The CACC Young Professionals Committee recently hosted its inaugural event – a virtual panel discussion aimed at young Australians and Canadians interested in working abroad, entitled “The Expat Experience”.

CACC CEO, Melissa Wharton, welcomed the Director of International Experience Canada (IEC), Clark Goodman, as the keynote speaker to share his perspective and experience with Australians living and working abroad in Canada.

Mr Goodman highlighted the importance of the open work permit in strengthening the bilateral relationship, noting that there are approximately 7000 Canadian and Australian youths living and working in each other’s country at any given time.

“The open work permit is, by and large, a cultural program that ensures that youth from all parts of our society are able to participate by being able to work and pay their own way. Without that work aspect, you are simply a tourist” he said.

Mr Goodman also cited some of the other benefits associated with the movement of youth across Australia and Canada – particularly in moulding a generation of employees with skills in critical thinking, resilience, the ability to adapt and face new challenges and initiative.

“As an employer, these are skills we look for in our future employees”, said Mr Goodman.

After the keynote speech, moderator Laurie Mac introduced the Executive Director of AFL Canada, Jacob Haeusler, and Senior Policy Officer at the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Paroma Dunbar, to join Mr Goodman on the panel and share their own expat experiences.

Jacob started the panel discussion by sharing his story from regional Victoria all the way to Ottawa and the impact his move to Canada has had on his career.

“I started as a teacher and was very focussed on being a leading teacher or a Principal. After I arrived in Canada, it opened me up to so many different experiences and skills. I started out in sales and then found myself in my current role at AFL Canada. I don’t see myself getting back into teaching!”

Paroma emphasised the transformative nature of her expat experience, and its ability to make her appreciate the finer things in life.

“To uproot your life and live, work or study abroad helps put things into perspective because you are constantly learning – particularly about your surroundings”, she said.

Laurie then invited viewers to submit questions for the panel to answer a range of interesting questions. Interestingly, Mr Goodman shared information on opportunities for Australian and Canadian public sector employees to move between various Departments in each country, giving the attendees some food for thought.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, June 16, 2022 – The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce (CACC) congratulates corporate sponsor, Air Canada, on its resumption of non-stop flights between Brisbane and Vancouver. To recognise this important milestone and benefit to Australian and Canadian businesses, a special breakfast and pre-launch event was held in Brisbane.

Among those joining Air Canada’s celebration are representatives from CACC, Canada’s High Commissioner to Australia and Consul General to Sydney, Queensland’s Treasurer and Minister of Trade and Investment, delegates of international trade and export development, executives from Air Canada and guests from across different business sectors.

After two years of pandemic disruption, travellers expressed they are ready to dust off their passports to connect to world renowned holiday destinations and business opportunities. This included people who have been isolated from friends and family who were waiting for travel convenience.

The return of non-stop, direct flights is also welcomed by businesses involved in trade and business relationships between Australia and Canada. The convenience of transiting and travel time for product shipments and people is necessary and important across many economic sectors such as international students and agriculture.

Air Canada’s re-start of regular service between Brisbane and Vancouver is expected to refuel and support the recovery of both countries’ international travel and trade sectors. The inaugural restoration flight will depart Vancouver on July 1^st, as Canadians celebrate Canada Day and close ties with our Australian cousins.

Operating four times a week, Queenslanders will be able to connect onwards from Vancouver to destinations across Canada, the United States and beyond. In Australia, travellers will be able to book conjunction flights to major cities and popular Queensland tourist destinations, such as Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, the Whitsundays, and Cairns.

Canada-Australia business and people ties are of significance to our two economies. We also share several major industries and complement each other by operating opposing tourist seasons. The CACC and Air Canada will continue to work together to bring Canadians and Australians closer together.

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 Shauna Fjaagesund

CACC Brisbane Committee 

The Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Consul General of Canada in Sydney, Andre Francois Giroux, and the Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Sarah Quigley to two events in Melbourne in May to discuss COVID-19, international trade and expanding into new markets. Hosted by Minter Ellison, the events were the first held in person by the CACC since the start of the pandemic and were an opportunity for business discussions and networking.

