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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...

On December 30, 2018 Canada entered into the widely discussed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) along with six other nations within the Asia-Pacific region. The trade agreement, once fully implemented, will bring together approximately 500 million people from across 11 nations including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, to provide preferential access to markets across four continents.  In both Canada and Australia, there has been extensive discussion among business operators, the media and the general public about the trade agreement and its impact on Canadian and Australian businesses. But what does the trade agreement actually mean for the citizens of these 11 countries? How will it change the way we do business or invest? And, specifically, what does it mean for both Australia and Canada – two countries with uncannily similar histories, growth and cultures despite the oceanic distance?  Tell me simply, what does the agreement do? In simple terms, through the agreement, trade and investment rules are simplified to ensure trade is fairer, more predictable and helps reduce the number of logistic resources required. The agreement seeks to offer foreign direct investors enhanced protection, predictability and transparency for their investments. The agreement also provides greater access to fast growing markets across the four continents – North America, South America, Asia and Australia. So, what does the agreement mean for Australia and Canada? Canada itself has accomplished a significant feat as a result of entering into the CPTPP agreement. Canada is believed to be the only G7 nation with free trade access across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, putting it in a truly unique place on the global stage when it comes to trade and investment. From a Canadian perspective, the agreement is expected to inject $4.2 billion into...

The refrain of ‘O Canada’ was sung out by Canadians and Australians alike as the Melbourne community of the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) marked Canada Day. The CACC’s Melbourne Committee celebrated the occasion with a night of fun and frivolity, including a Canadian trivia quiz that got everybody into the spirit. There were plenty of new faces and a sense of shared enthusiasm among the crowd. Major raffle ticket prizes, including tickets to the Melbourne production of the hit Broadway musical Come From Away and a return airfare to Vancouver with Air Canada made the evening particularly special for attendees. Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of Gander, Newfoundland, a small town in Canada that opened its doors to thousands of aircraft passengers who were stranded as a result of the incidents of 9/11. Martin Croft, Associate Director of the Melbourne production, described it as a show like no other. “It is a story about something wonderful that happened out of such an awful tragedy,” he said. “It is about humanity and bonding people together and reaching out to others in a time of Crisis.” Lynn Hewitt was the lucky raffle winner of tickets to Come From Away. “I had wanted to see the show so badly and I am so happy that I will now be able to see it,” she said. Air Canada provided a return airfare from Melbourne to Vancouver as part of the raffle draw. Sarah Constable, from Air Canada, said there were some natural synergies between the airline and the CACC. “We both help to bring Canadians and Australians closer together,” she said. “We both connect Canadians living in Australia connect with their far away home and foster growth and expansion between the two countries.” “Air Canada is proud to be...

O Canada, we threw a great party in honour of thee! It was a capacity crowd at the CACC’s Sydney Canada Day celebration on July 1st where attendees enjoyed an evening of networking, vying for incredible prizes and sipping on some tasty Niagara-on-the-Lake wine. And while we didn’t have any Mounties in attendance, we did have a couple of Moose onesies! It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that, eh? The festivities were kicked off with opening remarks by CACC CEO, Melissa Wharton, and by esteemed guest, Angela Bogdan, Consul-General of Canada in Australia. Bogdan’s remarks highlighting Canada’s reputation for inclusion and diversity where echoed by Martin Croft, Associate Director, discussing the Canadian musical sensation, Come From Away—that is having its Australian premiere in Melbourne in July. Come From Away is not only representative of Canadian theatrical talent that has had great success on the world stage but its story is the true embodiment of what some would refer to as “a Canadian sensibility” and the country’s legacy of helping those in need during an international crisis. PICTURED: Angela Bogdan, Consul General of Canada, Australia Thanks to our generous donors and congrats to our lucky winners of tickets to three amazing Canadian performances: Come From Away, Cirque du Soleil’s Kurious, and Just for Laughs. Other guests were rewarded for demonstrating their Canadiana trivia prowess with a myriad of Canadian delights (including a coveted bag of All Dressed chips!). PICTURED: Martin Croft, Associate Director - Come From Away Special thanks to our Canada Day event sponsor, Air Canada, who provided the ultimate door prize—a return flight on Air Canada between Sydney and Canada—won by Leah Tulloch, from CACC corporate sponsor Altus Group. PICTURED: Sarah Constable, Air Canada, Leah Tulloch, Altus Group and Doug Carmichael, CACC President. It was a fun evening...

