Sustainable Mining – Team Sweden IMARC Event 30 October 2024

On October 30th TEAM SWEDEN, the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra, Business Sweden and the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a Sustainable Mining event in conjunction with the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney.

The event brought together representatives from the Swedish-Australian mining network to exchange insights and explore future collaborations. H.E. Pontus Melander, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia, delivered the opening remarks, Business Sweden Country Manager Martin Ekberg spoke about the Swedish Mining Initiative and opportunities. Prof. Daniel Johansson from Luleå University of Technology shared insight into Sweden’s approach to driving innovation in the mining industry. The discussion Q&A was facilitated by SACC President Jan Gardberg.

We thank all participants for attending and look forward to building on the connections and discussions from the event.

mininginnovation miningtechnology sustainablemining TeamSwedenAus Sweden Australia

Sweden at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2024, 29-31 Oct

The SACC was invited to attend the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2024, 29-31 Oct.

It was impressive to see all the Swedish companies Epiroc, ABB, Hexagon Mining, Sandvik, IFS and Nord-Lock Group showcasing the latest innovation and technology in sustainable mining.

sustainablemining miningtechnology mininginnovation Sweden Australia

The 113th SACC AGM followed by networking 29 October Sydney

The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce 113th AGM took place on 29 October in Sydney.

We are delighted to present the newly elected SACC Board Directors for 2024-2025:

President of the Board, Jan Gardberg, former INGKA Group (IKEA)

Vice President and Secretary and Public Officer Mikael Dahlgren, CFO Treotham

Vice President of the Board Penny George, Director Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca, Australia & New Zealand

Treasurer Kristina Melin, Commercial Finance & Logistic Planning Manager, Volvo Bus Australia

Anders Mangen, former SKF, Leica Geosystems, Enerpac

Carin Varverud-Härdin, Vice President, Marketing and Communication, Volvo Group Australia

Carl Wallberg, Head of Consumer Marketing at Electrolux, Sweden

Isabel Wagner, Hitachi Energy, Communications Manager Australia & New Zealand

Jan Gardberg held a thank you speech to the resigning Vice President and former President of the SACC Board, Teresia Fors. Camilla Jennings, General Manager SACC also delivered a special thank you to Teresia, mentioning their long-term work relation and friendship. Teresia who joined the AGM online from her new home in northern Sweden thanked all for the kind words and for the time valuable time she invested in the SACC over the years.

To broaden and further strengthen the SACC all AGM participants welcomed new Board Director, Board Boris Munster, Managing Director Tetra Pak Australia & New Zealand.

Liv Berg, Senior Legal Counsel at Baby Bunting was re-elected as Honorary Solicitor and Grant Thornton as Honorary Auditors.

The AGM was followed by a networking opportunity joined by HE Ambassador Pontus Melander and newly appointed Deputy Head of Mission Nils Hedberg Grimlund, Embassy of Sweden Canberra together with other SACC members.

 

Swedish Lång Lunch 26 October at Denmark House in Melbourne

On 26 October the SACC invited members and guests to a 3-Course Swedish Lång Lunch at Denmark House in the heart of the Melbourne CBD!

Chefs at Denmark House put on an amazing menu including Toast Skagen and classic Swedish meatballs served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and pickled cucumber followed by Swedish sticky cake paired with tea or coffee to wrap up the delicious feast.

It was a wonderful afternoon with a great crowd and festive traditions.

Congrats to all prize winners!

Thank you to everyone who attended the SACC Swedish Lång Lunch and special thank you

to our event sponsor The Andrews Group | BOLON Partner and Denmark House.

 

SACC visit to the AstraZeneca manufacturing plant in North Ryde, 25 October

On October 25th the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce were invited to a special visit to the AstraZeneca manufacturing plant, based in North Ryde, NSW. It is definitely a world-class facility dedicated to the production and delivery of high-quality medicines to 13 countries!

Special thank you to Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs and Geraldine Murphy Site General Manager at AstraZeneca for guiding us through the impressive facility.

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2024 Nobel Prize Dialogue Sydney, October 24

On October 24, the 2024 Nobel Prize Dialogue Sydney brought together minds from science and beyond, all gathered to discuss and explore the future of decision-making.

This is an important subject to tackle. It is a big year for elections world wide. But democracy is in decline, geopolitical tensions are rising, and artificial intelligence is likely to affect decision making in profound ways. How do we improve how we make collective decisions across cultures, geographies, and generations?

To discuss these matters we invited a number of Nobel Prize laureates together with other regional and international experts. 2011 physics laureate Brian Schmidt started off the dialogue with a lecture on climate change and how we can combat climate change in the best way; ”If there is something that should unify the people of the planet it is to live sustainably on Earth.”

That was followed up by two interesting panel discussions. In the first one, we met peace activist and 2011 peace laureate Tawakkol Karman who spoke about how democracy is in decline and how we all should value democracy much more. The second panel discussion with 2011 physics laureate Saul Perlmutter and writer Tim Minchin focused on truth and fiction.

Nobel Prize Dialogue was organised by Nobel Prize Outreach and the University of New South Wales Sydney, with the support of Nobel International Partners 3M, ABB, EQT, Stegra and Scania.

