workplace attitudes. A mentor can help you with this as they help you navigate a sometimes tricky workplace culture. So if you're coming to Sydney, NSW from Sydney, Nova Scotia you might find things easier if you have the support of a trusty mentor. To participate in CACC’s Mentoring Pilot Program, powered by Thread, please email your expression of interest to mentoring@cacc.com.au – please state in subject line if you are a Mentor or Mentee. (Photo: Destination NSW)

The end of 2018 saw Canada enter the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with six nations across the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement is expected to inject millions into the economies of both Australia and Canada, along with the other nations entered into the partnership. Austrade, the Australian Government's trade, investment and education promotion body, highlights some quick statistics on the free trade agreement. Fact #1 Australia maintains 11 free trade agreements with 18 countries including the CPTPP and the ASEAN agreements. Australia’s FTAs are held with Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, Thailand, Chile, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Mexico and Peru. Fact #2 Australia exports $87.9b to the CPTPP countries. Of that amount, Australia exports approximately $2.7b to Canada. Australian exports to Japan amount to $44.6b. Fact #3 Goods exports that result from the CPTPP include sheep, wine, sugar, beef, horticulture, dairy, grains and cereals, iron and steel, iron ore, copper, nickel, seafood, rice and processed foods. Additionally, services exported as a result of the agreement will include telecommunications, mining, energy, finance, e-commerce, education and professional services. Fact #4 In 2017-2018, 25.3 percent (A$79.6b) of Australia’s goods exports and 20.9 percent (A$18.4b) of Australia’s services exports went to CPTPP nations. According to 2018 ABS trade data, goods and services exports to CPTPP countries equated to around 22.7 percent of Australia’s total goods and services exports.   The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) is a non-profit, volunteer based organisation that aims to bring businesses together to facilitate a strong environment for economic trade and investment between Canada and Australia.    Written by Anthony Naimo   CACC Communications Committee 

The benefits of collaboration between Australian and Canadian universities was the focus of a recent breakfast, organised by the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Queens College, at the University of Melbourne.   The breakfast featured President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Victoria, Jamie Cassels QC, discussing the importance of collaboration with Australians. Professor Cassels, and his delegation, recently finished a tour of Australia focused on developing partnerships with universities, governments, and industry. The breakfast was part of the CACC’s ongoing efforts (https://cacc.com.au/news/what-the-nhl-can-teach-australians-about-diversity/) to improve connections between Canada and Australia across all economic sectors, including higher education. Canadian universities are key partners for Australian Universities. For example, Monash University (my school) has a strong relationship with the University of British Columbia, and the University of New South Wales works closely with the University of Toronto.   “Australia and Canada have two of the best university systems in the world and have similar foundations,” said Stewart Gill OAM, Master of Queens College. Professor Gill has been a long-time champion of efforts to improve collaboration between the two countries, and was recently appointed as Ambassador to Australia for the Association of Commonwealth Universities.   “There is much to be gained in terms of fostering student mobility and research projects particularly in areas of common interest in peace and reconciliation, gender issues and climate change,” Prof Gill continued. “There is also much to be learned through sharing best practice, creating new joint programs and sharing curricula through Australian-Canadian partnerships and forums in which institutional knowledge and resources can be shared and multiplied.” Attendees at the breakfast, representing most of the major universities in Melbourne, heard about University of Victoria’s particular expertise in research on aboriginal and indigenous cultures (https://www.uvic.ca/research/learnabout/home/strengths/indigenous/index.php). Researchers are working with Indigenous communities and organisations in Canada...

The CACC was proud to welcome the Australian High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency Natasha Smith, to boardroom briefings in Sydney and Melbourne to discuss the bilateral relationship between Australia and Canada, especially trade and investment.  She highlighted the key features of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and its benefits for Australian and Canadian businesses. Her Excellency said the connection between the two countries was strong and deep.  The first ever Canadian Trade Commissioner arrived in Sydney in 1895, and 2020 would mark 80 years of having High Commissioners in both countries. PICTURED: H.E. Natasha Smith with Mike McGrath, Managing Partner CMO for PwC. The bilateral trade and investment relationship is also strong and enduring.  But despite this, the CPTPP was the first full free trade agreement struck between the two counties. “The CPTPP is the ‘gold standard’ of trade agreements,” she said. Quoting Jim Carr, the Canadian Minister of International Trade Diversification, Her Excellency described the trade agreement as a bridge that governments build and then it was up to individual businesses to use the bridge. She said the CPTPP opened up new opportunities for businesses across the 11 countries that were part of the agreement. “The agreement provides significant tariff reductions and eliminations that will benefit Australian businesses. Beef is a key example, within five years all tariffs on Australian beef into Canada will be eliminated and wine tariffs have already disappeared with ratification.” Her Excellency said one of the biggest advantages to the agreement was the freer flow of people between the countries to support business growth, through temporary entry commitments. PICTURED: Jack Cowin - CACC Patron, Angela Bogdan - Consul General of Canada to Australia, H.E. Natasha Smith, Minh Dao - Co-Chair CACC Events Committee and Doug Carmichael - CACC President. “I personally...

Did you know the NHL is a world leader in efforts to end homophobia in in sport?  Perhaps even more surprising, hockey’s leadership is largely due to the work of hockey hard-man Brian Burke and his family (Burke is Canada’s politer version of Australia’s Eddie McGuire). The former Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames executive, and his son Patrick, helped found an organisation called You Can Play after Brian’s other son died in a car accident. Brendan Burke was gay and never felt welcome in hockey.  Since 2012, You Can Play has become the world leader in efforts to promote the inclusion of LGBT+ people in sport. On a recent tour of Australia, they shared their secrets around how they inspired the NHL to lead. The visit was organised by the CACC in partnership with the Canadian Government, as well as, Monash University, NAB, Salesforce, and Amnesty International. You Can Play’s tour was designed to inspire Australians, particularly our major sport organisations, and shift the thinking that Australians are doing enough to combat discrimination in sport.  The contrast between Australia and Canada is stark This year every NHL team held LGBT+ Pride events (e.g. Pride Nights) and many teams also sent players to march in local Pride Parades. The NHL’s leadership has inspired other leagues, including Major League Baseball and the NBA, to also join the Pride party. In contrast, just one Australian professional male sport league (AFL) and one team (either St Kilda or Sydney Swans) hold annual Pride Games. Participation in Mardi Gras has also been limited.  During the Australian tour, You Can Play’s team spoke to nearly 300 sport leaders, government officials, and LGBT community leaders at events, meetings, and seminars, including training sessions in Sydney hosted by Cricket Australia/NSW and in Melbourne hosted by Rugby Australia/Victoria, such...