ADVANCE ~ July 2009

AustChamThailand

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTRALIA THAILAND BUSINESS COUNCIL

www.austchamthailand.com

July 2009

Convoy for Kids Golf Day 2009 IN THIS EDITION

The Transformer Series: Steinlager Changing Supply Chains: The Need To Become Smart and Wise EMBASSY NEWS Tropfest, the World’s Largest Short Film Festival in Bangkok

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community services Voluntary English Teaching at Baan Khao Huay Mahad School

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chamber events chamber events Luncheon Meeting at The Westin Commonwealth Sundowners at Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok Panorama, Pan Pacific Bangkok

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Contents PATRON His Excellency Paul Grigson Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand

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Business Briefs The Transformer Series: Steinlager Beer 10 Changing Supply Chains:

The Need To Become Smart And Wise

PRESIDENT Andrew Durieux Coverage Portfolio: Key Links VICE-PRESIDENTS Sutipong Ittipong Siam City Bank Portfolio: Community Services

EMBASSY NEWS 14 Celebrating Australia’s Indigenous Heritage with Brook Andrew: Eye to Eye 15 Tropfest, the World’s Largest Short Film Festival in Bangkok 16 General Grants – Funding Round Now Open

John Anderson Meinhardt Portfolio: Strategic Reviews; AFL TREASURER Nigel McKinnon Boral Thailand Portfolio: Treasury DIRECTORS David Armstrong Post Publishing Portfolio: Marketing and PR; SME Services

ATBC Section 20 A Mid-Year Message COMMUNITY SERVICES 22 Convoy for Kids Golf Day 2009 26 Voluntary English Teaching on 23 May

Achara Boonyahansa Grant Thornton Portfolio: Alumni

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Amanda Canavan Energi Design Asia Portfolio: Business Awards; Australia Day

chamber Events 27 Luncheon Meeting on Thursday, 14 May 2009 27 Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday, 19 May 2009 28 New Members Meeting on 4 June 2009 29 ESB Sundowners at Amari Orchid Resort & Tower 30 Commonwealth Sundowners at Panorama, Pan Pacific Bangkok

New Members 32 New Members and Changes

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From the Chamber Office 34 Message from the ED

Cover Photo: Convoy for Kids Golf Day 2009 - Golfing for a worthy cause

Anne Lewinski AL Consultancy Portfolio: Sundowners Bangkok Chatrutai Masue Raimon Land Portfolio: Regional Sundowners; Alumni Belinda Skinner The Capstone Group Recruitment and Consulting Portfolio: Communications Ben Yong Baker & McKenzie Portfolio: Governance; JFCCT and Policies Saeed Zaki dwp Portfolio: Industry Groups; Regional Sundowners Ex Officio Maurine Lam Trade Commissioner, Austrade

From the Board

COORDINATORS Paul Whyte Tinfish (Thailand) ESB Coordinator Email: esb@austchamthailand.com Paul Wilkinson AGS Four Winds International Moving ESB Coordinator Email: esb@austchamthailand.com Steve Brajak Raimon Land Phuket Coordinator Email: phuket@austchamthailand.com Harry Usher Lady Pie Phuket Coordinator Email: phuket@austchamthailand.com Executive Director Brett Gannaway Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce 20th Floor, Thai CC Tower 889 South Sathorn Road Bangkok 10120 Tel.: +66 2 210 0216 Fax: +66 2 675 6696 execdirector@austchamthailand.com www.austchamthailand.com

Opportunities Galore!

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he last month has been a very busy period for AustCham: JFCCT meetings, Board of Trade functions, NACC discussions, breakfasts, lunches, Eastern Seaboard Sundowners, New Member briefings and, for those of you who were there, Commonwealth Sundowners at the fantastic new Panorama area at the Pan Pacific Hotel – that will be hard to live up to.

Songkran holidays are over and AustCham is now in full swing.

This month we started a couple of significant activities. First we got moving with the alumni events. These are networking type events aimed at Thai nationals who have studied in Australia. The purpose is to provide opportunities for alumni to meet colleagues and friends, as well as provide opportunities for alumni and Australian employers wanting to find Australia-educated Thai staff. If any AustCham members have alumni who haven’t attended, you should let them know about these events and ask them to get involved.

Our alumni events started some years ago, and now seem to be growing in strength at every event. Many people may not know it, but there a large number of alumni in very senior positions in the Thai government and civil service.

Which leads me to an upcoming event: last year we included the Young Alumni of the Year Award in the AustCham business awards. The impressive applicants were sourced from our alumni events.

Editorial Committee Andrew Durieux, Belinda Skinner, Robert Taylor, Gary Woollacott, Gregers Moller Marketing & Production Scand-Media Corp. Ltd 4/41-42 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok Tel.: +66 2 943-7166/8 Fax: +66 2 943-7169 scandmedia@scandmedia.com

Nominations and applications have almost closed for this year’s gala Business Awards event. This year the categories have been slightly modified to suit more of our evolving membership base and to reflect current economic and other trends.

The judging will soon commence and shortlists made. Past award recipients include Siam Ocean World, BNH Hospital and Kingsgate Consolidated. With a wide audience, promotion and media opportunities, these prestigious awards are now coveted by many of our members.

The Awards will be presented on Wednesday 26 August at the Hyatt Hotel; get your tickets early to ensure you are there to see this year’s award recipients. Who will be the People’s Choice this year?

Informational events, networking opportunities and speaking openings are coming thick and fast now – keep checking the e-mails and web site calendar to make sure you don’t miss activities of interest.

I encourage you to let the office or directors know of any ideas for speakers, events or information that you think of – the feedback and involvement we get from many members is what makes AustCham a tremendous tool for assisting your business goals in Thailand and beyond.

Andrew Durieux President AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

Advertising Finn Balslev Email: finn@scandmedia.com Opinions expressed in Advance do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.

July 2009

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Business Brief

The Transformer Series: Steinlager

By Michael Holt CEO of gH Design

S

teinlager is a well known beer from New Zealand, positioned as a premium lager and available generally around the world. While it doesn’t have the reach of some of the big world brands such as Heineken or Stella Artois, it is however a recognisable, wellregarded beer that is usually acceptable at a premium price.

Its maker Lion Nathan is 46% owned by Japan’s Kirin Holdings (currently preparing a full takeover), but remains an Australia based company with around 1800 Australian staff, as well as approximately 1500 employees. The company also owns Australian brands such as XXXX, Swan and Tooheys, along with many non-beer beverages. The company trades on both the ASX and the NZX, and is Australia’s second biggest brewer.

However it markets Steinlager as a fiercely New Zealand brand.