Consul General Giroux said coming to Australia had been one of the best moves for his family. “When I go home each night to see big smiling faces with everyone so grateful and happy to be here, it really reinforces how wonderful it is to be in Australia,” he said. Consul General Giroux said while it was sometimes easy to forget about COVID-19 in Australia, given the remarkable efforts that had been achieved in controlling the virus, watching the news was a stark reminder that other countries were not fairing so well. Yet he said the importance of international trade to the Australian market meant the border could not stay closed forever. “There will be a time when Australia needs to open its border because international trade is such an important part of its economy. In Canada, two thirds of its economy rests with international trade and it is a similar reality for Australia,” he said. “The Canadian Government is working really hard to ensure we have a post-COVID recovery that rests on the principles of rules-based trade. We have a number of free trade agreements in place, which are crucial to ensuring the free flow of Canadian goods and services to other parts of the world.”

When it came to the role of the Canadian Commission in Sydney and the Canadian High Commission in Canberra, Consul General Giroux said it was a team effort and both worked incredibly closely together. “We are bringing you a whole-of-Canada approach down under,” he said.

Ms Quigley, who also took up her posting early last year as the pandemic hit, said her role was about providing advice about trade promotion and investment to Canadian businesses to allow them to expand in Australia by connecting them with funding, support and opportunities. “The trade commissioner service helps Canadian businesses move into the Australian market,” she said. “We can help with networking and advocacy to government as well as through many of our support programs, which may help Canadian businesses expand into new markets.”

“There is a lot of funding available now, especially in Australia which is less constrained than other countries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Ms Quigley said inclusive trade was also an area with support programs available. “We are doing a lot of work in the Indigenous space. I am planning our first ever Indigenous trade mission to Australia at the end of June, brining 10 Canadian trade companies to Australia. I am keen for them to be welcomed by Australian companies looking to purchase their goods and services,” she said.

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 Samantha Robin

CACC Member Engagement Committee 

Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner Sarah Quigley took up her posting in Australia in January 2020, just as the first COVID-19 cases emerged in Australia. She relocated first to Canberra and then Sydney from Vancouver, with her New Zealand-born husband and two young children. Despite arriving in Australia during a difficult time, Ms Quigley said she loved the beauty of the country and the attitude of the people.

“I obviously came to Australia at a challenging time, amidst the bushfires and then COVID-19, and I quickly gained an understanding of the resilience and fortitude of Australians, qualities which are shared by Canadians.”

As Senior Trade Commissioner, her role is to lead the trade team in Australia and advise on matters of trade promotion and investment to help Canadian businesses grow in Australia by connecting them with funding, support and opportunities. Conversely, she helps Australian businesses invest and expand in Canada. The trade team consists of 14 trade commissioners and trade commissioner assistants across Australia.

“We help businesses export abroad by providing them information on the sector, product or service in Australia they are involved in,” Ms Quigley said. “We provide practical exporting assistance to businesses, helping them get their product from point A to point B. We also support businesses through programs like CanExport, which provides financial assistance to businesses looking to break into new markets.”

“We provide problem solving assistance in helping businesses assess their potential or provide business contacts here in Australia.”

“Another important service we provide is market access, so if businesses are having trouble in a particular sector, for example, navigating a regulatory issue, we work with these businesses to help represent their needs.”

She said being a Senior Trade Commissioner was incredibly interesting and rewarding. “The best part about the role is meeting with Canadian companies. It’s so exciting to see what these companies have accomplished so far from home; it makes me proud to be a Canadian. “It’s also great to meet the Australian businesses and to see the breadth and collaboration between Canadian and Australian companies.”

She said trade agreements in both Australia and Canada allowed for severely reduced tariffs, creating enormous opportunities for businesses. “There is a real ease in doing business between Australia and Canada, there are so many similarities between the two countries.” Ms Quigley said one of the biggest challenges for Canadian businesses expanding into Australia was the competition.

