ADVANCE ~ March 2009

AustChamThailand

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

www.austchamthailand.com

March 2009

Annual Convoy For Kids IN THIS EDITION

The Transformers: Howard Schultz Open Source Solutions vs Microsoft Retail

EMBASSY NEWS Australian Embassy Helps Sister Joan’s Milk Run Project

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BUSINESS AWARDS 2008 Woods Bagot: Best Services Company Award Recipient

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COMMUNITY SERVICES Baan Khao Huay Mahad School Visit

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chamber events Joint Southern Hemisphere Networking

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Inside Front Cover

Amantee

1/1 Note: __________________

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ANZ Bank

1/1 Note: __________________

Contents

Business Briefs 06 The Transformers: Howard Schultz 10 Open Source Solutions vs Microsoft Retail

EMBASSY NEWS 14 Australian Embassy Helps Sister Joan’s Milk Run Project

austcham business awards 2008 15 Woods Bagot: Best Services Company Award Recipient

CHAMBER NEWS 16 AustCham Director Awarded Ph.D by Asian Institute of Technology

PATRON His Excellency Paul Grigson Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand PRESIDENT Shane Torr ISM Technology Recruitment Portfolio: Embassy Liaison; Foreign Chambers/Presidents; ATBC; Regional AustChams VICE-PRESIDENT Khun Sutipong Ittipong Siam City Bank Portfolio: Community Services TREASURER Bruce Wunderlich Oxyvital (Thailand) Portfolio: Treasury DIRECTORS John Anderson Meinhardt (Thailand) Portfolio: Events-Awards; Industry Groups Andrew Durieux Coverage Portfolio: Events-AFL; Business Content; BCP

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Anne Lewinski AL Consultancy Hotel Solutions Portfolio: Membership Belinda Skinner talent+ Portfolio: Communications

Australia Thailand

Business Council 18 A Pause for Reflection…

COMMUNITY SERVICES 19 Baan Khao Huay Mahad School Visit 20 Ninth Annual Convoy for Kids chamber Events 22 Australia Day Ball 2009: Redux 24 Breakfast Briefing 27 January 2009 24 HR Focus Group Seminar 26 Bangkok Sundowners at Poolside, Four Seasons Hotel

New Members 28 New Members and Changes

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From the Chamber

Office 30 Message from the ED

Cover Photo: Convoy for Kids Day January 2009, Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Ben Yong Baker & McKenzie Portfolio: Business Advocacy; Joint Foreign Chambers; TAFTA; Legal Saeed Zaki PhD dwp Portfolio: Industry Groups/Business Advocacy; Sustainable Development; CSR Ex officio Maurine Lam Trade Commissioner, Austrade

v From the Board

Sad News, Important Guests 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

Editorial Committee Shane Torr, 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 Advertising Finn Balslev Email: finn@scandmedia.com Opinions expressed in Advance do not necessarily reflect the views AustChamThailand Advance of the Chamber.

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his month our attentions are sadly diverted to Australia with the terrible news of bushfires that have devastated parts of Victoria and which have raged against a backdrop of record high temperatures in our home country.

Our sincere condolences go to all those for whom the fires have had tragic consequences, and our sympathies to all those who have been affected. The Embassy has opened a Victorian Bushfires 2009: Official Condolence Book – further details are available on the Embassy website at www.austembassy.or.th This month saw our first Sundowners for the year, kindly sponsored by RSM Thailand and MBMG International, held in the lovely poolside setting at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok. Later in the month we took part in a special address from the Prime Minister of Thailand, Khun Apisit Vejjajiva, at a special luncheon organised by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce Thailand.

We were also fortunate enough to hear from The Honorable Simon Crean, Australian Minister for Trade, following his trip to Thailand to sign the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) in Hua Hin. More details of this and the Prime Minister’s address will appear in the next issue of Advance.

Another exciting development occurred this month when we launched our first webinar, a presentation by Paul Gambles on the Australian economic outlook. We

are thrilled by the potential of this medium as it allows members to participate in a speaker briefing whilst sitting at their computer, be it in the office or at home – particularly useful perhaps for our many members based outside Bangkok.

On a personal note, after four years on the Board and having had the honour of serving as your President for the last twelve months, I will be stepping down this month. Thank you to all those whose efforts and kind support have made my role easier and, more importantly, made the Chamber a better institution.

Looking back, I believe that our preparedness to try new things, our acceptance that change is essential, and our values of inclusiveness, diversity and tolerance, have been key in the Chamber’s success.

I am confident that the incoming directors will continue to develop and improve both the Chamber and the services it provides, and that AustCham will remain an organisation that we can be very proud of. My best wishes to the new board for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

On behalf of the AustCham directors, best wishes for your business success.

Shane Torr President, AustCham Thailand www.austchamthailand.com

March 2009

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Business Brief

The Transformers: Howard Schultz

By Michael Holt, gH design

H

oward Schultz is an interesting guy. A smart guy. Very much a visionary guy. He took a single store in Seattle and turned it into one of the world’s best known brands, and an organisation that in 2009 employs over 170,000 people in 44 countries.

What did he do that was so effective? How did one man transform a tiny business into a global one? (And what can we take from that?)

Starbucks is a global company that offers a particular concept. Like all companies, it has gone through its upheavals and issues, but throughout its history, there has been a thread of consistency that has strongly enabled its growth.

The original Starbucks had a very distinct identity, modelled after Peet’s Coffee in the San Francisco area. It was all about the coffee and tea. The shop neither sold food or coffee by the cup, nor did it even have seats. It sold beans and coffeerelated equipment and the passionate and coffee-knowledgeable staff was willing to teach customers one-at-a-time about different varieties of coffee and how to properly grind and brew coffee to enjoy at home.

Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 as Marketing Director. From the very first time that he saw the Starbucks shop, he recognised the opportunity it had to be much bigger than just a few stores in the Seattle metropolitan area. The staff was passionate about the coffee business and they had pride in what they did. Schultz also recognised that Starbucks had an equally emotionally engaged following of customers and he was convinced that across the country were similar groups of customers that would become equally enthusiastic about the brand. He continually pushed the founders to think bigger.