Steinlager has an unusual origin. In 1957, in response to a sagging economy, New Zealand’s Finance Minister Arnold Nordmeyer restricted beer imports, challenging local brewers to develop their own international-style lager.

However by today’s standards, New Zealand branding and packaging was rudimentary. New Zealand was a country known for its agricultural output and for very little else. The UK in particular bought large quantities of NZ lamb and diary products, and the easy comfort of this primary trade meant that NZ producers failed to exert themselves in innovation or brand development.

Richard Holden, the Export Manager for Lion Breweries at the time recalls, “You’d get bottles with three labels on, or the labels wouldn’t be put on square or the six packs would fall apart. They didn’t understand they had to look clean.”

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July 2009

The resulting beer was originally named Steinecker, after the packaging equipment used to produce it, and it was designed to look just like a northern European lager.

Not unreasonably, Heineken had a problem with this direction, and in 1962 the design was adjusted and rebranded as Steinlager.

Enter a cast of smart young marketers such as Holden, Craig Lawson and Ray O’Connor, all of whom went on to greater successes. This team believed that for their beer to succeed at home, it needed to be recognised as successful on the world stage. They managed to secure a few early distributors in the US, then focused on attending tastings. The resulting publicity was positive and Holden seized every opportunity to play the little-

“You’d get bottles with three labels on, or the labels wouldn’t be put on square or the six packs would fall apart. They didn’t understand they had to look clean.” brand-taking-on-the-world card. Holden also sought international press exposure and opportunistic stunts such as taking on Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen after he banned New Zealand chocolate and beer in 1985 at the time of the nuclear warships debate.

It wasn’t just about marketing though, as the beer continued to win awards, such as the Les Amin du Vin competition in Washington DC, four years in a row.

With Steinlager becoming established in the minds of consumers at home

as New Zealand’s beer to the world, Lion Breweries then looked for some smart, celebrity-based endorsements and advertising. The result was a very clever advertisement starring British comedians of the day, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith (viewable at http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=xb3islS4Vr4), supported by internationally-themed print advertisements showing Steinlager in settings around the world, with the tagline “They’re drinking our beer. Here.”

Meanwhile, the beer internationally positioned itself against some of its Australian international rivals, claiming to be a more sophisticated beer based on its various triumphs at tasting festivals.

Antipodean rivalry gloriously thrived.

Building on this growing international success, Steinlager took on two of NZ’s biggest international sponsorships, the All Blacks, and NZ’s America’s Cup challenge. Anyone familiar with these sports on the world stage saw the brand, and saw the product with its distinctively shaped gothic ‘S’.

However, in the 1990s various challenges emerged. Firstly, in response to growing demand in the UK, two decisions were made that worked against the spirit of the earlier success: the beer became available on tap, devaluing the brand from premium to mass premium. Then Lion Breweries shifted production for Europe to Sweden to increase volumes and to bypass some of the issues surrounding shipping a beer all the way from NZ and across the equator. This was hardly in line with the concept of the “proudly NZ product.” Steinlager was playing with the big boys now, and from a relatively small and remote base. New Zealand was also one of the few countries to entirely adopt a free-trade model around this time and Lion’s domestic rival, Dominion Breweries, started importing Heineken, and their well resourced, glamorous international image was an immediate hit, as it was elsewhere in the world.

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Business Brief

The brand started to falter, both in its own market and abroad. The international beer wars heated up, with Kirin buying into Lion, but not before Lion had its own, ultimately unsuccessful, JV foray into the Chinese market. In the meantime Steinlager was losing its voice. It was no longer an exclusively NZ product, and handicapped with a Germanic name and look that many drinkers didn’t associate with a downunder image.

As marketing in NZ becomes a more sophisticated discipline, as elsewhere in the world, a certain reluctance develops among international owners to take an instinctive, intuitive feel towards their brand, opting more and more for research-driven decision making that doesn’t favour bold campaigns. A series of ads were produced that, while generally well produced, shifted away from the core values that had seen it thrive.

That changed when, in 2007 on the cusp of Steinlager’s 50th anniversary, Lion Nathan released Steinlager Pure.

In a local market now replete with international brands, Steinlager set out to recapture local customer support as the ‘international from New Zealand’, with a return to the spirit of the brand that had been so successful in the past. This time the message was a little different. It gained strong leverage from the New Zealand cachet as a clean, green environment, no longer only an agricultural pastureland.

The newly released premium beer was marketed as the cleaner and greener choice, without the additives and preservatives inferred to be found in other international products. Packaged with a very modern feel, no longer based on traditional European beer labelling, it sought to capture the essence of New Zealand’s fresh, green global positioning.

The billboard and print creative took inspiration from fine watchmakers, jewellery and women’s perfumes – giving the consumer reason to pay extra.

sought to identify themselves with their target demographics through association with certain core values and archetypes.

However over the past few decades, these archetypes and associations have changed. This has led to a proliferation of brands available, internationally and regionally. Branding and marketing have become ever more complex and as previously noted, increasingly based on research and statistics. Standing out amongst this is difficult, especially so for a brand that sells at a premium price.

The New Zealand advertising focused very squarely on the brand’s international renown, even before Steinlager Pure was available in other countries. Again the campaign used endorsements by international celebrities, this time American actors Harvey Keitel and Willem Dafoe.

For some reason, we still prefer to have foreigners telling us that we’re okay.

Lion Nathan’s Steinlager team, with their designers and their ad agency Publicist Mojo, have found a way to reinvigorate an old favourite brand by returning to a language with which they had lost touch. At the same time, they’ve tapped into a contemporary vein by associating the product with a modern and positive image of New Zealand, and with a fresh and contemporary styling in its packaging and promotion. Less than two years after its launch, Steinlager Pure became the number one NZ premium beer brand.

Steinlager continues to provide an interesting study not only of beverage marketing, but also of New Zealand as a product, and as a market.

Just as with Coca-Cola, the original product was revamped and positioned as Steinlager Classic, and is sold alongside the new product. (As this is not a tasting column, readers will need to discern the difference for themselves.) Importantly, Steinlager again picks up the All Blacks sponsorship, and will undoubtedly play an important role in the winning of the 2011 World Cup. Alcohol is arguably one of the most defining of personal tastes in the modern world. Beer brands within this have long

Computers Needed for Schools

Blood Donors Registry

Have you recently upgraded your computer or are planning an upgrade? AustCham can provide a convenient way for you to donate your unused computer to a needy school.

AustCham has set up a database of rare blood types: A neg; B neg; AB neg; and O neg. If you would like to volunteer as a blood donor, please email your name, address, mobile no., email and blood type to: admin@austchamthailand.com

For further information please email: david@austchamthailand.com

Your name will remain confidential and volunteers will only be approached in an emergency.