“Competition is one of the biggest risks for businesses moving into the Australian market. Australian companies also have ready access to low-cost regional producers, which is perhaps underestimated by Canadian businesses coming into the Australian market.”

When talking about growth areas, she said there were still plenty of opportunities for Canadian businesses looking to expand to Australia. “Infrastructure is a real growth sector in Australia and there is enormous opportunity for Canadian businesses to be a part of that. Renewables are another sector where opportunities exist, with an emphasis on solar and wind. The other growth area is digital, including artificial intelligence and robotics but also links into many other sectors more broadly, such as agri-business and mining tech.”

Ms Quigley acknowledged that while the pandemic has been challenging for some businesses, it has opened up new opportunities for others. “I think there will be legacies from COVID that we will keep, particularly in the digital sector. What businesses need to be looking at, is whether the new way of doing business has improved things. Have these changes added revenue, lowered cost, improved experiences? We need to pay attention to that technical transformation brought about by COVID-19 and assess the opportunities it presents.”

Her message to businesses was to take advantage of the support on offer.

“Canada is open for business. The Trade Commissioner Service is here to help Canadian businesses exporting to Australia. As is the rest of Team Canada: Export Development Canada, Invest in Canada and others such as provincial and territorial partners. We also work closely with our local counterparts Austrade, Supply Nation and business associations such as the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada.

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 Samantha Robin

CACC Member Engagement Committee 

As anyone in business knows, the past year has challenged us in ways we could not have conceived. The COVID-19 pandemic plunged us into the great unknown. It forced us to change direction rapidly while under enormous pressure, to push boundaries and take risks in order to keep businesses running. Despite the challenges, many businesses are emerging from the other side. So, what lies ahead? Canadian and Australian economists contemplated this question at the Future of Business online webinar, hosted by the CACC in February.

PWC Australia Managing Partner and CACC board member Mike McGrath said we were still living in uncertain times and grappling with operating in a COVID-normal world.

“Deadlines have come and gone, we’ve had lockdowns – both in Australia and in Canada – and vaccination programs are gradually rolling out,” he said. “There have been government stimulus packages and impacts on strategies and purpose. Businesses have tried to hold onto employees and continue their core functions. We’ve seen people transition to working from home and we’ve seen a change in social sentiment as people have reflected on what is important in life. In this context, we want to look at the economic outlook and recovery and where businesses go from here.”

Managing Director and Chief Economist for RBC Capital Markets Su-Lin Ong said the pandemic had helped businesses realise the importance of digitisation and research and development. “Businesses that have had digitalisation strategies in place have been able to react quickly and keep businesses going,” she said. “We are going to see more of this in the months and years ahead.” Yet, for many of us who have been working at home for the better part of a year, human connection has become more important than ever.

Vice President and Chief Economist for Export Development Canada Peter Hall said people were craving human connection like never before. “There is a frustration with digitisation and a living in a virtual world,” he said. “Humans have an innate desire to come together, and I think we will see people returning to offices and more traditional ways of working.”    Mr Hall reflected on the proverb: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. “This relates to the waves of activity we have been through. We have deferred hope in our economy, time and time again. COVID-19 is governing the economy, as infection rates go up, the economy goes down,” he said. Mr Hall said despite the challenges of 2020, the economic outlook was positive. “The developed world is rapidly rebounding, and the economic outlook is looking hopeful,” he said.

Ms Ong agreed that the outlook was positive but said the health outcomes were key to our economic fortunes. “Vaccine rollouts, the take-up, efficacy, when border restrictions ease will all be key to how we are going to come out of this pandemic,” she said.

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 Samantha Robin

CACC Member Engagement Committee 

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 organisation but there is still a lot more work to do and it will take enormous investment and courage to ensure we continue on that journey,” she said.

“Today in Canada, women-owned businesses make up just 16 per cent of Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises. And that is truly not enough, especially when you take into account the research that says companies that have at least one female founder outperformed companies with all-male founding teams by 63 per cent.”

PICTURED (from left to right): Mairead Lavery, President of Export Development Canada, Melissa Wharton, CEO of CACC and Teri Nizzola, Chief Representative Australia, Export Development Canada.