He took a business trip to Italy in 1983 and it was there he saw what inspired his vision of coffee service that he wanted to bring back to Starbucks. On the trip he

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discovered Italy’s passion for coffee and the espresso bars, bars whose clientele might have varied from one to another, but that all played the role of a place at which a community gathered and shared each other’s company. Schultz saw the espresso bar that served coffee drinks in such a neighbourly atmosphere as the natural fit for a shop selling beans and coffee merchandise.

Upon his return he shared his ideas for changing Starbucks, but he was unable to convince the principals to accept this alternative model. The prevailing view was that the Starbucks was not in the beverage/restaurant business and, furthermore, having a section of stores allocated to drinks service went against the corporate mission of being a roaster and purveyor of fine coffee. Even after the first espresso bar opened and all performance metrics pointing towards it being a winning concept, the existing Starbucks management remained reluctant to open espresso bars in their other five shops. As it became more evident that Starbucks was not going to pursue the espresso bar concept, Schultz quit Starbucks in 1985 to start his own espresso bar business, Il Giornale. Starbucks Coffee remained focused on roasting and selling highquality coffee retail.

Schultz’s new bar was distinctly Italian. The décor was Italian, the music was Italian opera, the menu had Italian throughout, the staff was formally dressed in white shirts and bow ties, and there were no seats.

As is common in Italy, customers ordered their drinks and drank them standing up at the bar. It was an authentic replica of what he had seen and experienced in Italy. And it was very successful. Within six months it was serving more than 1000 customers a day. (http://www.venturenavigator.co.uk/ content/159) In 1987, when the original owners of Starbucks decided to sell their business, Schultz bought them out and merged the coffee roaster and retail operation into his own company. Schultz melded the best of both into the Starbucks concept (and name) that we know today. Over the early

years, and with a range of designers, Schultz calibrated the complete Starbucks store experience and visual identity... the branding, the store atmosphere and layout, product packaging, promotions and the rest, knowing that the appeal of the business to consumers would lie not just in the quality of the products, but in offering an entire experience around buying and enjoying coffee.

From the beginning he intended to become a nation-wide retailer and the brand had to appeal to customer groups throughout the different parts of the country. With multiple stores planned, it was critical to have a brand message that would remain consistent across numerous locations and would be appropriate and attractive to all markets. “What Starbucks recognised long before its imitators was that the art of retailing coffee went way beyond product”. (Corporate Design Foundation @issue vol. 1 no. 2, Starbucks: A Visual Cup o’ Joe.) The original Starbucks logo, with its topless siren may have been suitable for the maritime-influenced Pacific Northwest, but the nudity and seductive aura of the corporate mark may have been considered too risqué in other, more conservative areas of the country. The logo was modified to be more modest and to highlight the mermaid’s warm and inviting face.

The folksy and earthly brown of Starbucks was also changed to green.

AustChamThailand Advance

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Landmark

1/1 Note: __________________

Business Brief

In contrast to a number of large multistore retailers that buy land and build their own stand-alone facilities, Starbucks has typically leased space for its stores and so each had to be custom designed around an existing structure.

Knowing that each store must project a certain image and character, Starbucks created an in-house design team tasked to ensure that, despite different floorplans, by using similar materials and furnishings throughout, a consistent feeling would exist in every outlet. Walking into a Starbucks and seeing the counters, the lighting, the menu board, the seats and tables, and the wall finish and design, it is difficult for a person to determine in which city or country they might be. It is intended to be so.

In 1995 Starbucks developed four templates from which all new stores would be designed, accounting for the size of the space and locale, each different in material and detail, but consistent in projecting the image that Starbucks wanted – “an authentic coffee experience that conveyed the artistry of espresso making, a place to think and imagine, a spot where people could gather and talk over a great cup of coffee, a comforting refuge that provided a sense of community, a third place for people to congregate beyond work or the home, a place that welcomed people and reward them for coming, and a layout that could accommodate both fast service and quiet moments” (http://www.mhhe.com/ business/management/thompson/11e/ case/starbucks.html.)

As Starbucks moved into international markets, there was pressure from various factions to modify the stores to local tastes and preferences. Such an example was in Japan, where Starbucks had been advised that non-smoking cafes would never work, and that Japanese were accustomed to smoking while enjoying coffee. Starbucks ignored the advice, with Schultz sticking to his conviction that making it smoke-free was critical to ensuring that customers would be hit with the aroma of freshly ground and brewing coffee when they entered.

Stimulating the olfactory senses was an important part of the brand concept of a Starbucks Coffee Shop, reinforcing Starbucks heritage as a purveyor of fine coffee. These days, Starbucks Japan profit and revenues are positive, and the company continues to open stores at a

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steady pace. Currently there are over 700 stores in the country.

Over the years, the concept and its visual representation of Starbucks shops have been modified to reflect the personality of a specific community or neighbourhood in which they are located, and different concepts and supplementary businesses have been tried, including breakfast foods, a music label, and a literary magazine, Schultz has, however, remained true to his

Howard Schultz and Starbucks, simply by virtue of phenomenal international success, demonstrate that working to a clearly framed design concept and plan of implementation is smart business. core belief about how Starbucks was to be seen by his customers, and management has ensured that the brand identity and store layout formulae have been faithfully followed. This is interesting, because so often the temptation is there for manag-

ers and proprietors to tinker with design.

There can often be reasons to change elements with a broad visual identity, or even to have these changed by subordinate managers for their own good reasons. However, Howard Schultz and Starbucks, simply by virtue of phenomenal international success, demonstrate that working to a clearly framed design concept and plan of implementation is smart business.

Howard Shultz and his various investors, colleagues and managers developed a small company, originating from a single store, into a worldwide brand, an iconic brand. Regardless of what coffee purists might debate as good coffee, one can’t but acknowledge that it’s an interesting and powerful story. In times like today, it is good to take note of transformers like Howard Schultz and learn from what they did well. We salute Starbucks, Howard Schultz and Starbucks and the smart design and business thinking that became a distinctive and defining worldwide organisation.

Michael Holt is a Principal of gH design partners, a branding and graphic design consultancy with offices in Bangkok, Auckland, and Shanghai. The firm partners with companies to help them build better, stronger businesses.