AustChamThailand 8

Michael Holt is CEO of gH Design, a strategic design agency based in Auckland and with offices in Bangkok and Shanghai. Their website is www. ghdesignpartners.com and they are very much open for business.

July 2009

AustChamThailand AustChamThailand Advance

Business Brief

Changing Supply Chains: The Need To Become Smart And Wise

By Geoffrey Storey Your Supply Solutions

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oday the economy is changing quickly on a global scale and so is the complexity of the supply chain.

The changes in the volume of both customers and suppliers, coupled with the distance, language, and the number of execution activities can be difficult enough to manage, let alone to develop.

The task of having things changing consistently means that the processes need to be flexible and we need to change quickly as Asia is now being more and more of the manufacturing hub; Europe and the USA are fast just becoming consumption areas with little manufacturing due to costs.

It is imperative that you are able to react quickly in what one does, and what information is important for you, as it is information that enables you to design alternative actions that will permit you to have a reactive response to keep your customers and also your supplier network.

I’m going to spend a little bit of time talking about the need for communication flow (Expediting) and then we shall discuss the other factors of the supply chain for this area which can have a dramatic affect and, if carried out correctly, can make savings anywhere between 15 to 30 per cent. Each area of the supply chain needs to be working correctly Many companies use their core Purchasing, “OMS” (Order Management Systems), “TMS” ( Transport ManagementSystems), and “WMS” (Warehouse Management System) solutions to address this complexity. Others outsource the challenge to third party logistics providers. Most would like to use a combination for this helps them maintain control. The common expectation is that some percentage of orders and shipments will fail, an alert will go off, and someone will fix the problem. An alternative plan kicks in, but perhaps not for two days or a week. It must

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happen within hours, for the maintenance of customer satisfaction is imperative to survival.

Communication with suppliers and customers is critical and is going to be more so in these changing times. Establishing the correct network between the supplier and its network and transport support and your network, both internally and externally to the customer, becomes vital to ensure that you can come up with the best options for an alternative plan. Enabling these capabilities requires an application that collectively monitors orders, shipments, inventory, and demand forecasts across tiers of supply chain relationships.

To set up good track and trace methods is essential and does not have to be overly complicated, but it is important that the capture of information - for often traditional points of data exchange – has time lags built in. These lags can be hours, days, or weeks. The longer it takes to learn about a failure or delay, the fewer alternative plan options are available and the available options are more costly. Most companies can not measure alert timeliness and do not measure alternative plan response effectiveness.

So if you do not have an effective expediting operation in your organisation then you need to change and make it happen, to ensure that you are prepared for the future and to provide a support function aiding your customers to meet their customers’ requirements and needs, thus ensuring your competitive edge.

Purchasing and Contracts This is one area that can become a profit centre so long as it is handled correctly and this does not mean forcing the lowest price out of the suppliers “Buying is just as important as selling.”

The services and manufacturing industries are becoming an increasingly competitive marketplace. In this landscape, firms are encountering new challenges in order to

continue growing, while simultaneously maintaining profitability. A common challenge faced by many firms is the management of spiralling discretionary costs. No doubt, unrestrained expenses will not only limit a firm’s growth potential, but also eat away at its profitability.

Organisations today need to get serious about managing expenses. Those organisations that are succeeding in bridling their spending habits are those that are implementing procurement best practices, focused on producing long-term, sustainable results, which will ultimately have a direct, positive impact on the firm’s bottom line. The following are four procurement best practices that will deliver financial benefits.

1. Establishment of preferred vendor relationships, thus achieving improved economies of scale in spending: Consolidating purchases with fewer, preferred vendors will yield greater leverage to negotiate both favourable pricing and value-added terms and conditions such as: service level commitments and penalties; extended warranties; expedited delivery schedules; favourable return policies; and advantageous payment terms.

As a general rule, the fewer suppliers, the better. However, a firm’s ability to forge long-term relationships with a select number of preferred vendors will depend on the product involved and the degree of purchasing centralisation that the firm is willing to sanction. Many organisations choose to implement a hybrid solution whereby the purchasing activities for products and services that are used organisation-wide (i.e., raw materials, plant & equipment, maintenance equipment, technology hardware and software, office equipment, office services, supplies, employee benefits, library databases, etc.) are centrally administered, while facility services (local transportation, etc.) are handled at the local level.

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Business Brief

2 Promote spending through preferred vendors: Establishing relationships with preferred vendors alone will not yield maximum financial benefit, unless spending is channelled to those vendors. “Maverick spending” occurs when items and services are purchased from suppliers that are not on the firm’s preferred vendor list. As a result, an item or service is often purchased at a higher price without the benefit of previously negotiated discounts or value-added terms and conditions. Changing buying habits is one of the more challenging aspects of strategic purchasing. Strong support from senior management and clearly established purchasing policies and procedures are required in order to successfully rein in maverick spending.

Companies will gravitate towards the path of least resistance. Maverick spending is often facilitated through alternative methods of purchasing available to companies such as credit cards, cheque requests and petty cash vouchers. One method to combat maverick spending is to simplify the process by which companies procure goods and services. This can be accomplished by developing simple, easy-to-use, blanket –orders, procureto-pay processes that steer the company towards pre-established vendor relationships. Also, procurement policies and procedures must be flexible enough to support purchases of non-standard or emergency items and services.

3 Automate procure-to-pay processes: In addition to focusing on reducing costs and improving the quality of goods and services, purchasing best practices aim to create more efficient procure-to-pay processes. These efficiencies can only be realised by re-engineering procurement processes to reduce the amount of time and quantity of resources that are required to requisition, receive and pay for goods and services.

There are many effective eProcurement systems available in the marketplace that can be used to automate a firm’s purchasing processes. When properly deployed, these systems will simplify the ordering process by becoming the path of least resistance and thereby reduce maverick spending. Some of the benefits that eProcurement systems provide include on-line ordering, catalogue management, electronic approval routing, and receiving 12

July 2009

Example of how Purchasing becomes a Profit centre “A Hospital” EXAMPLE OF THE EFFECT OF PURCHASING ON PROFIT DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

$ 1,000,000

100

Direct Material

$ 500,000

50

Direct Labour

$ 200,000

20

Factory Overhead

$ 100,000

10

Hospital Overhead

$ 200,000

20

Total Cost of goods Sold

$ 900,000

90

Gross Profit

$ 100,000

10

REVENUE (Sales) Cost of goods Sold

Direct labour and direct material are costs that increase or decrease with the quantity sold. Overhead (all other costs) does not alter directly with sales, and for this example it is assumed that overheads are constant. So if we can reduce direct materials by 7% and direct labour by 1%, the improvement in profit would be: DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

$ 1,000,000

100

Direct Material

$ 450,000

45

Direct Labour

$ 190,000

19

Hospital Overhead

$ 200,000

20

Total Cost of goods Sold

$ 840,000

84

Gross Profit

$ 160,000

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REVENUE (Sales) Cost of goods Sold

Profit is increased by 61%. To get the same increase in profit ($80,000) by increasing revenue, sales would have to increase significantly by 26%.

