Dear Members,
As we approach the AustCham Shanghai AGM 2010, I would like to give
you an update on our key activities in what has indeed been an
extremely successful year to date.
One of the highlights has certainly been our Associate Partnership
with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the
Australian Pavilion. Through this partnership, AustCham Shanghai
has been privileged to hold several events in the pavilion, most
recently our Gala Cocktail Evening attended by more than 100
members last night. What a terrific event!
Through referrals by AustCham Shanghai, many of our members have
participated in DFAT and Austrade industry events including the
Brand Australia launch and Financial Services dinner with the Trade
Minister Simon Crean, Victoria Week, Queensland Week, the Transport
and Logistics event and most recently the SME entrepreneurs' event
held last Saturday night.
Many of our members participated in pre-opening tours of the
pavilion and were given exclusive access to National Day
celebrations on 8 June with the Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms
Quentin Bryce.
Outside the pavilion we have and will continue to capitalise on
the stream of high profile speakers including most of the State
Premiers and Chief Ministers, the chief economists from three of
Australia's biggest banks, Westpac's CEO Gail Kelly, and Australian
food extraordinaire Stephanie Alexander.
Our Industry Committees have gone from strength to strength this
year, with the Financial Services Committee and informal
Agribusiness Committee working on white papers for presentation to
Government. The Transport and Logistics, Small Business,
Construction and Property, and Expo Committees continue to set
their own unique and inspiring agendas and share pre-market
information, insights and intelligence about their industry.
The Industry Committees generally meet bi-monthly and facilitate
regulatory updates, issues papers, roundtables and industry peer
group networking. They are also an important platform for
communication with both Chinese and Australian governments. If you
are interested in getting involved, please contact our Secretariat
staff.
In March, AustCham Shanghai welcomed the support of 12 Platinum
Sponsors: ANZ, Bluescope Steel, Blake Dawson, Commonwealth Bank,
Flight Centre, Macquarie, Manage China, National Australia Bank,
Rio Tinto, The Executive Centre, Which Property? and Westpac. Thank
you to all our Platinum Sponsors - we greatly appreciate your
ongoing support.
I recently had pleasure in advising Minister Simon Crean that 12
of the AustCham organisations had signed an MOU in March to provide
a common identity across Asia. This has extended to 17
organisations and growing and we have given it the name 'Australian
Business Asia'.
In April, AustCham Shanghai signed an MOU with AustChams
Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau, and Guangzhou, to work towards a
Greater China AustCham to better serve our members across China.
Members will be updated on this initiative as further progress is
made.
As part of AustCham Shanghai's ongoing growth strategy, we
relocated to bigger and brighter offices in May. Our new office in
the Silver Court building includes a dynamic event space, and we
look forward to welcoming members to this exciting new
location.
Through fundraising at our events, we have continued to support
a wide range of Community Outreach projects with the following
organisations: Heart to Heart Shanghai, Shanghai Charity
Foundation, The Renewal Centre, Baobei Foundation Shanghai
Municipal Welfare Foundation for the Disabled, and CREO
Foundation's Yushu Earthquake Relief Project. Our contributions to
these projects since January 2010 have totalled approximately
RMB380,000.
AustCham Shanghai will be privileged later this year to host the
Australia-China Business Awards for the first time in Shanghai.
These awards have grown in stature over the years and they are now
recognised as a high profile celebration of business success among
Australia's growing and influential business communities in the
region. Nominations open on 14 July and I would encourage all
eligible businesses to make the most of this opportunity to be
recognised for demonstrating excellence in their fields.
Last week we announced the theme for the 15th annual Great
Australian Ball: "The Wonderful World of Oz ... there's no place
like home". This event is consistently the highlight of the
Australian social calendar in Shanghai and I'd strongly encourage
you lock the date into your diary now - Saturday 11th September
2010.
Finally, I would like to invite all members to participate in
our AGM on Wednesday 30 June.
Date: Wednesday 30 June 2010
Venue: Ernst & Young Board Room
Address: Level 23, The Center, 989 Chang Le Road, Shanghai
Time: 4:00pm sharp (registration from 3:00pm)
RSVP: amy.xu@austchamshanghai.com
The AGM 2010 will be concerned, inter alia, with the election to
fill those vacancies falling due at AGM 2010 on the AustCham
Shanghai Board of Directors for the term 2010-2012
The six candidates standings for five positions include:
David Rosenthal - ANZ
Peter Arkell - Swan Global
Tim Lyons - Manage China
Colette Chester - Which Property
Darren Lewis - Sai Cheng Logistics International
Andrew Whitford - Westpac Banking Corporation
All AustCham Shanghai members are eligible to attend the AGM and
participate in debate specifically related to their membership
category. However, only Corporate/Voting Member Representatives in
good standing and registered as attending to vote at the AGM (or
their formally appointed Proxy) may vote.
Please
click here to RSVP for the AGM 2010 required by 4pm
sharp on Monday 28 June.
Please click
here for the Proxy nomination form required by 4pm
sharp on Tuesday 29 June.
Thank you for your support, and please continue to provide any
feedback regarding AustCham Shanghai to our Board Directors or
Executive Director Kim Gilliland.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen White
Chair
AustCham Shanghai