2012 ANU Robert Schuman Lecture

Presented by Alastair Walton, President & Chairman of the Board, EABC

23 May 2012
Finkel Lecture Theatre, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU

Press Release: 2012 ANU Schuman Lecture

Transcript: 2012 ANU Schuman Lecture - 'New Alliances: Australia and
Europe in a G20 World', by Alastair Walton

Video: 2012 ANU Schuman Lecture - 'New Alliances: Australia and Europe in a G20 World.'

EABC 2012 Programme Launch

7 February 2012
Louis Vuitton Maison, Sydney

On Tuesday 7 February EABC’s 2012 Programme was launched by EABC Chairman Alastair Walton at a special reception hosted by Louis Vuitton Oceania CEO Philip Corne at Louis Vuitton Maison Sydney. Philip Corne welcomed all guests to the Maison, which represents a major investment by the LVMH Group, the global leader in luxury products with over €23 billion in global sales, and a staff of 80,000 people worldwide. The Sydney store is one of only fourteen Maisons in global cities such as Paris, New York, London and Milan.

Special guests included the NSW Minister for Finance and Services, the Hon Greg Pearce MLC who praised the EABC for the important role it performs in promoting Australia as a destination for European investment and congratulated and thanked Louis Vuitton on the opening of its magnificent new store in Sydney.

EABC members and guests who participated in the launch included Deputy Chairman Stephen Loosley, Business Council of Australia President Tony Shepherd, Austrade CEO Peter Grey, PwC Chairman Bruce Morgan, GPT Group CEO Michael Cameron, NAB Finance Director Mark Joiner, Macquarie Group Chairman Kevin McCann, ANZ NSW & ACT Chairman Warwick Smith, Servcorp Director Taine Moufarrige, Visa CEO Vipin Kalra, Lynas President Eric Noyrez and Sydney Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Patricia Forsythe.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union Andrea Nicolej and NSW Deputy State Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade represented the European Commission and the Australian Government at the launch.

Chairman Alastair Walton noted that 2012 will mark the 10 year anniversary of the launch of the EABC Corporate Programme by the then European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, who was EABC’s guest in Sydney twelve months ago in his current role as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The previous twelve months represented a high-point in the development of the organisation with EABC having participated in the Prime Ministerial visit to Brussels and in hosting the European Commission President in Australia. In the year ahead the EABC programme will continue to improve and expand, with programme launches in Brisbane and Perth, the 6th annual Australian Business Mission travelling to Frankfurt, Brussels and the Hague in early June, as well as the announcement of a new Australian-European Leadership Dialogue to be held in Europe and Australia.

At the conclusion of formalities Deputy Chairman Stephen Loosley thanked all members and partners for their support and in particular Philip Corne and the team at Louis Vuitton for their generous hospitality.

Above: Louis Vuitton Oceania CEO Philip Corne welcomes guests to Louis Vuitton Maison Sydney
Right: NSW Minister for Finance and Services, the Hon Greg Pearce MLC addresses EABC members and guests

EABC 2011 End of Year Reception

29 November 2011
Melbourne

On 29 November, 2011, European Australian Business Council (EABC) members and guests came together in Melbourne to celebrate the conclusion of a highly successful twelve months, having been the Council’s most active and successful year by far.

Members and representatives of the EABC joined representatives from Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom at the reception. Following the reception, guests joined members of the Board for dinner and discussion on various topics, and the year ahead.

In his address, EABC President & Chairman Alastair Walton stated that being hosted at Government House provided a high point of the 2011 calendar, and also that the year had seen EABC institutionalised as a national organisation with regular events in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and launches for Brisbane and Perth programmes in 2012.

Alastair also noted that the Europe-Australia investment relationship was now over $1 Trillion in value, and that more than ever before European companies are looking for growth opportunities in Australia and the regional market.

The highlights of 2011 were reflected on, including participation in the official visit of Prime Minister Gillard to Europe, hosting the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso during his Australian visit, and a successful EABC Business Mission to Europe where the delegation was received by President Barroso and also the President of Germany.

Above: EABC Chairman Alastair Walton, His Excellency Governor Chernov and EABC CEO Jason Collins

Above: EABC Board Members and His Excellency Governor Chernov

Above: His Excellency Governor Chernov

Above: Philip Hocking, National President of Swiss Australian Chamber of Commerce, His Excellency Governor Chernov and The Hon Peter Costello AC

EABC Tenth Anniversary Reception

On November 19, 2009, Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce, Governor General of Australia hosted the European Australian Business Council's tenth anniversary reception at Admiralty House.  Against the beautiful backdrop of Sydney's harbour, guests joined the Governor General and the EABC board in celebrating this significant milestone.

Left - Mr Ian Murray (EABC Treasurer), Mr Alastair Walton (EABC Chairman), Mr Jason Collins (EABC CEO) and Ms Jo Johns (EABC Director) listen to Her Excellency's address.

Below,right - The EABC reception marquee in the grounds of Admiralty House.

Guests included Ambassadors and consular representatives from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.  Representatives from organisations including National Australia Bank, JP Morgan, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Stockland, Visa and Sagem attended the reception.

Mr Alastair Walton (EABC Chairman) and Mr David Daly(Ambassador and Head of Delegation, European Commission to Australia and New Zealand) share a joke with Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce.

Her Excellency and EABC Board Member, Mr Max Moore-Wilton

EABC Oration

Every year the EABC hosts an oration by a senior figure in the EU-Australian community.

The 2009 Oration was delivered on October the 26th, hosted by QANTAS a Major Partner of the EABC, by Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services.

Please click here for a transcript of the speech

At our 2008 Oration, Mr Steven Loosley, Special Counsel, Minter Ellison spoke about Australia’s foreign policy in a speech “From Brussels to Bucharest – a Fourth Leg for Australian Foreign Policy”

Please click here for a transcript of the speech.