REVENUE (Sales)

DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

$ 1,200,000

100

Cost of goods Sold Direct Material

$ 600,000

50

Direct Labour

$ 240,,000

20

Hospital Overhead

$ 200,000

17

$ 1,040,000

87

$ 127,500

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Total Cost of goods Sold Gross Profit

By having an efficient Supply Chain Operation you can achieve major profit increases, whereas increasing sales targets is very difficult in today’s economic environment. and invoice matching capabilities.

The eProcurement system also serves as the information repository for all purchasing activity. An effective purchasing database will enable end users to query

the status of their orders and provide procurement managers with analytical capabilities for strategic planning purposes. The eProcurement system will be the primary gateway for the flow of information between the firm and AustChamThailand Advance

Business Brief

Example of how Purchasing becomes a Profit centre “ Manufacturing” EXAMPLE OF THE EFFECT OF PURCHASING ON PROFIT DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

$ 1,000,000

100

Direct Material

$ 700,000

75

Direct Labour

$ 150,000

15

REVENUE (Sales) Cost of goods Sold

Factory Overhead

$ 100,000

10

Total Cost of goods Sold

$ 950,000

95

Gross Profit

$ 50,000

5

Gross Profit

$ 100,000

10

Direct labour and direct material are costs that increase or decrease with the quantity sold. Overhead (all other costs) does not alter directly with sales, and for this example it is assumed that overheads are constant. So if we can reduce direct materials by 7% and direct labour by 1%, the improvement in profit would be: DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

$ 1,000,000

100

Direct Material

$ 630,000

63

Direct Labour

$ 140,000

14

Factory Overhead

$ 100,000

10

Total Cost of goods Sold

$ 870,000

87

Gross Profit

$ 13,000

13

REVENUE (Sales) Cost of goods Sold

Profit is increased by 61%. To get the same increase in profit ($80,000) by increasing revenue, sales would have to increase significantly by 26%.

DOLLARS

PRECENTOFSALES

REVENUE (Sales)

$ 1,516,664

126

Direct Material

$1,061,000

Direct Labour

$ 227,000

88

Factory Overhead

$ 100,000

19

$ 1,389,164

8

$ 127,500

116

Total Cost of goods Sold Gross Profit

11 By having an efficient Supply Chain Operation you can achieve major profit increases; to increase sales targets is difficult to do in today’s economic environment. its preferred vendors. Therefore, the gateway should provide a variety of methods for electronic inbound receipt of vendor quotes, invoices and credit memos and outbound transmission of purchase orders and payments.

AustChamThailand Advance

4 Hire procurement professionals: Procurement best practices such as sourcing preferred vendors, reducing maverick spending, establishing purchasing policies and procedures

and automating procure-to-pay processes are most likely to be achieved if the purchasing function is staffed with seasoned procurement professionals.

These individuals have proven capabilities with respect to performing cost analysis, sourcing vendors, conducting request for purchase “RFPs”, negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships and automating procureto-pay processes. “You get what you pay for”, so having a professional to head up procurement gives you a better return on investment Alternatively you can contract a specialised purchasing professional who concentrates on targeted areas of the organisation’s spending such as raw materials, plant and equipment, maintenance equipment, technology hardware and software, office equipment, office services, transportation. These purchasing “Buyers” have prior purchasing experience and possess specialised knowledge of their specific area of procurement expertise. By hiring individuals with proven purchasing expertise, the implementation of procurement best practices will be accelerated.

Now more than ever, organisations need to think strategically in order to develop competitive advantages. Consolidating purchases with a few select vendors will reduce costs, improve the quality of goods and services rendered and enable productive supplier relationships.

Automating procure-to-pay processes provides a great opportunity for firms to achieve significant bottom-line savings while simultaneously improving the quality and effectiveness of internal procurement processes. Recognising the importance of a strategic purchasing function and implementing procurement best practices will result in significant cost savings, increased operational efficiencies and a positive impact on the firm’s profitability.

Following articles in the next few months will cover Warehouse Management Systems “WMS”, Order Manangement Systems “OMS”, Transport Management Systems “TMS” to look at the full supply Chain.

Geoffrey Storey, Your Supply Solutions may be reached at Email: geoffreystorey @your-supplysolutions.com. Geoffrey Storey is a member of the AustCham Thailand Transport and Logistics Sub-Committee.

July 2009

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Embassy News

Celebrating Australia’s Indigenous Heritage with Brook Andrew: Eye to Eye

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he Australian Embassy Bangkok and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) proudly present Brook Andrew: Eye to Eye, a collection of works by internationally celebrated Indigenous Australian artist, Brook Andrew.

The exhibition will be on display from 26 June to 19 July 2009 at BACC. Developed by Asialink at the University of Melbourne and the Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA), audiences in Thailand will have a chance to see this unique exhibition that has toured throughout South and South-East Asia.

Curated by Geraldine Barlow, from the Monash University Museum of Art, Brook Andrew: Eye to Eye is the first major survey of the artist’s career over the past decade and showcases the many layers of his diverse and acclaimed artistic practice. Through striking neon installations, powerful photographic studies, prints and sculpture, the artist explores the dynamics of intercultural engagement, the construction of history and power.

Language and traditional designs from Andrew’s Wiradjuri heritage are combined with contemporary elements such as optical art patterns, pop art aesthetics, and the declarative strategies of advertising to create compelling and insightful pieces. Audiences will get a rare opportunity to see the artist’s famous work, Sexy and Dangerous 1, which has become an iconic image of Australian contemporary art.

Brook Andrew: Eye to Eye is part of the Embassy’s National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) activities celebrating Australia’s Indigenous heritage. NAIDOC is a celebration of the contribution that Indigenous Australians make across many

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A collection of works by artist Brook Andrew

fields including media, academic, sport, government, business, diplomacy and the arts.