Michael can be contacted at: mike@gardyneholt.co.nz

Heatwave in Australia In Australia the extended heatwave caused power failures and train cancellations due to tracks buckling under the heat. And it seems that the people were not the only ones who suffered.

Check out the photo of a little Koala which just walked onto a back porch looking for a bit of heat relief. A woman filled up a bucket for it and this is what happened!

AustCham wishes to express deep sympathy to those who lost family, friends, houses in the Victorian bushfires.

AustChamThailand Advance

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KIS School

1/1 Note: __________________

Business Brief

Open Source Solutions vs Microsoft Retail

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afeCom’s CEO Bernard Collin is a big fan of open source software.

“Open source software helps us meet the many needs of our small and medium enterprise clients more effectively and at a fraction of the cost of proprietary software packages,” Bernard says. “The stability, reliability and low cost of open source means greater peace of mind for our SME clients.”

The open source alternative “It’s unfortunate,” says Bernard, “but what many hear about open source is so often in the context of an angry rant against big software companies. They get the impression that open source is some kind of underground resistance movement.”

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Open source is both a development methodology and a culture, a creative practice of freely sharing content.

As an approach to developing software, open source means developers have accessibility to the software ‘source code’ and can freely collaborate with other developers.

The difference: ‘Open’ versus ‘Closed’ software Why is open access to the source code so important? Imagine you have the world’s best recipe for tom yam kung. You can post it on the internet and let people download it for free and then encourage them to experiment with your recipe and share their improvements with other tom yam lovers in the worldwide community of spicy food lovers. Or, you could sell people a license to make your version of spicy Thai soup and impose a considerable fine and threat of a jail term if they use more than the specified amount of fish sauce, or worse yet, make a copy of your recipe for a friend.

“Three barriers keep most SMEs stuck in their expensive proprietary operating system and software rut.”

As a software user, all you want to do is click a simple instruction on a drop down menu, like Insert Page Number or Save File. But suppose you would like to do things that are not on the menu?

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To create a function like ‘Change Tense’ and put it on a drop down menu, you need to have not only the source code for the application, but the legal right to add a feature like Change Tense to the program menu. When you purchase proprietary software like MS Office, the source code is not included and you could suffer severe consequences if you are caught using it without some complicated contractual arrangement with Microsoft.

operating systems, but Linux is the most well known. Linux hit the scene in the early 1990s and has steadily been consuming the market share of some of the big name brand companies. Linux is mainly known for its use in servers, but it is also installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedded devices and mobile phones to supercomputers. Typically, all the underlying source code can be freely modified, used, and redistributed by anyone, which means there are hundreds of existing applications and people are creating new and interesting applications all the time.

Pros and cons of open source

Support for open source users

“Many people are aware of open source and like the idea,” says Bernard, “but there are three big barriers that keep most SMEs stuck in their expensive proprietary operating system and software rut: fear of the unknown, making the switch and facing the learning curve.”

Open source operating systems and software applications are driven by their developer and active communities of users. Some vendors develop and fund their distributions on a volunteer basis. In many cities and regions, local associations and user groups seek to promote open source applications. They hold meetings and provide free demonstrations, training, technical support, and operating system installation for new users. There are also many internet communities that provide support to users and developers. Most distributions and open source projects have chatrooms, newsgroups and forums.

For example, a journalist might want to change all the sentences in a paragraph from past to present tense.

Open source is both a development methodology and a culture, a creative practice of freely sharing content.

Fear of the unknown The majority of people we know are using proprietary operating systems and software. But what happens when I step outside the comforting familiarity of known brand names? What software packages are available for processing my words, building a spreadsheet, making a slide presentation or editing my photos?

How do I know if it’s any good? The fact is, there have been several major open source operating systems in use by major companies for some time now.

“Open source software seems to go hand-in-hand with active communities of users.”

Wikipedia lists nearly 30 open source

“Open source software seems to go hand-in-hand with active communities of users, something you don’t see as much with proprietary software,” says Bernard.

Hundreds of open source applications As far as alternative programs for processing words, building spreadsheets, making slide presentations or editing photos, users today are spoiled for choice. For browsing the web, try Mozilla Firefox, considered by many to be “the world’s best browser”. Then there is Miro, a popular media player, IM for instant messaging, Mozilla Thunderbird for email and spam filtering, OpenOffice, a full featured suite of tools competing with Microsoft office for word processing and spreadsheets and GIMP, a photo editing application. And that’s just scratching the surface.

“Too many people wait until they get the dreaded control visit from the Business AustChamThailand Advance

Business Brief

Software Alliance.”

Never heard of these and not sure if they are reliable or have all the functionality you need? Just Google (that’s officially a verb now) “is open office any good” or “compare GIMP and Photoshop”. It will take about five minutes to figure out what you need to know. “Or, you could just ask us,” says Bernard Collin. “We have assisted several companies make the switch over the years so we have a pretty good understanding of what’s out there.”

Step one: the software audit “Making the switch is like planning a military campaign,” says Bernard. “First, we do the reconnaissance. We need to know exactly what’s running on client’s systems before we can plan a campaign.” That takes the form of a software audit. Using tools and processes developed through years of experience, SafeComs can run a complete audit and produce a full report on exactly what software is running on a client’s systems, its legal status, and its productivity in terms of performing the tasks it is supposed to be doing. Bernard says, “Too many people wait until they get the dreaded control visit from the Business Software Alliance announcing they are next in line for a serious fine and trouble.”

Fortunately, SafeComs works closely with the BSA and can arrange a moratorium while a company conducts an audit and decides what to do about the results. “What we can do,” says Bernard, “is arrange a hands-off period while a company gets its act together to comply with software licensing laws. We’ve saved smart companies millions in license fees and fines with this simple manoeuvre.”

ment the ‘handover’. “The main concern here is securing the data,” say Bernard.

“Downloading and installing open source software applications is relatively easy, but rather pointless if you lose valuable data in the process.” The basic steps are backing up, then moving or ‘migrating’ the data to a safe place while the new software is installed and then moving the data back to the drives with the new software.

panies may want a period of hand holding. “The hand holding stage is basically a security blanket,” says Bernard. “Users are happy if everything works. Management usually needs a few weeks to gain confidence in the new configuration and they want to be sure their own IT staff are on top of everything.”