Watch the full dialogue here: https://www.youtube.com/live/fuh0353vk78?si=9GbgklsN8J-Mb5XC

Photography by: Maria Boyadgis © Nobel Prize Outreach.

The Nobel Prize Dialogue took place in Sydney or the first time ever in Australia

The Nobel Prize Dialogue took place in Sydney at the University of New South Wales UNSW for the first time ever in Australia bringing together minds from science and beyond, all gathering to discuss and explore the future of decision making.

The Embassy of Sweden and the Nobel Prize Dialogue invited SACC members to a reception held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney 23 October ahead of the Sydney Nobel Dialogue event on October 24 (organised by the Nobel Prize Outreach and UNSW). The main focus of the Dialogue was the discussion on the future of decision-making. This is an important subject to tackle as it is a big year for elections worldwide, democracy is in decline, geopolitical tensions are rising and artificial intelligence is likely to affect decision making in profound ways.

Speakers included Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize 2011, Saul Perlmutter, physics 2011 and Prof. Brian Schmidt, physics 2011. Different points were touched on during the short panel discussion at the beginning of the event, from the unrealized potential of the Internet as a way to create better collective decision making to the importance of education and new communication methods for young generations of decision makers to thrive. Master of Ceremony was Owen Gaffney, Chief Impact Officer, The Nobel Prize. A special address was held by Sandra Brandin, Acting CEO The Nobel Prize Outreach and Vice Honorary Consul Anna Alvsdotter, Embassy of Sweden.

 

The Nobel Prize Dialogue on 24 October at the University of NSW was an evening of inspiration as Nobel Prize laureates came together with international experts to discuss and explore the powerful forces that shape our decisions and how we navigate the digital age in a series of talks, accompanied by musical performances from DOBBY. Again speakers included distinguished Nobel Prize winners Tawakkol Karman, peace 2011, Saul Perlmutter, physics 2011, Brian Schmidt, physics 2011 as well as constitutional lawyer Megan Davis and comedian, actor, composer, songwriter, pianist and director, Tim Minchin. Discussions were led by Owen Gaffney Chief Impact Officer, The Nobel Prize and Verity Firth, Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, UNSW Sydney.

The Dialogue offered a rare and inspirational opportunity to listen and learn from some of the world’s most enlightened thinkers, artists and activists.

SACC members and guests were invited to the Dialogue and below is a summary by Tobias Byron,

Last night at the Nobel Prize event in Sydney—what an incredible and humbling experience! Three Nobel Prize winners and several other amazing guests presented and even more importantly debated. Did you know that the number of democratic countries is in real decline? Or that true world-changing progress only happens when we GENUINELY come together? And that social media algorithms are shaping our world in ways even worse than most of us realise. And that even ONE person (maybe you?) can make a real difference?

These were just a few of the thought-provoking insights shared by some of the brightest minds on the planet.

Hearing from Tawakkol Karman, who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her work advocating human rights and democracy, alongside Saul Perlmutter and Brian Schmidt, 2011 Nobel Laureates in Physics for their discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe, was truly a privilege. Adding a unique perspective to the mix was Tim Minchin, comedian, actor, and composer, whose insights brought both wit and real wisdom to the conversation. Megan Davis also presented and expanded views on The Voice which made me less proud of being an Australian citizen but that is ok, as long as we learn (as Saul Perlmutter elegantly made it clear for us).

In a time when decision-making is more complex than ever, it was both energising and inspiring to listen to genuine debates and insights from the Nobel Prize winners and experts. The discussions —ranging from how AI is reshaping our views to the challenges the world faces —were eye-opening, making me reflect further on how we can improve the systems that shape our future.

The question of how we can improve collective change across cultures, geographies, and generations has never felt more relevant. The world is at a critical point, and real events like this remind us that we all have a role to play in shaping the future.

Feeling incredibly fortunate to have been at such a world-class dialogue. I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on these important topics as we move forward in the digital age. What can you do? What will you do?

It’s remarkable to think that one person, Alfred Nobel, back in Sweden in 1895, could set something like this in motion. Perhaps it’s a reminder of the lasting impact one visionary idea can have —and food for thought for others today!

Nobel Prize Dialogue was organised by Nobel Prize Outreach and the University of New South Wales Sydney, with the support of Nobel International Partners 3M, ABB, EQT, Stegra and Scania.

For more information on the Nobel Prize Dialogue head here.


Speakers at Nobel Prize Dialogue on 24 October at the University of New South Wales UNSW

Brian P. Schmidt
Brian P. Schmidt received the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the accelerating expansion of the Universe.

Saul Perlmutter
Saul Perlmutter shared the physics prize for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe. He is a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Megan Davis
Megan Davis is a renowned constitutional lawyer and public law expert, specialising on Indigenous peoples and the law, the constitutional recognition of First Nations and democracy.

Tawakkol Karman
Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni journalist and human rights activist, is the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Owen Gaffney
Owen Gaffney is Chief Impact Officer at Nobel Prize Outreach.

Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin is the composer and lyricist of smash-hit stage musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day. He is also a screenwriter and screen actor.

