Chairman's Letter to Members
Dear Members,
It is a pleasure to write to you all, and an honour to serve as your Chairman for the year ahead. AustCham Shanghai has an incredible 25yr+ legacy as the peak body for Australian business interests in China, and I feel an immense sense of pride & responsibility as we collectively embark on what promises to be a challenging, exciting and defining year for our Membership.
The first six months of 2020 have brought an unprecedented period of change and uncertainty to the world and presented unique challenges for the AustCham Shanghai community. In the recent AustCham Shanghai spot poll of 110 Australian businesses, 70 per cent of respondents reported that the COVID19 outbreak will have a negative impact to their 2020 forecast revenue and 41 per cent or respondents reported a negative business outlook for China. Rising tensions in the Sino-Australian relationship and its impact on operations, trade and demand continue to keep business leaders up at night.
Stronger Together
Amongst this backdrop, there has perhaps never been a more important time to have a strong, united & collaborative Chamber. We are undoubtably always “stronger together” and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all sincerely for your ongoing support for AustCham Shanghai. We are acutely aware of the challenges facing our Members, deeply value your loyalty and commitment, and remain firmly committed to developing the collaboration & partnership strategies that will continue to advance your business interests in China.
It is also clearly not all “doom and gloom”... China continues to be one of Australia’s key trading partners, with our 2-way combined trade now exceeding AUD $235b. Our economies are complimentary, and trade between both nations continue to drive symbiotic growth. We should remain confident about the mid to long term opportunities for market, capitalizing on the opportunities available, and presenting a united front for our community.
Steadfast in our Mission
Following our recent AGM and Election, your new Board has now met for the first time, appointing our leadership positions and shaping our initial priorities for the year ahead. I would firstly like to sincerely thank each of my fellow Non-Executive Directors for their commitment and service to our Membership, acknowledging that our positions are unpaid and voluntary. I would also like to thank them for their trust and confidence in appointing me as Chairman.
As our recent Member spot poll has validated, an increasing number of Member organisations are currently reviewing their China Strategy, actively seeking the insights and advice that will allow them to make informed decisions. AustCham Shanghai has an exceptional opportunity to inform that debate, and the Board intends to help mobilise the extensive resources & expertise from within our Membership community to facilitate and support those discussions.
Embracing Change
Another positive outcome from this period of intense disruption appears to be increasing appetite for change & innovation amongst businesses around the world. Arguably, organisations operating in China are leading in this area, being the first to enter & emerge from each stage, adapting & evolving every time. Personally, I have no doubt that organisations able to successfully embrace Change, will continue to prosper despite the surrounding challenges.
Within AustCham Shanghai, we also have a unique opportunity to reimagine & evolve the strategies that will see our organisation continue to be the peak body for Australian business in China. With that principle in mind, the Board would like to invite Members to join us for an open & honest Members Q&A Forum. This event is intended to draw on your collective experience and perspectives, and to directly inform the Board annual Strategy Day in October. It is vital that we have strong representation from our Membership, and I would strongly encourage you to get involved – either in person, or via video conference. The Q&A Forum will be hosted at Australia House, and we are hoping the weather will allow a rooftop BBQ and drinks afterwards. Look out for invitations with full details soon.
Continuing with the theme of “change”, I would like to announce that our current Executive Director Jack Brady will be leaving AustCham Shanghai in the coming months, returning to Australia to take the next step in his professional career. As you would all attest to, Jack has been an integral part of AustCham Shanghai for the past five years. He has been instrumental in supporting countless Members to grow their business interests in China, advancing our collective voice through advocacy and thought leadership, and of course pioneering and realising the concept of “Australia House”. We thank him greatly for his service and wish him well in his future endeavours, where I have no doubt he will continue to excel.
As part of business continuity planning, the Board does maintain succession plans for our Executive Director and key leadership positions. To ensure a smooth transition, we have activated those succession plans and are in discussions with potential candidates. We remain open to expressions of interest from qualified individuals and encourage those who would like more information to email me at chairman@austchamshanghai.com. We aim to conclude our discussions & provide members with an announcement within the next 4-6 weeks.
In the months ahead as we sharpen our strategy, I look forward to connecting more with you and hearing your views on how we can continue to advance our collective interests. Please do reach out to the AustCham Shanghai team (or myself directly) if we can support you or your organisation in any way at all.
Otherwise, good luck in life & business in the meantime, and I look forward to sharing an update again next month.
Regards,
Simon Lance
Chairman of the Board
AustCham Shanghai
E: chairman@austchamshanghai.com