“Most people find the prospect of investing even small amounts of time in learning new software so frustrating they stick with the ‘devil they know’ despite the significant sums of money they could be saving.”

Some SMEs don’t have adequate IT support. What typically happens is a company starts up with sufficient IT staff, but the company’s IT needs in terms of functions and complexity grows faster than the budget for support. “SafeComs can offer that additional ongoing support at a

Once the handover is complete, com-

Ongoing support

Eastern Seaboard Industry Estate, Rayong 1/2 Note: _________________

Making the switch to open source The easiest thing to do is to buy licenses for any and all unlicensed software that may be running on your systems. The advantage is that you can continue working as usual with no disruption whatsoever. Except to your bank account. “Few people actually read software licenses,” says Bernard, “and when they do, they are usually quite shocked at the real cost of compliance.” What SafeComs can do is recommend open source solutions to replace those costly license agreements.

Once management decides to go with open source for some or all its applications, SafeComs can help plan and imple-

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Business Brief

far more reasonable cost than expanding an in-house IT department,” says Bernard. “especially when it comes to open source solutions.”

The learning curve The learning curve is the third major barrier and the one that most frequently prevents people from making the switch.

Learning new software takes time. While you’re learning, you don’t feel that you are working as fast or as efficiently as you did before. This creates stress and under stress, perceived time seems a lot longer than actual clock time. Bernard says, “Most people find the prospect of investing even relatively small amounts of time in learning new software so extremely frustrating they stick with the ‘devil they know’ despite the significant sums of money they could be saving in license fees.”

“A growing number of company executives, expat and Thai, are discovering that when it comes to software piracy, Thai law can have very sharp teeth indeed.”

and August this year, Economic and Cyber Crime Division (Ecotec) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) have raided 39 companies from industries including manufacturing, design, automotive component production, plastics and packaging. “That number will easily double by the end of the year,” says Bernard, a local network and internet security specialist. “The BSA is doubling its reward for people who report illegal software from 250,000 to 500,000 Baht. That’s nearly enough to buy a brand new Honda Jazz.”

predicted that a 10 percent reduction in the software piracy rate in Thailand would generate 2,100 new jobs, an additional 34.5 billion baht (1 billion US$) in economic growth and more than 2000 billion Baht 55 million US$) in additional annual tax revenue. That might explain why Ecotec and the BSA can have the company’s Board of Director’s fingerprinted and charged under the copyright laws.

Imagine how embarrassing that is.

Bernard points out that, “It’s not just pressure from American and European software producers driving the crackdown.

The stakes are high for the Thai government as well.” A 2008 study on the economic benefits of reducing software piracy

Small wonder Bernard Collin is such a big fan of open source software. “We get great tools we can use to develop great applications that give our SME clients reliable, dependable software at a fraction of the cost they might otherwise have to pay.”

Want To Know More?

Basic Concepts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source

“Learning to use open source software is probably about the same level of difficulty people would have in switching from an MS Windows operating system to an Apple Macintosh,” says Bernard. “A lot of the learning is actually ‘unlearning’ the way you have been used to doing things.”

Wikipedia is the world’s first and most successful open source encyclopaedia, so not surprising it has a vast amount of information on the origins and evolution of the Open Source movement.

Another great feature of the open source movement is the great support that’s available. SafeComs develops a lot of its own software. “Anytime we need to know something, we put it out to the community and within hours we are getting really helpful suggestions,” says Bernard. That kind of sharing among professional programmers benefits the open source community by adding to its collective knowledge and clients benefit from faster development time, lower cost and a level of quality control that comes with submitting programming solutions to peer review.

HYPERLINK http://lifehacker.biz/articles/best-opensource-software/

Open source means peace of mind Open source software boasts a long list of advantages, but perhaps the big benefit to companies is the relief it affords from sometimes staggering license fees. And none too soon!

A growing number of company executives, expat and Thai, are discovering that when it comes to software piracy, Thai law can have very sharp teeth indeed. Between January

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Becoming an open source fan

Best Open Source Software

Features all the most popular Open Source applications.

The Open Versus Closed Source Argument http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_ open_source_and_closed_source

The basic issues in the Open Source debate.

SafeComs Network Security Consulting 21/16 Premier Condominium 4th Floor, Unit 401, Sukhumwit 24 Road, Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: 02-259-6281-3 Website: www.safecoms.com E-mail: info@safecoms.com

Join AustCham Now! Limited offer valid until 31 March 2009* Registration fee of 4,000 Baht waived for new members who join prior to this date!

AustCham needs you, you need AustCham Now! is the perfect time to benefit from AustCham membership – so please inform your business partners, colleagues, friends.

Our website tells it all www.austchamthailand.com Or call/email our office for membership application and more details Tel.: 02 210-0216-8 Email: execdirector@austchamthailand.com (minimum 12 months membership)

AustChamThailand AustChamThailand Advance

Patana School 1/2 Note: ______________

JVK Mover 1/2 Note: ______________

Embassy News

Australian Embassy Helps Sister Joan’s Milk Run Project

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he Australian Embassy Bangkok recently provided funding for Sister Joan’s Milk Run Project. Sister Joan, a religious Sister from the Western Australian Congregation of Presentation Sisters, has been working in Bangkok’s Klong Toey slum area since 1991. Her tireless efforts focus on helping community members with their basic needs through the provision of food, education and healthcare.

ficult for them to grow up healthy both physically and mentally,” said Sister Joan.

In the past the Australian Embassy has also provided funding to Sister Joan for her Education Project. This project helps to supply children with school uniforms,

bags and books to assist them with receiving an education. The Australian Embassy Discretionary Fund is part of Australia’s overseas development assistance program. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardship through small grants to community groups and NGO’s engaged in development activities in Thailand on a not-for-profit basis.

For information on the Fund, please visit: www.thailand.embassy.gov. au/bkok/DAP0708.html

The funding of Baht 120,000, made available through the Australian Embassy Discretionary Fund, helped Sister Joan to supply milk formula for over 120 babies through her fortnightly milk run project.

Sister Joan at her fortnightly milk run for mothers and their babies in the Klong Toey slum area.

Bronte Moules, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, visited the milk run project, which has been supported by the Australian Embassy Discretionary Fund.