BACC is open to the public and entry is free. Opening hours are between 10am – 9pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Tel: 02-214 6630-1

AustChamThailand Advance

Embassy News

Tropfest, the World’s Largest Short Film Festival in Bangkok

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he world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest, will return to Bangkok once again in July. The event will showcase a tantalising selection of short films at a special screening on Sunday 12 July, from 6.3pm to 9.00pm at Scala theatre, Siam Square. Admission is free. The event is presented by the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. Due to limited number of seats please make a reservation by fax: 02 3446315 or Email: charintip.pimphan@dfat. gov.au 2009 Tropfest features thirteen short films, which cover much creative and emotional territory from comedy to powerful drama, including this year’s winning film. The films highlight the creativity, diversity and sophistication of young Australian and international filmmakers.

Tropfest is the brainchild of Australian actor and director John Polson at the Tropicana Cafe in Sydney in 1993. Over the past sixteen years, it has evolved into the “Olympics of Short Film” and into an Australian cultural phenomenon with the festival screening live via satellite to over 150,000 people in eight cities across Australia. Tropfest is also known for its contribution to the development of the Australian film industry by providing unique platforms for emerging filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and new audiences for their work.

The annual short film competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter –

AustChamThailand Advance

regardless of their background or experience. Sixteen finalists are selected from an entry pool of an average 650 entries and compete for more than A$100,000 worth of prizes. Tropfest films are unique in that they have all been made specifically according to Tropfest guidelines, which include a yearly Tropfest Signature Item (TSI). The TSI for Movie Extra Tropfest 2010 is “dice”.

Filmmakers near and far – don’t miss out on your chance to enter the 2010 Tropfest. Submissions close in January 2010. It’s really very simple to enter – just go to: http://www.tropfest.com

July 2009

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ATI News

General Grants – Funding Round Now Open

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he Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) provides financial support to selected projects which aim to promote and enhance bilateral links between Australia and Thailand.

Funding is awarded through a competitive selection process.

Applications are now being invited for funding in the 2009-10 financial year, for projects commencing between September 2009 and 30 June 2010.

Funding priority will be given to projects which have an identified Thai partner and seek to strengthen Australia’s bilateral relationship with Thailand in the following areas: • Public Policy: democratic governance, public administration and trade and economic reform; • Education; and • Media.

How to apply Application forms, funding guidelines and further information about the ATI’s programs are on the ATI website: http:// www.dfat.gov.au/ati Applications will be considered by the ATI Advisory Board at its next meeting. Notification of the Board’s decisions will be advised to applicants by early September.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the ATI Secretariat on +61 (0)2 6261 3202 or via email, austhailand. institute@dfat.gov.au Closing date: Completed applications must be submitted by 10:00am (AEST) Friday 7 August 2009.

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AustChamThailand Advance

AustCham Thailand Business Awards 2009 Open to Australian and Thai companies and to other companies that can demonstrate a contribution to the Thai and/or Australian economies.

Nomination forms and guidelines for nominees can be downloaded at: www.austchamthailand.com Nominations due by 9 July 2009.

If you have any questions please contact: Brett Gannaway, Executive Director, Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce at: tel 02 210 0216 or email: execdirector@austchamthailand.com

Take the first step and apply or nominate now.

AustChamThailand Advance

July 2009

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ATBC President’s Column

A Mid-Year Message PATRON His Excellency Mr Bandhit Sotipalalit Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra

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t is most unfortunate that events in Thailand over the past year continue to raise some negative perceptions in Australia, at a time when business in general is feeling the need to contain expenditure.

ATBC – Australian Section NATIONAL PRESIDENT Robert Taylor AusThai Connections president@aust-thai.org.au

Nevertheless, I believe that such hard times are when membership of Business Councils such as the ATBC is most valuable. From our previous experience of downturns such as the 1997 crisis in Thailand, it is important for businesses with long-term goals to stay in the Thai market to continue to demonstrate commitment to operations in Thailand.

The Council has been very active in the past few months, representing members at the inaugural meeting of the Australia-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Perth, and as supporting partner facilitating Melbourne and Sydney seminars where the Thai Minister and Vice-Minister for Industry, outlined an economic stimulus package whereby their Government offered tax breaks and exemptions on investment in infrastructure and the introduction of new technology.

Nevertheless, we are currently examining all areas of the Business Council’s operations in an effort to be more efficient and to provide better value for money for members.

It is inevitable under present economic circumstances that organisations like ours will suffer diminishing membership, and that to continue as an effective body, the ATBC will regrettably need to trim expenditure to match income as well as to rethink ways of providing better service to members at lower cost. Our revamped and expanded website should soon be in operation providing more relevant information and news for members.

We are well aware of the need for members to see practical returns for their subscription fees.

Ours of course is a registered not-for-profit body, totally dependent upon subscription income, and operating on the proverbial shoestring in terms of administrative expenses, with the Australian Chamber for Commerce

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IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT John Connor Karjura Pty Ltd FOUNDING PRESIDENT Charles Battersby Intelmar Australia Pty Limited VICE PRESIDENTS Chair of the Queensland Chapter John Cockburn jkcockburn@hotmail.com Chair of the Victorian Chapter Graham Sherry Baker & McKenzie vic@aust-thai.org.au

and Industry (ACCI) providing us with heavily subsidised Secretariat services.

I urge you to renew your ATBC membership at the first opportunity, or if you have let your membership lapse of late, to rejoin the Council so that we can continue our valuable work.

Regards,

NATIONAL TREASURER Douglas Blunt Centrelease Australia Pty Ltd EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Clare Florence Glen Robinson ASEAN Focus Group Pty Limited Gavin Thomas Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd Director - Thailand Liaison Graham Storah storah@loxinfo.co.th

Robert Taylor - National President – Australia Thailand Business Council: www.aust-thai.org.au - President – Australia Thailand Association: www.vicnet.net.au/~atai - Founding Committee Member – Thai Culture and Food Festival Inc: www.thaifestvic.com - Director – AusThai Connections Pty Ltd www.austhaiconnections.com

SECRETARIAT Colin Mackenzie Australia Thailand Business Council PO Box 6005 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Tel: +61 2 6273 2311 Fax:+61 2 6273 3196 colin.mackenzie@acci.asn.au www.aust-thai.org.au ATBC – Thai Section Chairperson Khun Barbara Buranasilpin

Trans-Asian Railway

Convoy for Kids

Convoy for Kids

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n Friday, 22 May 2009 the Seventh Annual Volvo Convoy for Kids Golf Day was held at the picturesque Laem Chabang International Country Club. This year’s Golf Day was supported by a long list of sponsors and donors. The Chamber and the Convoy for Kids Subcommittee would like to thank everyone involved for helping put on such a successful day. The proceeds made from the Golf Day go to support the Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled as well as other AustCham approved charities and, of course, the Convoy for Kids big day of fun for the kids in November.

