Swedish School in Sydney – Swedish as an elective HSC subject information session 15 May, 19.30 AEST

Do you have a teenager in year 10 keen to develop their Swedish language further? Now is the time to take up the opportunity to choose Swedish as an elective subject for the HSC!

Take part in the Swedish school’s (Zoom) information meeting on May 15th, at 19:30, about Swedish as an elective HSC subject.

The meeting is primarily aimed at parents and students in year 10. Parents and students in year 9 who want to inform themselves about Swedish as an elective HSC subject and the possibility of university studies in Sweden are also welcome.

HSC teacher Cecilia Smith will talk about the course structure and a graduate HSC student will share their experience of studying Swedish as an elective subject in HSC. Eva Gabrielson, HSC coordinator, will also answer questions regarding the NSW Education Standards Authority, NESA, and their curriculum. The session will also include information about university studies in Sweden.

The Swedish HSC course begins in term 3, 2024. The final exam takes place in term 4, 2025.

Get ready by your computer with a Swedish Fika on 15 May for more information. Register NOW! https://events.humanitix.com/svenska-som-hsc-aemne

SWEDELINK Newsletter Autumn 2024

We are thrilled to present the latest edition of the SACC newsletter, packed with exciting updates, insights, and highlights from the Chamber of Commerce and our esteemed members. We had a busy first quarter of 2024, marked by a series of engaging events hosted across all SACC chapters. From informative online events incl. CEO talk to in-person workshops and networking events.

We thank you for your continued support and participation in the SACC and hope you enjoy reading this edition SWEDELINK!

Read the newsletter with links here or click on image below: https://www.swedishchamber.com.au/?na=view&id=28

SACC Sustainability Committee Update

Australia has committed to progressing towards a circular economy, with a target to achieve an 80 per cent resource recovery from all waste streams by 2030. This target will only be achieved through meaningful collaborations between businesses across multiple sectors and policy makers.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee was set up in 2022 to bring together Swedish companies that are committed to the Sustainable Development Agenda through actions and contributions.

On June 18th, together with the Embassy of Sweden Canberra, the committee will be hosting an event with government and industry players on how member companies are leading the charge through innovation, solutions and industry initiatives, plus discuss the barriers they face in making a bigger impact and achieving the collection ambitions that will also help support government agenda.

Currently, we have these member companies who have expressed interest in participating in the event – Alfa Laval, AstraZeneca, IKEA, Sandvik and Tetra Pak. Please contact us for more information: sacc@swedishchamber.com.au

Previous event: 

On 12 March the Sustainability Committee together with the SACC Brisbane Chapter organised an insightful Circular Economy Workshop at the Sandvik office.

The event started with a welcome from San

dvik Australia Managing Director Wayne Scrivens and an intro from Teresia Fors, SACC Vice President and Chair SACC QLD Chapter. Dr Nicole T Garofano, Head of Circular Economy Development Planet Ark Environmental Foundation gave us an introduction to Circular Economy for businesses followed by a workshop, led by Circular Economy Specialist Linda Nordin, on how to transition your business models from linear to circular and how this aligns with the upcoming ISO standard for CE.

Why is the transition crucial?

  1. It reduces the pressure on finite resources, helping to conserve them for future generations.
  2. It minimizes waste generation and pollution, leading to a cleaner environment and healthier ecosystems.
  3. It promotes innovation and economic growth by creating new business models, products, and services that are more sustainable and resource-efficient.

5 step process to implement circular economy (CE) in your business

  1. Define a baseline and create targets
  2. Embed CE in your vision and strategy
  3. Align business model with CE ISO standard 59010
  4. Undertake feasibility studies, priorities
  5. Evaluate and improve

After the workshop there was a thought-provoking panel discussion, featuring below panellists, who shared key initiatives, opportunities and challenges switching to circular today;

The event concluded with a brief presentation of the SACC Sustainability Committee, its members and focus here in Australia by SACC General Manager, Camilla Jennings.

