American Australian Association

QUEENSLAND STATE PREMIER – PITCHES FOR INVESTMENT

noemail@americanaustralian.org — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Queensland Premier,
The Hon. Anna Bligh

News Corporation, the American Australian Association and the Queensland Treasury Corporation sponsored a luncheon on Friday, 13 June 2008 hosting Queensland’s first female Premier, The Hon Anna Bligh. The executive lunch held in Newscorp’s Leonard French Room was attended by a mix of high powered investors and corporate executives, including from Deutsche Bank, Standard and Poors, Barclays, American International Group and Merck.

Premier Anna Bligh was leading Queensland’s largest biotechnology delegation to the 2008 Bio International Convention in San Diego and the trade mission to the US.

Premier Bligh showcased Queensland, as the “Smart State” to investors and described Queensland as an ‘exciting and compelling state in the Australian story’.

While pitching investment in Queensland, highlighted the recent 2008-09 Queensland State Budget and the government’s expectation of continued strong economic growth stating ‘Queensland has a strong and buoyant outlook’ and ‘Queensland is where the action is’.

Queensland Key Facts:

AAA Standard & Poor’s credit rating;
Economic growth at 4 ¼ per cent exceeds the national average of 2 ¾ per cent ( 13th year growth in Queensland has exceeded the national average);
Second fast growing economy in Australia after West Australia;
Export growth is at a four year high – the resource boom is in full swing, there is strong demand for commodity exports and the economy has a diverse base, which includes biotechnology, agriculture and tourism;
Competitive tax regime – Queensland tax is lower than the national average;
Only jurisdiction which fully funds employee liabilities – a feature which places Queensland in an attractive market position;
Heavy investment in infrastructure, for example expansion in ports, rail, road, water, schools and public transport to keep ahead of the game.

In conclusion, Premier Bligh said that “In the face of worldwide credit crises the Smart State is a strong, reliable investment destination”.

30-Jun-08 9:00 AM

Austrade Financial Services Mission to New York: 9-13 June 2008

noemail@americanaustralian.org — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:00:00 GMT

The American Australian Association is pleased to support Austrade’s forthcoming inaugural Financial Services – Funds Management and ICT Missions to New York City. These missions will be held from 9-13 June 2008.

The Funds Management Mission – the first of its kind – aims to provide high level introductions to explore fund- to-fund investment flow with world leading funds managers, and to gain knowledge relating to investment portfolio diversification opportunities in an increasingly difficult economic environment.

The Funds Management Mission has been developed for Chief Investment Officers, head strategists, fund managers and private and investment banking brokers and fund consultants, and is held in conjunction with the New South Wales State Government.

The ICT Financial Services Mission will introduce technologies to major finance companies, systems integrators and other players involved in selling technology to banks, insurance companies and asset managers. It will cover governance, risk management and compliance, business continuity management, change management, credit risk and mortgage management.

For more information on these events, as well as how to register, please click here.

14-May-08 1:00 PM

AAA Martini Party

noemail@americanaustralian.org — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

The AAA hosted a Martini Night for members and guests at the Pegasus Suite of the famous Rainbow Room on Thursday, May 1. With over 230 members and guests in attendance, it was a great night to mingle and chat with new and familiar faces while overlooking the stunning evening view of Manhattan. It was a fitting tribute to the AAA, who this year is celebrating their 60th anniversary.

Martini’s were plentiful and delicious stations of pasta and antipasto kept everyone going, although the outright favorite were the racks of lamb. By the end of the night the dance floor was packed with everyone dancing to great songs ranging from disco to Top40 from both the USA and Oz.

We had many wonderful prizes for our raffle with ticket sales benefitting the AAA’s Dame Joan Sutherland Fund. Congratulations to our two winners for taking home two return airfares to Australia. Thank you to our raffle prize donations from Qantas, The Australian and Fosters Group.

Many thanks to our major sponsors - ANZ Expat Mortgages and Macquarie Group for their fabulous support of the Martini Night and the AAA.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

13-May-08 2:00 PM

Dr Geoffrey Garrett to be 2008 Spring Lecture Series Guest Speaker

noemail@americanaustralian.org — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Dr. Geoffrey Garrett, the newly appointed CEO of the United States Studies Centre based at The University of Sydney, Australia will be this year's guest speaker at the Annual Spring Lecture Series at the Harvard Club, New York on 6 June 2008.

A distinguished academic, Dr Garrett was until recently President of the Pacific Council on International Policy and Professor of International Relations, Business Administration, Communication and Law at the University of Southern California.

Dr Garrett is an expert on the causes and consequences of globalization and author of numerous publications, including Partisan Politics in the Global Economy. He was co-editor of The Global Diffusion of Markets and Democracy andis currently working on What China Means for America, which will examine the rise of China through the lens of major US multinational corporations.

Dr Garrett has a PhD from Duke University and a BA (Hons) from the Australian National University.

In past years, guest speakers the Association has hosted include:

- HE Dennis Richardson AO, Australian Ambassador to the United States;
- Mr Dean Bob Joss, Former CEO of Westpac Banking Group (Australia);
- Mr James P Gorman, Executive Vice President and President of Global Private Client, Merrill Lynch; and
- Mr David W Johnson, Former Chairman, President and CEO, the Campbell Soup Company
Further information about this event will be posted shortly, please check back soon.

For more information about the United States Studies Centre please see www.americanaustralian.org.au/ussc.php or visit the Centre's website http://sydney.edu.au/us-studies

17-Apr-08 12:00 PM