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What is Convoy for Kids?

Convoy for Kids was started in 2000 by a few transport and logistics companies which form the Logistics Sub-committee of AustCham. The main event each year is the Convoy Day in November when a total of around 250 children are taken out for a day of fun. The children come from Pakred School in Nonthaburi, Sister Joan’s Klongtoey Slum Project and other deserving causes.

been successful in achieving this. Over the years – thanks to contributions by the transport companies, their clients and the many golfers who participate in our events – we have raised a total in excess of Baht eight million which has gone to finance many projects and has put a great deal of happiness into the lives of children who have not had the greatest of starts in life.

For more information about Convoy for Kids please visit: www.convoyforkids.com

The Golf Day was started in 2003 to increase funds for Convoy Day and it has

AustChamThailand Advance

Convoy for Kids

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Convoy for Kids

Thank you to the Sponsors and Donors for their contributions to this Year’s Golf Day • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Bangkok Glass Boral BT Midland CEVA DHL Dr. Hugo Frischkopf dusit D2 baraquda pattaya Dusit Thani Bangkok Eternity Expert Solutions Fleet Expert Fregies Tours Future Driver Training Asia

July 2009

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Geodis Wilson Grand Millenium Hotel Hans-Peter Feer Heil Asia Holiday Inn Bangkok Horseshoe Point IDS Logistics ILS Italasia Jungheinrich Kamolkij Komatsu La Villa Italian Restaurant

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LINFOX Lucifer Disco Pattaya Molly Malones Irish Pub Neils Team Nestle Nivea Oakwood Residence Premium 360 PW Golf Rene Graf Schenker Signity Singha

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SpiceRoads TELLUS Tesco The Freight Company Tilistics Tipco Volvo Truck & Bus WCA Family

We apologise for any inadvertent omissions.

AustChamThailand Advance

Community Services

Voluntary English Teaching, 23 May 2009 On Saturday 23 May 2009, volunteers (together with AustCham staff), visited Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, Rayong. It was a successful day enjoyed by all. Thank you to Toll Logistics (our English Teaching sponsor) for their continued support.

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AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

Luncheon Meeting on Thursday, 14 May 2009 On Thursday 14 May 2009 AustCham Thailand was pleased to invite members and friends to attend a Luncheon Meeting at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok. Guest Speaker, Steve Douglas’ topic for discussion was “Australian Budget Review 2009”.

In the Rudd Government’s first Budget in 2008, a promise was made to keep the policy of financial surpluses and strong economic control. Then came the Global Financial Crisis which turned everything about face and we returned to a huge federal deficit for the first time in over a decade as the federal government depleted the savings accumulated in order to stimulate the economy and protect from the potential of a recession. Steve discussed what we can expect this year as the global position continues to influence decision making Down Under.

Steve Douglas is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Australasian Taxation Services (ATS) and Chairman of SMATS Group.

Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday, 19 May 2009 On Tuesday 19 May 2009 AustCham Thailand was pleased to invite members and friends to attend a Breakfast Briefing at the AustCham Office.

Guest Speaker, Brett Waller’s topic for discussion was “Retire to Australia and pay no tax”.

Brett Waller is a Senior Vice President for ipac Singapore’s expatriate team. He specialises in helping expatriates achieve their financial goals by optimising their finances whilst they work offshore and by ensuring a seamless transition upon their return home.

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Chamber Events

New Members Meeting on 4 June 2009 Prior to Bangkok Sundowners at Panorama, Pan Pacific Bangkok, a new members meeting was held. The meeting was headed by President Andrew Durieux. New members were welcomed and received a comprehensive briefing and introduction to the chamber’s services for members.

Breakfast Briefings at AustCham Held on Tuesdays, usually twice a month, from 7.30am till 9.00am at AustCham’s office in the Thai CC Building on South Sathorn Road.

Our breakfast briefing programme is complimentary to members only and is designed for members to present succinctly for 30 to 40 minutes their company’s services or products (or a topic of interest) to other members of the Chamber in a convivial networking breakfast setting.

Just visit the Events Calendar page on our website at: www.austchamthailand.com to find out about forthcoming breakfast briefings. Members wishing to make presentations (there is no charge) should contact: execdirector@austchamthailand.com

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Member Get Member AustCham Thailand has introduced a scheme for members to introduce new members. If a new member is recruited, the existing member will receive one lunch ticket, two Bangkok Sundowners tickets, two ESB Sundowners tickets and two Phuket Sundowners tickets which, at non-member prices, have a value of around Baht 6,000. So now you can help friends and colleagues reap the benefits of joining AustCham Thailand and be recognised for your help in expanding the AustCham community!

The tickets will be given to the introducing member – evidenced by that member being recorded in the new membership application as the first named referee.

Each existing member may receive these reward tickets for up to three new members in any one membership year.

AustChamThailand AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

ESB Sundowners is AustCham Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard (ESB) business networking function. It is a great opportunity for members and guests to meet, network and exchange views in a social environment.

ESB Sundowners at Amari Orchid Resort & Tower

On Friday 22 May 2009, Eastern Seaboard Sundowners (ESB) was held at Amari Orchid Resort & Tower. We thank Amari Orchid Resort & Tower (catering and venue sponsor) for their generous support.

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1) Robin Hyde - Schenker; David Cumming - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; Khun Chutima Konfai - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; John Anderson - AustCham Vice President, Meinhardt; Khun Dhaninrat Klinhom - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; Brett Gannaway - AustCham Executive Directo. 2) Khun Dhaninrat Klinhom - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; David Cumming - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; John Anderson AustCham Vice President, Meinhardt. 3) John Pollard - Meinhardt; Len Korobkin; Patrick Gossett - Materials Management & Engineering; Khun Jitra Wongjuan - AA Insurance Brokers. 4) Glen Connell - Australian Embassy; John Fraser - Tinfish. 5) Khun Chutima Konfai - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; Khun Dhaninrat Klinhom - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower. 6) David Cumming - Amari Orchid Resort & Tower; John Anderson - AustCham Vice President, Meinhardt. 7) Ben Marshall - Metron Medical; Grant Atkinson - Rocket Products International; Amanda Newing - Tinfish. 8) Khun Wararat Sasom - Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Khun Pattaravadee Wangviriyaphan - Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Nina - Pattaya Mail. 9) Jeffrey Burrows - Watermark Captial Management; Peter Smith - AA Insurance Brokers; Simon Lake - Duscholux.

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July 2009

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Chamber Events

Sundowners is AustCham Thailand’s monthly business networking function. It is a great opportunity for members and guests of the Chamber to meet, network and exchange views in a social environment.