At the event participants had the opportunity to:

  • Discover the 10 steps to transition your business models from linear to circular and learn how this aligns with the upcoming ISO standard for CE (anticipated release in early 2024).
  • Engage in discussions and activities with fellow participants to kickstart your Circular journey.
  • Explore real-world examples of how businesses are implementing circularity today, services and products.
  • Network with like-minded people

The Circular Economy Workshop format was a great success and the SACC Sustainability Committee aims to bring this workshop to other SACC Chapters as well, including Sydney and Melbourne.

Have your say: take part in ABB’s sustainability survey

Our future depends on more than a shift to renewable energy. With the world using up resources at an unsustainable rate, transitioning to a circular economy is just as important.

So, when it comes to your business’ sustainability journey, are you on track?  Whether it’s through market/investor pressure, government mandates, or trade tariffs you’ll need to set and meet sustainability targets to ensure your business’ long-term success.

To help you find out, please take part in this 6-8 min survey from our member company ABB to see how Australian businesses view this important topic. The results will not only shed light on how your company stacks up in the sustainability race but also where you can make the right investments to future-proof your business.

Start the survey here: https://s.pointerpro.com/abb_sustainability/?cf2=SACC&cf3=Australia

Circular economy learnings from Europe

Members may recall the presentation by Dr Nicole Garofano of Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) to Chamber members live from Sweden in June 2023. Nicole shared her high-level takeaways from the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) held in Helsinki in late May along with 10 other Australian/New Zealand delegates.

Attending the WCEF was one component of a busy schedule of meetings and site visits in the Netherlands, in and around Helsinki, Stockholm and Gothenburg organised as part of the ACE Hub European Study Tour.

Since returning, the delegation has been busy putting their European experiences to good use in both Australian and New Zealand contexts. Six delegates so far have shared their knowledge and experience in a four-part webinar series found on Planet Ark’s Youtube Channel.

The webinar series captures reflections on:

  • Moving beyond theory to practice through systems thinking and radical collaboration
  • Role of government in circularity and creating enabling language to shift up the R ladder
  • Leading from the front with industry case studies
  • Local and regional government support for circularity

The final instalment in the series will be held on Tuesday 23 April at 1 pm AEST. Register for this event using this Humanitix link.

Members are invited to view any or all of the webinar recordings on the link above and/or visit the ACE Hub Knowledge Hub on the website.

And if you want to learn more of what’s happening in Australia in the circular economy, why not register with the ACE Hub Portal to join 2000+ members ready to collaborate and help accelerate your circular economy transition.

Nicole can be reached by email at nicole.garofano@planetark.org

H&M CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA

Internationally renowned fashion retailer H&M marks its 10th year in Australia, celebrating a decade of fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. This month the brand will be hosting various promotions, in store events and a member competition as part of its celebrations.

H&M unveiled its very first Australian flagship store at GPO Melbourne in April 2014. Recently the store has undergone a refresh, presenting customers with an elevated shopping experience including an updated store layout with custom fittings for added inspiration and relevance to customers. On top of these enhancements to the GPO store, Australia will follow the global roll out to refurbish around 250 stores in 2024.

“We are incredibly proud to mark this significant milestone in Australia. Our success over the past decade is a testament to our strong company culture, the support of our loyal customers and the dedication of our talented team. We are entering a new era, with fashion and the customer at the forefront, which will be visible through our store upgrades, creating inspiring shopping experiences, elevated products and a strong customer offer, says Anna Baldwin, Country Sales Manager of ANZ.”

In celebration of this milestone achievement, H&M Australia is offering exciting in store experiences. On 19 April, customers can enjoy a sweet treat, a fun photo moment accompanied by a DJ set at the GPO Melbourne location. The 20th of April will see the H&M Pitt St activation area taken over by H&M’s signature read and an in store installation. H&M loyalty members will also receive 15% off a future purchase.

