SACC Executive Forum followed by Networking Event with the Ambassador of Sweden to Australia, 31 May Sydney

The SACC Executive Forum and the following Business Networking Event were honoured at being hosted by AstraZeneca Australia and venue host Allens Law Firm, on the afternoon of 31 May in Sydney.
The events were brilliantly moderated by Kieran Schneemann, Corporate Affairs Adviser to AstraZeneca Australia & New Zealand and Honorary Board Member of SACC and kicked off with a welcome from SACC President, Jan Gardberg and an excellent speech from Guest of Honour Ambassador of Sweden, H. E. Pontus Melander. We heard from event hosts Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs for AstraZeneca gave a valuable presentation on AstraZeneca’s footprint in Australia, it’s manufacturing investment locally as well as their focus on sustainability and from Carolyn Oddie, Partner at Allens.
Special, thanks to AstraZeneca and Allens for supporting this event.

Did you know that the Sydney Opera House tiles are from Höganäs

How the Sydney Opera House tiles stay white  

The self-cleaning tiles never get a scrub down by anything but the elements. Danish architect Jorn Utzon planned it that way, the spherical shape of the shells allowing for good drainage so that cleaning would not be necessary. He worked on the tiles, made from clay with a small percentage of crushed stone, for three years with Swedish company Höganäs.

In the early 1960s, more than 1 million “Sydney Tiles” were shipped from Höganäs in Sweden. Some 940,840 cover the building now and the remainder are in an off-site storage facility.

Read more about How the Sydney Opera House tiles stay white in this article from The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 May 2023

The Brisbane Truck Show in May 2023 was a tremendous success and the best one so far for Volvo Group Australia (VGA)

Volvo Group Australia displayed six trucks at the stand, all powered by HVO or Electricity – showing their competitors that VGA is leading the transformation in sustainable transport.

To name some of the biggest events; Volvo Trucks sold their first Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks on the stand, Mack Trucks set a Guinness World Record with a life-size LEGO truck and UD Trucks celebrated 50 years in Australia – and all within four days. 

Greener Garden, Greener Future – Husqvarna Event at the Embassy of Sweden Canberra

On 17 May, Husqvarna, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra, hosted “Greener Garden, Greener Future” with the presence of His Excellency Swedish Ambassador Pontus Melander and ACT Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti MLA. The event focused on collaboration as a key tool for delivering on sustainability efforts, bringing new initiatives to life and implementing immediate actions to tackle the climate crisis. Husqvarna Vice President Pacific Division, Pauline Nilsson, was also in attendance and emphasised the significance of sustainable technologies and their critical role in addressing the pressing challenge of surpassing the 1.5-degree global warming threshold.

 

The Husqvarna team with the Ambassador and Embassy staff.

 At the event, Ambassador Pontus Melander formally announced the Embassy’s switch from petrol-powered lawn care to the battery-powered Husqvarna Automower®, affectionately named ‘Husky’. The switch was motivated by a broader sustainability focus adopted by the Swedish Embassy, which acknowledges its responsibility of setting a positive example to the city through actions that promote biodiversity, greener practices, and climate neutrality,

 

At the event, Pauline Nilsson spoke about three global themes driving change and action:

  • Climate change, extreme weather, biodiversity decline, and global warming, serve as constant reminders of the climate crisis and Husqvarna’s responsibility to nature and the environment.
  • Changing urban environments in which, more than ever, well-maintained, high-quality green spaces will play a critical role in mitigating urban heat and the amplified effects of floods.
  • Evolving business environments are seeing a rapid rise in artificial intelligence and data being used to develop smarter products and solutions. These innovations can contribute to green space management and help achieve climate targets.

Pauline Nilsson addresses guests, including media and VIPs.

Husqvarna’s goal to be the world leader in the future of green space maintenance amid the face of the climate crisis. In her speech, Pauline explains, “Husqvarna is dedicated to a sustainable future, leading the industry with low-carbon, resource-smart solutions. We are prioritising efficient tool usage and powering them with alternatives to fossil fuels. Through pioneering solutions, we empower people to make sustainable choices daily.”

The event was attended by media, with two pieces published online, syndicated nationally with a total reach of over one million, along with a piece on local Canberra radio stations 2CC and 2CA.

Networking Event with SACC Corporate Member Sinch 3 May Sydney

On 3 May SACC Corporate Member Sinch hosted a fantastic networking event at their new Sydney CBD office.

Great to hear about Sinch and their solutions for customer engagement. We also heard from SACC Member Howwe Technologies, leading software for strategy acceleration.

Big thank you to team Sinch and all members and guests attending the event!