Commonwealth Sundowners at Panorama, Pan Pacific Bangkok On Wednesday, 3 June 2009, AustCham invited all Commonwealth affiliated Chambers in Thailand to our annual Commonwealth Sundowners. We thank HASSELL (event sponsor) and Pan Pacific Bangkok (catering and venue sponsor) for their generous support.

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1) Peter Skinner - HASSELL; HE Ambassador Paul Grigson - Australian Embassy Bangkok; Andrew Durieux - AustCham President, Coverage; Michal Zitek - Pan Pacific. 2) Gareth Marshall - Kinnaree Media Marketing; Michal Zitek - Pan Pacific. 3) Ivan Kovarik - The Siam Gypsum Industry (Saraburi); David Nardone - Hemaraj Land & Development PCL. 4) Phillip Hannaford - Hassell; Gary Chatfield - Global Turf Consulting; Peter Skinner - HASSELL. 5) Khun Achara Boonyahansa AustCham Director, Grant Thornton; James Catterall - Colliers International; Khun Anjarat Suthat Na Ayuthya - dtac. 6) Marcel Grotz - Schenker; Karen Hochhauser - Santa Fe; Saeed Zaki - AustCham Director, dwp. 7) Graham Storah - L-Tag Technologies; Jonathon Glonek - Bangkok Fine Wine; HE Ambassador Paul Grigson

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July 2009

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

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9 - Australian Embassy Bangkok. 8) Danny Lingham - Pan Pacific; Michal Zitek - Pan Pacific; Gary Denson - Cigna International; Barbara Denson. 9) Irshad Ahmad - Secretary General, Thai-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce; Suphat Sivasriaumphai - President, India-Thai Chamber of Commerce; Maurice Bromley - President South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce ; Nandor G. von der Luehe - Chairman, JFCCT; HE Ambassador Paul Grigson - Australian Embassy Bangkok; Andrew Durieux - President, AustCham Thailand; Wilfred Kang - Chairman, Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce; Kendy Kam Wah Chan - Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association.

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July 2009

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New Members and Members’ Changes

New Corporate Ordinary Members

The Aetas Hotels and Residences 49 Soi Ruamrudee, Ploenchit Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2 618 9000 Fax: +66 (0) 2 618 9091 Email: sales@aetashotels.com Website: www.aetashotels.com

Principal: Mr. Michael Thomas Alternate: Mr. Vutravee Charuvatana The Aetas Hotels and Residences located on Sukhumvit Road, Soi Ruamrudee. The Aetas Bangkok is a brand new hotel offering outstanding accommodation and facilities, combined with efficient and friendly service.

The Aetas Bangkok is the perfect hotel for both vacationers and business travellers who wish to relax in a refined and homely atmosphere while in the capital. Situated behind a tranquil small park, the beautifully designed Aetas Hotels and Residences buildings shine by their contemporary elegance. The hotel’s central location makes it the perfect place from where guests can reach Bangkok’s shopping districts.

The proximity to both in bound and outbound expressways makes it an easy commute to many parts of the city, including Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Muang Airport.

Baan Laksasubha Resort Hua Hin 53/7 Naresdamri Road Hua Hin, Prachaubkhirikhan 77110 Tel: +66 (0) 32 514 525-31 Fax: +66 (0) 32 514 535 Email: laksasubha@hotmail.com Website: www.baanlaksasubha.com Principal: M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon Alternate: Khun Abhasiri Chutikul Tranquil water laps onto the white sands in an original, exquisite setting. At Baan Laksasubha, guest villas share the same grounds with the owner’s original family home, creating a cozy environment.

The decor reflects the traditional lifestyle influenced by the Thai nobility. First-class services and facilities are specifically designed to accommodate families who seek the comforts of a private residence filled with activities for adults and children.

M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon, the resort founder, is the great grand daughter of HRH Prince Krisda Bhiniham Krom Phra Naresra Varariddhi. The Prince was the first member of the Thai royal family who built his palace here in Hua Hin and his ‘summer home’ for his family members.

And it is where Baan Laksasubha is situated at present.

July 2009

Earlier this year Peak Corporation became the exclusive distributor for RACK ARMOUR (Australia) Pty Ltd. which is 100% Australia owned and operated.

Siam Gazette Co., Ltd. (Bangkok Trader) 12th Floor Vanissa Building 29 Soi Chidlom Ploenchit, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0) 2655 0941 Fax: +66 (0) 2655 0941 Email: alan@thebangkoktrader.com Principal: Mr. Alan S. Verstein Siam Gazette Co., Ltd. was established in 2006 to publish Bangkok Trader magazine and has since grown to three monthly English-language publications, a quarterly Russian magazine, annual guides and directories, and other publications, including travel guidebooks and advertising supplements. Founder and Managing Director, Alan S. Verstein, has drawn upon his extensive contacts developed over thirteen years of living and doing business in Thailand to produce these valuable reference guides for the expatriate and English-speaking Thai communities in Bangkok, Pattaya, and all across Thailand.

New Individual Affiliate Members Peak Corporation Company Limited The Ninth Tower, Unit G09 33/4 Rama 9 Road Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310 Tel: +66 (0) 2643 1919 Fax: +66 (0) 2704 6767 Email: info@peak-corporation.com Website: www.peak-corporation.com

Principal: Mr. Akkadech Thadatangskul Alternate: Mr. Supat Aree

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The Peak Corporation Co., Ltd. was established and registered in Thailand in early 2007, however, our team has extensive experience and consists of planners, engineers, designers, sales coordinators and installation teams.

Mr. Damien Scully Scully Group Pty Ltd. 549 Queen Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia Tel: +61 7 3831 7888 Fax: +61 7 3831 5899 Email: Damien@scullygroup.com.au Website: www.scullytrucks.com

AustChamThailand Advance

New Members and Members’ Changes

opment of it in Thailand through new partners. In Australia Mark is primarily involved in property projects and product distribution channels.

Mr. Mark Tanner Emana Group of Companies 1 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064 Australia Tel: +61 7 3907 0283 Fax: +61 7 3907 0282 Email: mtanner@enviroplex.com.au Website: www.enviroplex.com.au Mark Tanner Managing Director / Partner Australia & England, of Emana Group of Companies.

Mark’s background is in the Building/ Property Industry as he is a qualified Architect and is registered in Australia.

Mark has practiced as an Architect in Australia for over 15 years.

Nine years ago he established Emana Group through it’s first company in 2000 in Australia.

The group has grown over the past several years to include; a group of companies and office in Australia, a company and office in England and an office/warehouse now in Thailand.

