The conference featured distinguished guests, including Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Wolfgang Hesoun, the Austrian Federal Minister for Labour and Economy, Dr. Univ – Prof. Martin Kocher, and the Australian Federal Assistant Minister for Trade and Industry, Sen. the Hon. Tim Ayres.
In our first panel moderated by leading Australian journalist Jennifer Hewett, Sen. the Hon. Tim Ayres and Dr. Kocher shared their views on the international economic situation and discussed the challenges posed by new working environments. They engaged in a lively and insightful discussion on a range of topics, including global manufacturing challenges and the worldwide skills shortage.
Our second panel discussed the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Australia. Our expert panel comprising of the EU Ambassador to Australia, Gabriele Visentin, Jason Collins from the European Australian Business Council and Sen. the Hon. Tim Ayres discussed whether negotiations are close to being finalised and the obstacles which still need to be addressed.
Another highlight of the conference was the panel on opportunities for local manufacturing, which featured Vice President Wolfgang Hesoun, Kylie Bell from Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Dr. Jens Goennemann and Kelly Godeau from Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session highlighted the importance of innovation, collaboration and the adoption of new technologies in driving growth and competitiveness.
The conference culminated in a celebratory gathering of 170 individuals at the Museum of Contemporary Art, overlooking Sydney Harbour. It was a night of celebration, success, and we extend our thanks to all who contributed to making this event a success, including the Austrian subsidiaries in Australia and selected Austrian companies.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors. Your contribution allowed us to create an exceptional experience for our attendees, and we are truly grateful for your continued partnership.
We would also like to thank all those present who engaged and made the event a lively and dynamic experience. We hope you found the content informative, thought-provoking, and enjoyable.
We look forward to welcoming you to future AUSTRIA CONNECT events and continuing the conversation on opportunities for collaboration and growth!