Verity Firth
Professor Verity Firth AM is the inaugural Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement at UNSW Sydney.

DOBBY
DOBBY is a rapper, drummer, composer and producer.

Sandra Brandin
Sandra Brandin is the Acting CEO of Nobel Prize Outreach, the communication and outreach arm of the Nobel Foundation.

Swedish Chambers APAC Virtual CEO Talk 17 October – Magnus Ahlqvist President and CEO of Securitas Group

On Thursday 17 October, we had the honour of hosting Magnus Ahlqvist, CEO & President of Securitas Group, for the 8th session of the Swedish Chambers APAC CEO Series, engaging over 120 participants in our Zoom room. This initiative brings together Group CEOs from leading Swedish companies to share their insights on industry trends and the evolving market landscape in the APAC region.

In today’s rapidly changing geopolitical and economic environment, the security industry is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Securitas, the world’s second-largest provider of security solutions, is leading the charge with over 340,000 employees across 44 markets.

In this session,Magnus Ahlqvist spoke about the key opportunities and challenges he faces as the leader of a major multinational corporation in the security industry. He talked about initiatives Securitas are developing to maintain its position at the forefront of the sector, and what role innovation is playing to make it happen. Magnus talked about how technology is shaping the future of the industry and how Securitas is driving innovation to help clients proactively identify risks and vulnerabilities, moving away from traditional reactive security measures. Additionally, Magnus’s shared insights into the opportunities in Asia Pacific, a key growth region for Securitas and how this region differs from other regions worldwide.

Magnus highlighted and elaborated on three pivotal capabilities that Securitas has identified to stay ahead in this transformation:

  • Presence – Expanding diversity and footprint
  • Technology – Global deployment and monitoring
  • Data – Harmonising and leveraging ever growing volumes

With a strong commitment to ethics, integrity, and sustainability, Securitas stands as a strong leader of innovation, celebrating 90 years of excellence this year.

The conversation with Magnus Ahlqvist was be led by Nicholas Fang, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group.

Read below key message summarised by virtual event participant and SACC Member, Stephen Bowhill, CEO Howwe ANZ Pty Ltd, Howwe Technologies:

“I learned that it’s a massive global group with over 340,000 employees world-wide, headquartered in beautiful Stockholm. However, Ahlquist said he had no interest in building the biggest security group, only the best, as there is no marginal benefit in being the biggest in guarding. However, he said it’s a balance on best vs. scale, and in the IT and Intellectual Property side of security there is a definite advantage to having scale as technology is fundamental to the future of security, where you need both coverage and density. Being fully digital is the group priority as scaling the operation, also scales the data which can then be used for strategic insights and Securitas has developed a global client platform.

I asked a question via the chat link on the call of – how you balance the strategic and important vs. the tactical and urgent? Magnus said that this is really a question of scaling great leadership. He said values are hugely important to doing this and who you are as a person, and building trust is fundamental to being able to execute successfully. Magnus mentioned that he’d expect that his 44 Leaders and ~400 Area Leaders are working 10-15% of time on their Strategy 2030, and their current planning period ends 2025.

Ahlquist is clearly passionate about being the best and driving the group forward. It was fantastic that Magnus took the time to address the 150 people or so on the call.

Thank you to all who joined the CEO talk and special thank you to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore for coordinating this event!

 

More about the speaker and Securitas:

Magnus Ahlqvist, President and CEO of Securitas Group

Magnus Ahlqvist joined Securitas in August 2015 as Divisional President of Securitas Services Europe. On March 1, 2018, he assumed the position as President and CEO of Securitas AB and continued to hold the position as Divisional President of Securitas Services Europe until March 2019.

Prior to joining Securitas, he held various management positions in the telecommunications industry. Magnus has served as Corporate Vice President, EMEA & India after joining Google-owned Motorola Mobility. Before that, he worked for 12 years for Sony and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications as President for Greater China, General Manager of Spain & Portugal and General Manager of Canada.

Magnus Ahlqvist holds a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics, and a leadership exam from Harvard Business School.

He is the Chair of the International Security Ligue.

Discover Magnus’ insights on the transformation of the security industry in his featured article on Forbes – find the link here.

About Securitas: Founded in 1934 in Helsingborg, Sweden, Securitas is today a global leader in safety and security solutions, dedicated to making the world a safer place through a comprehensive range of services, including security guarding, mobile patrolling, monitoring, investigations, and consulting. With a turnover of SEK 157,249 million in 2023 and a workforce of 341,000 employees across 44 markets, Securitas stands as the second-largest provider of security services worldwide. By harnessing technology in collaboration with their clients and adopting an innovative, holistic approach, Securitas is at the forefront of transforming the security industry for the 21st century.

Previous guests at Swedish Chambers APAC CEO Series:

Helena Hedblom, President & CEO Epiroc Group

Micael Johansson, President & CEO Saab Group

Göran Björkman, President & CEO, Alleima

Jesper Brodin, CEO, Ingka Group

Mats Ramström, President & CEO, Atlas Copco Group

Christian Levin, President & CEO, Scania Group

Jonas Samuelson, CEO, Electrolux AB