“Without the supply of nutritious food for the babies in their very first year, it is dif-

Int School Bangkok 1/2 Note: ______________

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AustChamThailand Advance

AustCham Business Awards 2008

Woods Bagot: Best Services Company Award Recipient Congratulations to Woods Bagot on receiving the Best Services Company Award.

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oods Bagot is a leading design and consulting services company in Thailand.

Formula for success Woods Bagot never loses sight of its vision and continually reviews progress against set goals. Coupled with this is a commitment to innovation that pushes boundaries to achieve optimum solutions for clients. The Woods Bagot team is creative, committed and patient in their commitment to their vision: “Inspired Design through Responsive Service.”

Competitive advantages The company offers an international level of standards and processes to clients in Thailand, supported by ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Woods Bagot maintains a depth of experience and specialist knowledge which allows for excellent teams to be brought together for each unique project. Servicing clients within their local region is vital to achieving timely and relevant responses to project activities. This has been achieved through the opening of offices in Phuket and Samui.

Participation in Woods Bagot’s global Green Team initiative (Sustainable Development) allows the best knowledge to be brought from around the globe to clients in Thailand.

Woods Bagot maintains an extensive program of staff training, design reviews and project workshops to maintain a cutting edge approach to design.

Current market position and future plans Woods Bagot commenced operating in 1869. The Thailand office opened 16

AustChamThailand Advance

The Woods Bagot team is creative, committed and patient in their commitment to their vision: “Inspired Design through Responsive Service.” years ago and has grown to become the third biggest Woods Bagot office globally.

The company is recognised as a leading design and consulting services company in Thailand. This is evidenced by the Thai Property Council 2007 “Best Architect of the Year” award, and the BCI 2007 award as one of the “Top 10 architects in Thailand.”

Future plans include maintaining present market position within Thailand and broadening the client base throughout the Indochina Region.

Clear communication Global and Thailand websites enable current and prospective clients to better understand the extent of the company’s professional services and varied range of skills.

Ongoing Thai and English language training in both oral and written skills supports clearer communication within our multicultural team of professionals.

Client feedback provides a valuable communication tool. The company listens to clients and then shares those comments with all staff. Client needs couldn’t continue to be met if the company didn’t listen to what they have to say about design and service delivery.

Winning concept • A genuine desire to listen to clients.

• A passion to exceed client expectations.

• A commitment to design excellence.

• A desire to be “simply the best” at everything the company does.

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Chamber News

AustCham Director Awarded Ph.D

by Asian Institute of Technology

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ustCham Thailand is proud to announce that Saeed Zaki, Managing Director of dwp Thailand and an AustCham Director, was conferred with the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) by Thailand’s prestigious Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in December 2008. The Ph.D award earned by Saeed was for his research in the area of Urban Services (Water Supply) Privatisation.

joined the Thailand office of a UK-based planning and design consultancy in the capacity of Regional Manager and later as an Associate Director prior to joining Bovis Lend Lease in 2002, where he worked as a Senior Manager prior to joining dwp.

Saeed is an architect, urban designer and urban planner with over 20 years of research, teaching and professional experience in Thailand, Southeast Asia and India.

Saeed came to Thailand in 1991 when he first undertook post-graduate studies in Urban Planning at AIT. Following his postgraduate degree, Saeed worked as a

Planning Specialist and Project Development Manager between 1993 and 1997 with a local consulting firm. In 1997 he

Dr. Saeed has been associated with AustCham for around seven years, first as a representative of the company he then worked for and since 2006 as a Director.

He has contributed to AustCham in organising and moderating seminars on real estate development and also moderating a session at the Asia Growth Conference in 2007. As an AustCham Director, Saeed heads the Industry group, sustainable development and CSR and is responsible for drafting the chamber’s policy on sustainability besides contributing to various activities related to the industry group.

Siri Sathorn Serviced Residence 1/2 Note: ______________

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AustChamThailand Advance

New Intnational School of Thailand 1/2 Note: ______________

TRIA 1/4 Note: _____________

Jentana & Associates 1/4 Note: ______________

ATBC President’s Column

A Pause for Reflection…

PATRON His Excellency Mr Bandhit Sotipalalit Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra

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very one of you must by now realise that 2009 is going to be a difficult year for Australian business, especially those trying to conduct business overseas and perhaps even more so for those with links in Thailand, which seems almost every day to be on the front pages of the Australian press, more often than not, for what are widely perceived as negative reasons.

ATBC – Australian Section NATIONAL PRESIDENT Robert Taylor AusThai Connections president@aust-thai.org.au IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT John Connor Karjura Pty Ltd

Nevertheless, most Australians on the ground in Thailand have found that business has continued to operate reasonably, with the occasional setback like airport disruption, but we are all concerned about the negative perceptions of Thailand and how these will affect our businesses in the coming difficult year.

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.

At the Australia Thailand Business Council, we are committed to supporting our members through economic cycles. We have high-level access to business leaders both in Thailand and Australia and provide valuable networking events and information sharing. The Council will, as in the past, give members the opportunity to participate in confidential discussions with prominent individuals dealing with Thai politics, commerce and economics and seek to share information and experiences for the benefit of all members.

The Thailand Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) offers substantial benefits with half of Thailand’s five thousand tariffs already eliminated for Australian exporters and virtually all of the rest eliminated by 2010, allowing preferential access to Australia’s eighth largest trading partner. So far the greater advantage has flowed to Thai companies but opportunities are ripe for informed Australian exporters.

FOUNDING PRESIDENT Charles Battersby Intelmar Australia Pty Limited VICE PRESIDENTS Chair of the New South Wales Chapter Tamerlaine Beasley Beasley Intercultural nsw@aust-thai.org.au Chair of the Queensland Chapter John Cockburn jkcockburn@hotmail.com

Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure that you and your company benefit from the insights required to survive and thrive in these turbulent times through your membership of the Council and our wider relationships including AustCham.

We look forward to continuing to be of service to our members and I remind you that you can contact our Executive Director through secretariat@aust-thai.org.au should you have any queries or require any assistance on your endeavours in Thailand.