From Dumbledore to Yoda, mentors are a part of our culture. So much so that they are some of the best-known film and television characters. They are responsible for guiding the hero through their journey or putting them on a path of self-discovery. One might find themselves wondering, do I have a mentor in my life? Who would I consider a mentor? What is a mentor? Typically speaking a mentor relationship is voluntary on both sides but can occasionally result from a relationship between a manager and their team. The idea behind the concept of mentoring is somewhat charitable with the more successful, senior member of the duo passing on information they have learned to someone who will benefit from their experience. Likewise, a mentee has the opportunity to collaborate with the mentor and contribute a different perspective. Mentoring is more than just giving advice to someone. It is about motivating and empowering the mentee to be able to identify and achieve their own goals. As a mentee, you can hope to change and achieve your goals more quickly and effectively than working alone. Additionally, you will gain access to a broader network, which can benefit yourself and others. It is essentially a chain of passing on information and best practices. This allows the benefits to be more widely spread. It’s about sharing knowledge, skills and life experience. So become a Luke Skywalker today and sign up. 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.  

An effective mentoring relationship has the potential to create successful leaders and the odds are you have benefited from such a relationship throughout your career.  Perhaps at various points in your career, you have also been a mentor in some capacity, even if informally. Typically speaking a mentor relationship is voluntary on both sides but can occasionally result from a relationship between a manager and their team. The idea behind the concept of mentoring is somewhat charitable with the more successful, senior member of the duo passing on information they have learned to someone who will benefit from their experience. Likewise, a mentee has the opportunity to collaborate with the mentor and contribute a different perspective. Although many people may have had an informal mentoring experience, there can be great benefit from goal setting through formal mentoring. This allows the opportunity to enhance your people and leadership skills as you work with individuals at different points in their careers. You can learn fresh perspectives from future members of your profession and increase your profile. Mentoring is more than giving advice, it’s about collaboration and empowerment. It’s a chain of passing on information and best practices, spreading the benefits more widely. So empower yourself to empower someone else and sign up to be a mentor today. 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.

Creative industries are a strength of the Canadian economy. According to government figures, in 2016 the creative industries accounted for more than 650,000 direct jobs and made up 2.8% of Canada’s GDP. The creative industries yielded $16 billion in exported products. Key export markets include New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Shanghai, Mumbai, Tokyo and Mexico – and increasingly Australia. Come From Away Cast announcement in Melbourne .“Australia is a leading international destination for Canadian investment in the cultural industries.  There are exceptional opportunities to pursue with Australia across the arts spectrum and in the creative application of new technologies.  At the Consulate, we are pleased to play an integral role to help position Canadian artists and cultural institutions for ongoing success in this market," said Angela Bogdan, Consul General of Canada in Sydney Canada’s biggest cultural exports, the ‘Just for Laughs’ comedy festival, launched in Montreal in 1983 and now one of the largest international comedy festival in the world, just finished another successful two-week run at the Sydney Opera House and the critically acclaimed Canadian musical ‘Come from Away’, the latest high profile cultural event to be staged in Australia, will premiere in Melbourne in June 2019. Based on actual events that happened on 11 September 2001 and the days after, ‘Come from Away’ tells the true story of the 7,000 air passengers who became grounded in Gander, Newfoundland, in the aftermath of 11 September when 38 planes were diverted to the small Canadian town when they could not land in US airspace. Written by Tony and Grammy nominees, David Hein and Irene Sankoff, the production uses hundreds of interviews taken from the community in Gander to deliver a powerful message about the kindness of strangers. ‘Come from Away’ will premiere in Australia on 20 July at Melbourne’s revamped Comedy Theatre....