The group now has several divisions including; property consultancy (architecture, project/development management), property development, importing/exporting, distribution, retailing and investment.

Change of Representative Mr. Khalid Salim Saeed Salim Bardan, Manager Thailand & Indochina is a new representative of Emirates.

Mr. Graham Edward Spillane, Country General Manager is a new representative of Toll Logistics (Thailand) Ltd. Ms. Methavee Chiu, Sales Manager is a new representative of NETsolutions Asia Limited.

Mr. Keerin Chutumstid, Managing Director is a new representative of Thai Industrial Gases Public Co., Ltd. Mr. Petter Pedersen, Division Head – International Business is a new representative of dtac.

Mr. Kevin Lloyd Norman, Director and General Manager is a new representative of QBE Insurance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Khun Ittipol Narkbenjaporn, Associate is a new representative of DLA Piper (Thailand) Limited.

Change of Company Details Belmont Limcharoen Co., Ltd. changed company name to be Limcharoen Hughes & Glanville.

Connell Wagner (Thailand) Co., Ltd. changed company name to be Aurecon Consulting (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Email: Bangkok@ap.aurecongroup.com Website: www.aurecongroup.com t+b solutions ltd.

58 Soi Udomsuk 39/1, Sukhumvit 103 Rd. Bangchak, Prakanong, Bangkok 10260 Tel: +66 (0) 2361 7910-4 Fax: +66 (0) 2361 7119 Sydney Consulting Corporation (Asia) Limited Level 19, Regent House 183 Rajadamri Road Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: +66 (0) 2650 5518 Fax: +66 (0) 2650 5519 BDA International, Ltd. 176 Peony Tower 7th Floor, Suite 703B Soi Sribumphen, Yen-Akard Road Chongnonsri, Yannawa Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0) 2627 9327 Fax: +66 (0) 2711 9215 Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit Tel: +66 (0) 2254 7999 Fax: +66 (0) 2254 3300

Mark’s role relates primarily to the strategic direction of the group and the devel-

Regional AustChams and Related Business Associations •

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AustCham Beijing www.austcham.org AustCham Shanghai www.austchamshanghai.org AustCham Guangzhou www.austcham-southchina.org AustCham Hong Kong www.austcham.com.hk Australian Business Association of Cambodia (ABAC) www.abac.com.kh Australia East Timor Business Council (AETBC) www.aetbc.net Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce in Chennai

AustChamThailand Advance

www.indoaustchamber.com • Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC) www.iabc.or.id • Australia & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ) www.anzccj.jp • Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ANZCCK) www.anzcck.org • Australia New Zealand Business Association – Laos (ANZBA – Laos) www.anzba.org • Malaysia Australian Business Council (MABC) www.mabc.org.my

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Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ANZCham Phillippines) www.anzcham.com AustCham Singapore www.austcham.org.sg The Australian and New Zealand of Commerce in Taipei (AnzCham Taipei) www.anzcham.org.tw Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham HCMC Chapter) www.auschamvn.org Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham Hanoi Chapter) www.auschamvn.org

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From the Chamber Office

Message from the ED

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ast month saw Commonwealth Sundowners, sponsored by Hassell and held at the new Panorama on the 23rd floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel. This was the fifth year that we have held this function and once again the turnout was fantastic with around 400 people in attendance. I would like to thank all the Commonwealth affiliated Chambers, Presidents and Executive Directors for supporting this joint networking event.

The seventh Annual Convoy for Kids Golf Day was held at the scenic Laem Chabang International Country Club last month and once again proved to be a great day of golf for everybody involved. The day raised over Baht 350,000 for charity and many thanks go to all the people on the Logistics subcommittee, with a very special thank you to David Mills leading the team in organising the event. The Convoy for Kids committee is now very busy planning their next event, the Convoy for Kids excursion day for handicapped and underprivileged children that is expected to take place in November.

I am very proud to announce that phase one of our community services project to build a kindergarten in Kanchanburi will commence construction very soon. On behalf of the chamber I would like to thank Hassell, Meinhardt and EEC Lincoln Scott for their design and architectural work as well as Khun Sutipong Ittipong and Tricia Balmer for all of their hard work and effort in bringing this project together. The kindergarten will be constructed in three phases with the completion target by ANZAC Day 2010;

we still need donations to complete the project and, if you would like to assist or make a donation to this very worthwhile cause, please contact the Chamber office.

As always the Chamber is working hard to prepare a selection of events that will provide you with interesting business updates as well as good networking opportunities. Some you may wish to diarise: • Sundowners – Wednesday, 1 July at the Intercontinental Hotel, sponsored

by Baker Tilly.

• Breakfast Briefing – Facilitative Leadership in Organisations by Kevin Balm from the APM Group on Tuesday, 21 July at the AustCham office boardroom.

• AustCham Thailand Business Awards 2009 – gala black tie dinner on Wednesday 26 August 2009. Time to apply for one of the prestigious awards or nominate a company you know. Make sure that you download the simplified, easy-to-complete application form from our website.

Calendar of Events WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Corporate Sponsor: Baker Tilly Thailand Venue: InterContinental Bangkok SATURDAY, 11 JULY Voluntary English Teaching

Venue: Wat Pra Pathranporn School, Sri Ra Cha TUESDAY, 21 JULY Breakfast Briefing

Facilitative Leadership in Organisations Venue: AustCham Office Guest Speaker: Kevin Balm, APM Group THURSRDAY, 30 JULY NZTCC Networking

18.30 – 20.30 Venue Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (Please contact NZTCC) WEDNESDAY, 5 AUGUST All Chambers Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Corporate Sponsor: dtac Catering & Venue Sponsor: Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok FRIDAY, 14 AUGUST ESB Sundowners

Brett Gannaway Executive Director, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

18.00 – 21.00 Corporate Sponsor: AA Insurance Brokers Venue: Sheraton Pattaya Resort SATURDAY, 15 AUGUST Voluntary English Teaching

Venue: Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, Rayong

Thank you to all June event sponsors

WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST AustCham Thailand Business Awards

18.30 – 21.30 Venue: Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok THURSRDAY, 27 AUGUST NZTCC Networking

18.30 – 20.30 Venue Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (Please contact NZTCC)

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Venezia restaurant

Italian Restaurant and Pizzaria

Two-course lunch setwith coffee 249 Baht

0-2254-6655

Venezia Sukhumvit Soi 11

Sukhumvit Soi 3

Ambassador Hotel

Sukhumvit Road

Sukhumvit Soi 15

For Reservation call 24 Soi Sukhumvit 11, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel: 0-2254-6356 Fax: 0-2254-6357 Website: www.veneziabkk.com