Regards,

Chair of the Victorian Chapter Graham Sherry Baker & McKenzie vic@aust-thai.org.au 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

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March 2009

AustChamThailand Advance

Community Services

Baan Khao Huay Mahad School Visit On Saturday, 17 January 2009, volunteers together with AustCham staff visited Baan Khao Huay Mahad School in Rayong Province. It was a successful day enjoyed by all. We thank the volunteers – Belinda Skinner, Nancy Lane, Kevin McQuillan, Jacquis Kyle, Naam Meyer, Kwan Carranco, Logan Whitaker and Gareth Marshall – for their generous participation.

Thank you to Toll Logistics (our English Teaching sponsor) for their continuous support.

AustChamThailand Advance

March 2009

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Community Projects

Community Services

Ninth Annual Convoy for Kids

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fter an unscheduled postponement of the Convoy for Kids day last November, The Logistics Subcommittee, AustCham and the Foundation for the Welfare of the Crippled in Pakkred, were again joined by the kids from Sister Joan’s Milk Run in Klong Toey and for the first time, under privileged kids from Sor Soh Group for a great day out at Siam Ocean World and the Royal Thai Airforce Museum on Sunday, 25 January 2009.

At the start of the day, seven bus loads of kids arrived at Siam Ocean World. Volunteers and helpers (in their hundreds) assisted the kids and guided them into the aquarium. It was the first time that the kids had seen large sharks and other sea creatures at such close range. It was fun as well as educational as Siam Ocean World guides gave out prizes for correct answers to sea-related questions.

After Siam Ocean World, the convoy set off for the Royal Thai Airforce Museum.

There we were greeted by clowns, mascots from BNH and Chester’s Grill (who

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also provided lunch). There was ice-cream from Cremo and an array of sweets and drinks from many sponsors. The kids were mobilised to various stops throughout the museum to learn about planes, the history of the airforce and to create their own paper models of planes.

As usual we had our ceremonial handing over of a cheque (this year Baht 800,000) to the Foundation for the Farewell of the Crippled (under Royal Patronage). We were also joined by our Ambassador HE Paul Grigson, AustCham President Shane Torr, Logistics Subcommittee Chairman and organiser for Convoy for Kids Kititeb Jintaworn, and the President of the Foundation Khun Araya Arunanondachai.

The pledges (money and in kind donations) came in since late last year from local/multinational companies, institutes and individuals. Although the Convoy Day doesn’t generate the full amount for the donation – we do fulfil our intended amount with additional money raised from our annual Convoy Golf.

Financial help can be made at any time by going to our website: www.convoyforkids. com or contacting AustCham. Alternatively, head out to the Foundation in Nonthaburi to have a look at the great work and find out what they need. Teachers, nurses, doctors and just about any one with a skill, wallet and/or a heart can help financially or in kind. Please take a look at the occupational skills courses being held there and you will find an enthusiastic future employee who won’t want to go home! With extra help we hope to keep the goodwill going all year and not just on this special day.

Thank you to all the team who were there in body or in spirit and see you at the Convoy for Kids Golf this May. For more information or to register your interest as a player, sponsor or both please visit: www. convoyforkids.com Kititeb Jintaworn Chairman, Convoy For Kids and AustCham Logistics Subcommittee

AustChamThailand Advance

Community Servives

Thank you to the Donors for their Contributions to this Year’s Convoy • • • • • • • • • •

Bangkok Motor Industrial BNH Hospital Boral Concrete Brian McAusland Ceva Logistics Chester’s Grill Cremo Dana Spicer David Mills DHL Exel Supply Chain

AustChamThailand Advance

• • • • • • • • • •

Donna @ iii Logistics Ek-Chai Distribution Eternity Grand Logistics Fortune Hotel Geodis Overseas Graco I.D.S. Logistics (Thailand) ILS Management Junghenrich Lift Truck Khun Hena

• • • • • • • • • •

Landolt Lesachao Linfox Transport (Thailand) Logistics Bureau (Asia) Mazda Sales (Thailand) Mike Hoey Peera Groudson Saengfah Isuzu Sales Steve Sutton Tanayong

• • • • • • •

Thanamol Group Development The Freight Company TMB Macquarie Securities TNT Express Worldwide Total V. Pack & Move (Bangkok) Volvo Truck & Bus

We apologise for any inadvertent omissions.

March 2009

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Chamber Events

Australia Day Ball 2009: Redux Proudly sponsored by Raimon Land in conjunction with Akara Mining Saturday 24 January 2009 at the Royal Orchid Sheraton

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Chamber Events

AustChamThailand Advance

March 2009

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Chamber Events

Breakfast Briefing 27 January

HR Focus Group Seminar 4 February

AustCham was delighted to invite members to attend a Breakfast Briefing on 27 January 2009 at the AustCham Office. The guest speaker was Andrew Gray of Complete Education and Touring Australia (CETA). The topic was “Know someone who wants to study in Australia – but don’t know who to recommend to help them?” Andrew Gray explained the options, benefits and choices for study in Australia. Andrew Gray is the Managing Director of CETA, with offices in Thailand and Australia.

On 4 February 2009, AustCham’s HR Focus Group invited Khun Suriyong Tungsuwan, Partner of Baker & McKenzie, to discuss “Managing manpower in an economic downturn” at the “Rattanakosin Room”, Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok.

Khun Suriyong from Baker & McKenzie gave an excellent talk, giving a well organised overview of both the legal and practical frameworks involved in downsizing a company.

Dimet (Siam) 1/4 Note: _____________

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BBQ Store 1/4 Note: ______________

AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

Joint Southern Hemisphere Networking at the Sukhothai Hotel, 14 January AustCham Thailand together with the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce were pleased to invite our members to the third annual New Year’s Joint Southern Hemisphere Networking Braii (South African style Barbecue) at the Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok on 14 January 2009. We would like to thank the co-sponsors – Crown Worldwide, gH design and RSM Advisory (Thailand) for their generous support.

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March 2009

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Chamber Events

Bangkok Sundowners at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, 4 February 2009 On Wednesday 4 February 2009, Bangkok Sundowners was held at Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok. We thank MBMG International and RSM Advisory (Thailand) Limited (event sponsor) and Four Seasons Hotel (catering and venue sponsor) for their generous support.

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1) Gareth Hughes - RSM; Paul Gambles - MBMG; Shane Torr - AustCham President, ISM Technology Recruitment; Rainer Stampfer - Four Seasons Hotel.