There is a buzz in the air in Toronto that can be felt from 15,000km away in Australia. Since the Sydney-based Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) was reinvigorated four years ago, it has gone from strength to strength. The CACC now boasts more than 30 volunteers, as well as some incredibly high-profile corporate sponsors and members. The focus is now on expanding the Canadian arm of the Chamber. Following the successful launch of the Melbourne Committee of the CACC 12 months ago, a Toronto Committee is now being established to increase the Chamber’s volunteer and supporter base. The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) is a non-profit, business-focused organisation that aims to build business connections and assist trade and investment as a means to bring Canada and Australia closer together. The CACC was established to strengthen business relationships between the countries, making it easier for companies to establish themselves in both Canada and Australia. The Toronto Committee is now calling for expressions of interest from potential members and volunteers interested in sharing business expertise that will further enhance Canadian-Australian trade and investment relationships. People with connections to or business interests in these countries who want to assist in strengthening these ties should get in touch with the Chamber to get involved. The Toronto Committee will be headed up by directors Greg McNab and Ross Campbell. Mr McNab has a strong history with the Toronto arm of the CACC, dating back to 2009, while Mr Campbell has recently joined the Toronto arm after relocating from Sydney where he was heavily involved in the Australian arm. Both have a passion for strengthening business relationships, trade and investment between the two countries and are excited about the new opportunities in store for Toronto. Mr Campbell said being part of the Chamber created...

A networking breakfast hosted across Sydney and Melbourne by the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) in conjunction with Export Development Canada (EDC) discussed the need to adapt in a changing and diverse trade environment and the outlook for trade between the two countries. Mastering the Mayhem: Canada and Australia in a World of Trade Chaos provided insight into the impacts of significant political shifts and policy development on trade between the world’s economies with keynote speakers: Peter Hall, VP & Chief Economist from EDC; Mark Thirlwell, Head of Research and Chief Economist for Austrade; and Professor Philip Adams, Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University. The speakers examined world trade in the current environment from a Canadian and Australian perspective. PICTURED (from left): Mark Thirwell - Head of Research and Chief Economist for Austrade and Peter Hall - VP & Chief Economist from EDC. Export Development Canada has a significant role to play in this sphere and aims to double its business volume in Australia over the next three years. To support this growth objective, EDC opened its first Australian representation office in Sydney last November. The export credit agency, a financially self-sustaining Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada, facilitated more than $3 billion in trade with Australia last year and served over 450 Canadian exporters and investors in the market. With strength in both the Australian and Canadian markets, export opportunities between the two countries are expected to continue increasing in the coming years. EDC is committed to assisting Canadian companies make the most of these opportunities. EDC's Chief Representative for Australia, Teri Nizzola, said she is seeing many new and innovative Canadian businesses entering the Australian market, bringing with them products and services that can benefit Australian consumers. “Though halfway across the world, there is a...

This week the CACC was excited to host The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, for boardroom briefings in both Sydney and Melbourne as part of a visit to Australia in support of his recently published book ‘Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in The Age of Disruption’. The events, entitled Political Disruption: A Conversation with the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, discussed the current political landscape and the impact this is having on business and trade relationships across the western world. With a political career that included founding Canada’s modern Conservative Party in 2004, followed by three successive national election victories in 2006, 2008, and 2011, Mr Harper’s time as Prime Minister saw Canada sign historic trade deals, undergo significant growth, and cement its standing as a leader within the G7 nations.  He reduced federal taxes in Canada to their lowest levels in more than fifty years, created 1.3 million jobs, balanced the budget while making investments in healthcare and infrastructure, attracted new investment and fostered innovation. Despite only three years having passed since Mr Harper left office, the global political landscape has shifted dramatically, driven primarily by the rise of populist movements around the world that have created an atmosphere of uncertainty. “I left office in 2015 and the world went to hell in a handbasket,” Mr Harper jokes. Mr Harper’s book explores why we are seeing phenomenons such as the Brexit referendum, the election of Donald Trump and the rise of new, unorthodox populist parties. PICTURED (from Left): Melissa Wharton, CEO - CACC, Mike McGrath, Managing Partner - PwC Australia, TRH Stephen Harper, Sophie Galaise, Honourary Member - CACC Melbourne Committee & MD - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Lesley Gillespie, CACC Director & Co-Founder Bakers Delight. Mr Harper points to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) as...