Continuing H&M’s journey of democratising fashion for the masses, H&M has recently announced the latest designer collaboration with emerging brand Rokh’s signature style of elevated staples. the evening before launch, H&M loyalty members have the chance to shop the collection before everyone else at a pre-shop event which will be held in the H&M Pitt St store. The collection is available Thursday 18 April at H&M Pitt St Sydney, GPO Melbourne and online in Australia at hm.com/au.

Today H&M has 35 store locations Australia wide and online offering Womens, Mens, Kids and Lifestyle.

THE CHOIR by ABBA The Museum from Sweden is returning to Australia in June 2024!

 

Experience the magic of ABBA with THE CHOIR by ABBA The Museum, returning to Australia fresh from Stockholm!

Celebrate with us as they unveil a new EP, featuring tracks like for example the iconic “Waterloo” together with the classically influenced “Intermezzo No.1”, recorded in the same legendary studio as ABBA’s recent album.

Born from the heart of ABBA’s legacy in 2014, this unique pop choir brings to life the band’s timeless classics with a modern twist. Selected through rigorous auditions and crafted under the guidance of ABBA’s insiders, their performances resonate with the spirit of the original masters. Having dazzled audiences from Sweden to China, the UK, and made a debut in Australia in 2023, THE CHOIR is set to captivate Melbourne and beyond with their distinct sound and spectacular shows.

Join us for an unforgettable journey of music and memories at the Better Together 2024 conference (June 14-16), Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theater (June 19-22), and ABBA Day Downunder in Williamstown. Secure your tickets now and be part of the celebration that bridges generations through the power of ABBA’s hits, all performed by this extraordinary choir.

Web: https://www.thechoir.se/

Spotify album: https://open.spotify.com/album/5STDW88B7tOnPmukIt1sUD?si=myyFZKHnSEuPsxelFxoEUg

EU-Australia Ministerial Lunch & Industry Forum – 4 April 2024, Sydney

On Thursday 4 April, the SACC and its members were invited to the European Australian Business Council’s Ministerial Corporate Lunch and Industry Forum with the European Commissioner (Minister) for Energy, Kadri Simson and Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen at the Four Seasons Sydney.

Here is a summary of the forum by SACC Member and participant Michael Luxton, President Asia Pacific at Arjo.

Forum Purpose

Commissioner Kadri Simson, European Commissioner (Minister) for Energy and Hon. Chris Bowen (MP) Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy shared their vision for enhancing EU-Australia cooperation to overcome the critical challenges and capitalise on the significant opportunities of collaboration to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Following the Ministers’ keynote speeches, an expert panel of leaders discussed Europe and Australia’s joint ambitions and capabilities for achieving energy and sustainable transition. The panel included:

  • Brett Wickham, Managing Director, ACCIONA Energy Australia
  • Professor Ross Garnaut AC, Director, ZEN Energy; Member, Net Zero Economy Agency Advisory Board
  • Stephen Forshaw, Chief Representative, Airbus Australia, New Zealand and Pacific 
  • Martin Merrick, CEO, Volvo Group Australia
  • Danny Nielsen, Senior Vice President and Country Head, Vestas Australia and New Zealand
  • Daniel Westerman, CEO, Australian Energy Market Operator

Moderated by:

  • Professor Emma Johnston AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), The University of Sydney
  • John Lydon, Co-Chair, Climate Leaders Coalition

Background Briefing provided by EABC Summary – EABC Simson and Bowen – 4 APR 2024

The transition to net-zero emissions by 2050 is one of the greatest challenges Australia, Europe and the global economy face. The transformation required is unprecedented in scale and complexity, underpinned by the transition of energy systems.

For Australia, it is estimated that investments totalling $1.9 trillion will be required in the energy sector alone to reach net zero by 2050. For the European Union on the other hand, an estimated €1.5 trillion of investment will be needed every year to reach its mid-century target. Investment in the energy sector alone will be required to reach €396 billion per year to achieve its 2030 targets and €670 billion per year from 2030 to 2040

Attendees

Delegates included senior representatives of EABC members, and a diverse range of European and Australian stakeholders including European ambassadors, trade promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, industry associations and companies.