2) Brett Boshoff - KPMG; Mark Butters - RSM Advisory; David Armstrong - Bangkok Post; Khun Anucha Chintakanond. 3) Khun Charn Saralertsophon FTI; Khun Tana Akson - Heidrick & Struggles; Ben Yong - AustCham Director, Baker & McKenzie. 4) Stuart McKenzie - Accor; Anne Lewinski - AustCham Director, Al Consultancy Hotel Solutions; Stephen Candotti - Australian Embassy. 5) Lynn Pichette - Nokia Siemens Networks; Renita Bromley - Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes; Maurice Bromley - GoIndustry, President SATCC ; Khun Rungnapha Kaewduangsri - Santa Fe. 6) Khun Nareerat Cotchatorn

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AustChamThailand Advance

Chamber Events

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- Servcorp; Belinda Skinner - AustCham Director, Talent Plus Recruitment; Siobhan Kennedy - MobyElite; Emma Fenby - DLA Piper. 7) Brock Simon Dunnhumby; Laura Herold - Montpelier; Bryan Tolmer - NorCE OFFSHORE. 8) Gareth Marshall - Kinnaree Media; Ian Till - Hewitt; Simon Nash - gH Design. 9) Khun Nuttavut Euaranukorn - Oakwood; Khun Pornsuang Likiganjanakul - Oakwood; Khun Suksiri Pornpattamapinyo - Meinhardt. 10) Phil Aura-ek - Smiling Albino; Sara Bertuzzi - Asia World; Scott Minteer - SoftControl; Daniel Fraser - Smiling Albino. 11) Barry Petersen - Lang Suan House; Khun Sonthaya Suwan, Lang Suan House, Nigel Parker - Ok Tedi Mining.

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March 2009

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Members’ Changes

New Corporate Ordinary Members Adrian Spencer 24 Groom Street Clifton Hill, Victoria 3068 Australia Tel: 0802 379 051 Email: adrian_spencer@nci-ltd.com Website: www.nci-ltd.com

Heidrick & Struggles 10th Floor, K Tower 209 Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke) Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2664 1011, 260 2490 Fax:+66 (0) 2260 2460, 664 0830 Email: bangkok@heidrick.com Website: www.heidrick.com

Principal: Mr. Adrian Spencer

Principal: Mr. Michael Ascot Alternate: Ms. Tana Akson Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok Grand Millennium Hotel Building 30 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) Road Klongtoeynua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2204 4000 Fax: +66 (0) 2204 4188 Website: www.grandmillenniumskv.com

Heidrick & Struggles provides exceptional service and expertise to deliver effective leadership solutions for clients. We are the world’s premier provider of seniorlevel executive search and leadership consulting services, including talent management, board building, executive on-boarding and M&A effectiveness.

Principal: Mr. John Gerrard Alternate: Ms. Jidapa Daranand

For more than 50 years, we have focused on quality service and built strong leadership teams through our relationships with clients and individuals worldwide. Today, Heidrick & Struggles leadership experts operate from principal business centres in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The Grand Millennium Sukhumvit hotel is managed by M&C Hotels and owned by Thailand-based Fena Estate Company Limited, a joint venture between Srichawla Family (FICO Group) and City Hotels Pte Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of M&C Hotels), with each company owning a 50% interest in the joint venture.

The Bangkok office serves client organisations as trusted advisors, partnering with them to retain and nurture the best talent in today’s ever-changing business environment. The office provides services throughout Southeast Asia and brings over 12 years of experience in the region with a special emphasis on consumer, financial

services and industrial markets. In addition to executive search, our experienced professionals offer leadership assessment and talent management services as part of our consultative approach to fulfilling our clients’ needs.

Lionbridge (Thailand) Ltd. 24th Floor, Silom Complex Bldg.

191 Silom Rd., Silom, Bangrak Bangkok, 10500 Tel: +66 (0) 2632 1530-1 Fax: +66 (0) 2632 1530-1 Email: kamolwan.chaiputta@lionbridge.com Website: www.lionbridge.com Principal: Ms. Kamolwan Chaiputta Alternate: Mr. Kittiwat Rojanusorn Lionbridge is a leading provider of globalisation, development and testing services that enable clients to develop, release, manage and maintain their enterprise content and technology applications globally.

Through its Global Language and Content (GLC) solutions, Lionbridge adapts products and content to meet the linguistic, technical and cultural requirements of customers, partners, and employees worldwide. Lionbridge GLC solutions are based on the Company’s internet-architected language technology platform and global service delivery model which make the translation process more efficient.

Through its Global Development and Testing (GDT) solutions, Lionbridge develops, re-engineers and optimises IT applications and performs testing to ensure the quality, interoperability, usability and performance of clients’ software, consumer technology products and content. Lionbridge’s testing services, which are offered under the VeriTest brand, also include product

Booking Anywhere 1/4 Note: _____________

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Members’ Changes

certification and competitive analysis.

Lionbridge has deep domain experience developing, testing and maintaining applications in a cost-efficient, blended on-site and offshore model.

Lionbridge has a dedicated team of 4,300 employees worldwide, including 1500 skilled professionals in India, China and Eastern Europe. Lionbridge program managers, engineers, content developers, quality assurance professionals and linguistic experts work with a global community of over 25,000 independent translators collaborating across a technology-based, global delivery platform.

Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. 4/41 Moo 3 Thanyakarn Raminthra Soi 14, Chorakaebua Ladprao, Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66 (0) 2943 7166-8 ext. 151 Fax: +66 (0) 2943 7169 Email: finn@scandmedia.com;

finn_balslev@hotmail.com Website: www.scandmedia.com Principal: Mr. Gregers Moller Alternate: Mr. Finn Balslev Scand-Media is a publishing company, a graphic house, website developer and a news agency. The majority of our clients are foreign companies and organisations in Thailand.

New Corporate Affiliate Member Creative Surfaces Pty Ltd. Unit 1/3 Rogilla Closs Wallsend NSW 2287 Australia Tel: +612 4965 6300, +612 434 077 077 Email: sales@creativesurfaces.com.au Website: www.creativesurfaces.com.au

of New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and South-East Queensland. Creative Surfaces provides technical and specification data together with product sampling to Architects, Interior Designers, Government Departments, Councils, Facility Managers and Installation Contractors.