“To turn this around, we have launched our Women in Trade to facilitate trade for women-owned and women-led businesses, helping them build the knowledge and connections and access the financial tools they need to move into new markets confidently.”

She said in order for businesses to flourish they needed to share their successes.

“Success is a learned thing, it is something to be shared, in fact it can be contagious, and it is something that is best enjoyed in very large groups,” she said.

“As entrepreneurs, as business leaders, as women, let’s not be shy about fighting passionately for the success we imagine and dream about for ourselves and then let’s dream it for others and make that happen too.”

She said the best way for businesses to address diversity and inclusion was to ask their employees what it looked like to them. “We have to embrace diversity and listen to our employees who may see things very differently to ourselves. By listening to different groups, we can better understand their needs and will be better placed to address those needs.”

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 Samantha Robin

CACC Member Engagement Committee 

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.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 16 2019:CACC members reception at PWC on the 16th of December 2019 in Melbourne Australia. (Image/Martin Philbey)

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.”

PICTURED (from left to right): Marc-Andre Hawkes, Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner – Canadian Consulate, Sydney, Melissa Wharton, CEO – CACC, H.E. Mark Glauser, High Commissioner for Canada, Canberra, Lesley Gillespie, CoFounder – Bakers Delight & Treasurer – CACC, Mike McGrath, CMO – PwC Australia & Director – CACC.

Outlining the Canadian Government’s agenda for business and trade development, he said there were three main priorities.

“Firstly, climate change – the defining issue of our time. For business, this means developments in clean technology, green technology, efficient homes, efficient cars and efficient power grids.”

“The second priority is growing the middle class, which also creates business opportunities. Canada’s free trade agreements and support for rules-based international trade is an important part of this priority.”

“The third priority is Indigenous reconciliation. There is a tremendous amount of business that is taking place around aboriginal and Indigenous entrepreneurs. We had the biggest delegation of Indigenous Australians to Canada at the World Indigenous Business Forum held in October, where we had 55 Indigenous entrepreneurs.”

He said improving healthcare was also a priority area for the Canadian Government and that this created opportunities for businesses to develop solutions to health problems.

Mr Glauser highlighted that, among Canada’s free trade agreements, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is another way the government is helping to facilitate business opportunities both in Canada and Australia.

“The CPTPP is a series of bilateral free trade agreements. It covers an area that is home to more than 500 million people and is worth $13.5 trillion dollars of the world economy. The CPTPP includes a new Canada-Australia free trade agreement that commenced in December 2018.”

“Goods, services, investment, the free movement of people, these have all been frustrations for businesses for many years. These trade agreements are designed to simplify doing business.”

He likened the trade agreements to building a new car and said that businesses in Australia and Canada now have the keys.

“My encouragement to all of the businesses associated with the CACC would be to find out how you can take advantage of this.”

The High Commissioner thanked the CACC for the opportunity to speak with the Melbourne business community and for its ongoing commitment to strengthening business partnerships between Australia and Canada. He said he looked forward to working with the CACC, its members and sponsors while he was in Australia.

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. 

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 advantage in the global marketplace, but overall, Canadian funds are often larger than the Australian superfunds and have a longer history of making direct investments into global assets.

In order for Canadians and Australians to value investing in each other’s countries through super funds and pensions funds, the attendees concluded that engaging with governments and stakeholders on infrastructure investments is necessary to produce long term capital gains.

Lastly, the discussion also highlighted the global concerns of climate change. There was a clear consensus that if asset owners are becoming more active in engaging with environmental, social and governance issues, we need to rethink environmental treaties and protections. Currently, EDC has a strong focus on clean energy and the circular economy.

Canada and Australia can collectively create a better future by working together at all levels- political, diplomatic, and business. This mutual alignment will help make our countries the location of choice for resource companies that demonstrate how to achieve responsible economic and environmental performance. Going forward, the attendees agreed that it is helpful and informative to continue having discussions like this more often to bring forth new ideas to help shape investments for the future.

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 Sonia Khosla

CACC Member Engagement Committee 

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