State of the State Series – Event Two

09 Nov 2020

EVENT DETAILS:

State of the State Series: Event Two

Date: Monday 16th November 2020

Time: Webinar 2:00pm – 3:30 pm (ACST).

Platform: Webinar – You will be sent a link to the Webinar the day before the start date.

2020 has presented a whole host of changes and uncertainty for almost every industry in our state, our country, and indeed the world. Coupled with the overwhelming volume of content relating to the Australia-China bilateral relationship in the media, it is no wonder that many businesses are feeling uncertain, confused, and wary of the future.

The ACBC believes it is important, now more than ever, to provide our members with up to date, honest and trustworthy information around the Australia-China business landscape to enable South Australian businesses to make the most of the China opportunity.

In keeping with this commitment to its members, the Australia China Business council SA launched its State of the State series in October to address some of the uncertainty that 2020 has brought to the Australia-China bilateral relationship and the complex media messaging surrounding doing business with China.

Following our first webinar with David Olsson and Christy Tan in October, we are pleased to continue this important conversation which unpacks the Australia-China landscape in an event with Ambassador Graham Fletcher, Daniel Boyer and Lachlan Crews on Monday 16th November.

Hear about what is happening on the ground in China and get a unique insight into the disruptions being faced and where the challenges and opportunities lie.

SPEAKERS

Sean Keenihan, National Vice-President and President (SA) Australia China Business Council.

A highly competent Mandarin speaker, Sean is the current National Vice President and South Australian State President of ACBC. Sean was a co-author of South Australia’s China Engagement Strategy in 2012 and served as the SA Government’s advisor on China, providing strategic advice to the Premier, Ministers, Local Government and Industry Bodies to facilitate closer bilateral links between South Australia and China during a period of rapid growth in the bilateral economic relationship.

Daniel Boyer, General Manager, Greater China, Austrade

Daniel is General Manager, Greater China, based in Beijing. Daniel leads a team of 111 staff across 8 offices delivering high quality trade and investment services to companies in Australia and Greater China.

Daniel joined Austrade in 2014, most recently leading the Government and Partnerships division. In his time at Austrade, Daniel has held a number of senior roles, including leading the reorganisation and restructure of the agency as the General Manager of the Positioning for our Future project.

Prior to moving to Austrade, Daniel worked in a number of Australian Government Agencies, most recently in Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). Daniel’s positions in DIBP included Regional Director East Asia, responsible for visa operations across North Asia and the Mekong economies, also based in Beijing.

Lachlan Crews, Minister Counsellor (Economic), Australian Embassy

Lachlan Crews is a senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He took up the position of Minister-Counsellor (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing in December 2019.

He was appointed Assistant Secretary, Trade and Investment Advocacy Branch, Regional Trade Agreements Division (RTD) in July 2017.

In that role, Lachlan was responsible for advocacy work to raise awareness of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements, and broader trade and investment outreach. Prior to that appointment, he was Director, Europe Trade and Brexit Unit.

From 2012-2016, he served as Counsellor (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. He was part of the negotiating team working on the China, Japan and Korea FTAs (2008-2011) and served as First Secretary (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Seoul (2005-2008).

Prior to joining DFAT, Lachlan worked in the international taxation and foreign investment areas of Treasury (1998-2001).

Lachlan holds a degree in Economics and Arts (Chinese) from the University of Queensland, and a Masters Degree (International Relations) from ANU.

He is married with two children.

Graham Fletcher, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Graham Fletcher has been Australia’s Ambassador to China since August 2019.

Prior to this appointment, Mr Fletcher was head of the North Asia Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) during 2008-10 and again from 2015.

During 2014, he led the team that completed the negotiation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Fletcher has served in the Australian Embassy to China on three previous occasions: as Third Secretary (1986-88), Counsellor (1997-2000) and Deputy Head of Mission (2004-08).
He was also Deputy Head of Mission in the Australian Embassy in Washington (2011-13) and Deputy Consul-General in the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea (1992-94)

Mr Fletcher has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney. He joined the then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1983.

He is married with three children.

Webcast Platform – Zoom – Download Zoom on Your PC, Mac or Phone

We will be using Zoom for this Webcast. Please make sure you download Zoom at:

Step 1: https://zoom.us/support/download

Step 2: Follow the steps of the setup.

If you need more information about downloading Zoom go to:

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362233-Where-Do-I-Download-The-Latest-Version-

How to Join and Participate in a Webinar – Zoom

For more information go to: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115004954946-Joining-and-participating-in-a-webinar-attendee-

Buy Ticket

Event Speakers

Sean Keenihan

National Vice-President and President (SA) Australia China Business Council

Sean Keenihan is the Chair of the Board at Norman Waterhouse lawyers in South Australia and has a wealth of experience gained from over 25 years of legal practice both internationally and in South Australia. He has also chaired a range of government and non-government organisations across different industries and is a recognised leader in South Australia’s bilateral engagement with China over the last decade. A highly competent Mandarin speaker, Sean is the current National Vice President and South Australian State President of ACBC. Sean was a co-author of South Australia’s China Engagement Strategy in 2012 and served as the SA Government’s advisor on China, providing strategic advice to the Premier, Ministers, Local Government and Industry Bodies to facilitate closer bilateral links between South Australia and China during a period of rapid growth in the bilateral economic relationship.

Daniel Boyer

General Manager, Greater China, Austrade

Daniel is currently the General Manager, Greater China, for Austrade Beijing, leading a team of 115 staff across 12 posts to deliver high quality trade and investment services to Australian and Chinese clients. Daniel joined the Australian Trade Commission in 2014, most recently leading the Government and Partnerships division. In his time at Austrade, Daniel has held a number of senior roles, including leading the reorganisation and restructure of the agency as the General Managers of the Positioning for our Future work. Prior to moving to Austrade, Daniel worked in a number of Australian Government Agencies, most recently in Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). Daniel’s positions in DIBP included Regional Director East Asia, responsible for visa operations across North Asia and the Mekong, also based in Beijing.

Lachlan Crews

Minister Counsellor (Economic), Australian Embassy

Mr Lachlan Crews is a senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He took up the position of Minister-Counsellor (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing in December 2019. Prior to his appointment in Beijing, Lachlan was Assistant Secretary, Trade and Investment Advocacy Branch, Regional Trade Agreements Division (RTD) from 2017 to 2019. In that role, Lachlan was responsible for advocacy work to raise domestic awareness of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements, and broader outreach in support of free trade and globalisation. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Counsellor (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. He was part of the negotiating team working on the China, Japan and Korea FTAs (2008-2011) and served as First Secretary (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Seoul (2005-2008). Prior to joining DFAT, Lachlan worked in the international taxation and foreign investment areas of Treasury (1998-2001). Lachlan holds a degree in Economics and Arts (Chinese) from the University of Queensland, and a Masters Degree (International Relations) from ANU. He is married with two children.

Graham Fletcher

Ambassador to the People's Republic of China

Graham Fletcher has been Australia’s Ambassador to China since August 2019. Prior to this appointment, Mr Fletcher was head of the North Asia Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) during 2008-10 and again from 2015. During 2014, he led the team that completed negotiation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Mr Fletcher has served in the Australian Embassy to China on three previous occasions: as Third Secretary (1986-88), Counsellor (1997-2000) and Deputy Head of Mission (2004-08). He was also Deputy Head of Mission in the Australian Embassy in Washington (2011-13) and Deputy Consul-General in the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea (1992-94) Mr Fletcher has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney. He joined the then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1983. He is married with three children.