The range of recycled and composite sheet rubber flooring products with R 10. non-slip rating also include Composite Rubber Acoustic Underlay, Gym Floors, Playground Surfacing, Equine Surfacing and Industrial Matting. The Acoustic Underlays have been designed to meet the current B.C.A. codes for sound and impact standards between floors of high rise buildings.

New Individual Ordinary Member

Ms. Anne Lewinski Managing Director AL Consultancy Hotel Solutions Ltd. Baan Sathorn, 57/28 Soi Ngamduplee Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66 (0) 81 984 8306 Email: aslewinski@gmail.com Anne Lewinski is a dynamic and creative sales and marketing professional having worked with many of the world’s top luxury travel and hospitality brands during a distinguished career spanning 36 years.

Motivated, versatile and visionary, Anne thrives on challenges and through her exceptional inter-personal skills always finds solutions to driving a business, or

organisation, forward through partnerships and strategic relationships.

Anne is currently in the process of setting up her own company AL Consultancy Ltd, specialising in sales & marketing within the hospitality and travel industries. She moved to Thailand early 2004 as Director of Marketing and Sales at The Sukhothai Bangkok, the 210-room multi-award winning deluxe hotel, a position she held for four and a half years prior to leaving end October 2008.

Previous to moving to Thailand, Anne worked in senior management positions for a number of global leading hospitality organisations including Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Accor Asia Pacific and Park Plaza International (Carlson Hotel Group).

Her experience also stretches into the travel and aviation industries, including three years with Singapore Airlines, the most highly regarded carrier in the world, 12 years with UTA/Air France and another three years with Lauda Air.

Change of Representative Mr. Benjamin Hirasawa, Associate is a new representative of DLA Piper (Thailand) Ltd.

Change of Company Address Green World Environment Corporation Ltd. 56/4 Sukhumvit 63 Road (Ekamai) Prakanong-Nua, Wattana Bangkok 10110 Tel: +66 (0) 2714 3281 Fax: +66 (0) 2714 1237

Principal: Mr. Luke Doran Alternate: Mr. Tony Otton Creative Surfaces has been appointed as the NSW and ACT distributors for A1 Rubber, offering a large range of AUSTRALIAN MADE recycled rubber flooring products suitable for use in the commercial building industry.

Creative Surfaces is part of the Bass Corporation (Newcastle) P/L Group of companies, which was established 32 years ago. We currently have offices in Sydney and Newcastle and service the whole

AustChamThailand Advance

Heads Up! The Annual Convoy for Kids (CFK) Golf Day is fast approaching and is scheduled to be held late May. For more information or to register your interest as a player, sponsor or both please visit: www.convoyforkids.com

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From the Chamber Office

Message from the ED

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s things are gearing up for the AustCham Annual General Meeting – to be held at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel Bangkok on 4 March 2009 – I would like to thank the current board for a job well done over the 2008/09 year. I would also like to give a special thank you to Shane Torr not only for his contributions as President over the past twelve months, but also for his efforts on the board over the past four years.

For those who are re-standing for the board as well as those who have been nominated for Directors positions, I wish you all the best of luck in the elections.

The first Bangkok Sundowners of the year was held poolside at the Four Seasons Hotel.

It was a fantastic evening with a large turnout – a great way to kick off our monthly networking evenings for 2009. We are grateful of the Four Seasons Hotel as well as to RSM Thailand and MBMG for sponsoring the evening.

The Eastern SeabBoard also saw its first Sundowners for 2009, held at D2 Baraquda. Thank you to Tinfish and to dwp (who also did design work at the hotel) – for sponsoring the evening.

Prior to Sundowners, the Auto Focus Group held its AGM – congratulations to the members who were selected to the new board.

Shortly you will be receiving your annual membership invoice for the upcoming membership year 1 April 2009 through 31 March 2010).

We are pleased to confirm that membership fees have again been held steady and remain the same as last year.

Following requests from members for an

option to pre-purchase event vouchers (and therefore avoid the need for further cash payments and tax receipts), this year we are looking to provide an option that includes a package of tickets for our various events throughout the year. Keep an eye out for further information that will be sent with the renewal forms.

As we are get into the swing of 2009 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 diarize are as follows: • Eastern Seaboard Sundowners – Friday, 13 March 2009 • Luncheon Briefing, with James Pitcheon: An outlook on the Thai property market - Wednesday, 18 March 2009 • Breakfast Briefing, with Geoffrey Storey: Supplier Enablement - The effects on Purchasing and Accounts Payable – Tuesday, 24 March 2009 • Luncheon Briefing, with Dr. Bandit Nijathaworn, Deputy Governor, Bank of Thailand: Financial Institutions Stability - 2009, Thailand Economic Outlook – Friday, 3 April 2009 • ANZAC Day Remembrance Program – Saturday, 25 April 2009.

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

Thank you to all February event sponsors

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Calendar of Events WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH Annual General Meeting

17.00 – 18.00 Venue: “Residence,” Grand Hyatt Erawan Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Sponsor: dtac Catering & Venue Sponsor: “Residence,” Grand Hyatt Erawan FRIDAY, 13 MARCH ESB Sundowners

18.00 – 21.00 Venue: TBC SATURDAY, 14 MARCH Voluntary English Teaching

Venue: Wat Pra Pathranporn School, Sri Ra Cha WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH Luncheon Meeting

12.00 – 14.00 Venue: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Guest Speaker: James Pitchon CB Richard Ellis TUESDAY, 24 MARCH Breakfast Briefing: Supplier Enablement

07.30 – 08.30 Guest Speaker: Geoffrey Storey, Your Supply Solutions Venue: AustCham Office THURSDAY, 26 MARCH NZTCC: March Networking Event

(Please contact NZTCC) SATURDAY, 4 APRIL AusCham Vietnam ‘Big Day Out’ Jimmy Barnes Live

Venue: Van Thanh Park, HCMC, Vietnam (Please contact AusCham Vietnam)

AustChamThailand Advance

Inside Back Cover

Bangkok Hospital

1/1 Note: __________________

Back Cover

Nordana Project & Chartering 1/1 Note: __________________