Main takeaways

  • Australia & the European Union are in close alignment with each other in respect to the acceleration of decarbonisation across our collective economies and moving towards a more sustainable approach to both production and consumption.
  • Minister Bowen acknowledged that the EU is already a significant investor (50-60%) in the Australian renewable energy sector. But he would be extremely happy to see this triple! And has an open door policy to any Global CEO visiting Australian willing to achieve this goal.
  • Recognition we must continue to focus on energy security with its significant influence on a countries national security. This risk was highlighted with the EU member country’s requirement to rapidly transition from a significant reliance on Russian energy to alternative sources including renewables. In some respect, this requirement has led to an acceleration of the later.
  • Energy security will be underpinned by the transition to lower cost renewables as compared to coal.
  • Australia will continue to accelerate the transition to renewables given the high cost of maintaining the current coal fired power stations and impending closures – already locked in.
  • There was a strong link to the current FTA being negotiated between Australia & the EU. Particularly with respect to the need to “increase coordination on standards and regulations that will facilitate cooperation in areas ripe for growth including renewable energy, critical minerals, decarbonisation technologies, energy efficiency and circular economy solutions and green finance, to name a few.”
  • Skills shortages will remain a significant challenge for Australia. Minister Bowen indicated, as an example, Australia has a shortage of 30,000 plus electricians required to support our renewable energy targets by 2030.
  • The FTA will also assist the skills shortage with a more efficient visa process & recognition of professional qualifications allowing people to move in and out of Australia more easily.
  • Consideration must be given to the circular economy, both with respect to full life cycle management of goods embedded with renewables e.g. EVs, but also the environmental impact in establishing renewable energy sources e.g. wind turbines. A good example was given of the reduced land clearing impact on modified trucks transporting and setting up wind turbines. And also the recycling of the wind turbines themselves into shoes?!

Comments from Industry Panel & Questions from the audience

Brett Wickham, CEO Acciona AU: Program currently in place for 300 female graduates to facilitate increased diversity in a male dominated industry.

Stephen Forshaw, CEO Airbus ANZ/Pacific: Local investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuels including a $300M investment in Jet Zero (using agricultural bi-products). Australia will require 10 Billion L of fuel annually by 2030. Investment in renewable powered planes will be much slower but is certainly in the pipeline for the next generation of planes.

Danny Nielsen, SVP Vestas ANZ: Significant investment in QLD manufacturing Wind turbine manufacturing plant.

Siemens Representative: Remarked the importance of always considering the circular economy – and not wanting to create a ‘cane toad’ effect, where the solution can be worse (for the environment) than the initial problem.

Martin Merrick, CEO Volvo Group Australia: Highlighted the significant investment in AU onshore manufacturing, the use of hydrogen powered vehicles in the future in addition to the current commitment to battery powered EVs, and mentioned 85% of their trucks can be recycled.

Prof. Ross Garnaut, Director ZEN Energy: Emphasised push back on the notion that Australia should aim for on-shore manufacturing and focus on those processes etc. that can add value to the supply chain. For example, Australia has a comparative advantage in producing goods embodying energy (low cost/low emission) and will remain in demand from North Asia & Europe.

Concluding comments on joint ambitions and capabilities for achieving energy and sustainable transition:

Martin Merrick, CEO Volvo Group Australia: Seek out the facts about climate change – if we don’t invest in transition now the future impact and cost will be huge.

Danny Nielsen, SVP Vestas ANZ: Plan for the next generations they are the ones who will live with the impact.

Daniel Westerman, CEO, Australian Energy Market Operator: Focus on the objective and plan around it.

Prof. Ross Garnaut, Director ZEN Energy: Everything that is possible today was not possible before – the impossible is possible!

 

The SACC thanks Michael Luxton, President Asia Pacific at Arjo, for sharing event highlights and a special thank you goes to the EABC team for inviting us to take part in this insightful and well organised event!