SWEDELINK NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2024-2025

HEJ! 

The summer edition of the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) newsletter is here! Packed with exciting updates, event highlights and member news.

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

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Read the newsletter with links here or click on image below: https://www.swedishchamber.com.au/?na=view&id=32

Announcement: The Swedish Australian Innovation Technology and Design Summit Returns in 2025!

We are pleased to announce that the Swedish Australian Innovation Technology and Design Summit is set to take place 17-18 September 2025 in Melbourne, providing a platform to explore Swedish-Australian collaboration in innovation, technology and design.

In collaboration with universities, industry and Team Sweden partners, including the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden the SACC Innovation Summit serves as an important platform to:

  • Showcase Swedish-Australian innovation, technology and design together with partner companies.
  • Present successful cooperation, knowledge exchange and creative business development between our two nations.
  • Foster long-term partnerships between industry and academia while inspiring new initiatives in sustainability, digitalisation, AI and emerging technologies.

A key focus of the Innovation Summit is university collaboration, which plays a crucial role in bridging academic research and industry application. For the 2025 Innovation Summit the SACC is in discussions with the University of Melbourne as a main partner, with plans to engage other Melbourne based universities. Collaboration with universities ensure access to cutting-edge research, support knowledge exchange and nurture the next generation of innovators and leaders. By strengthening ties between academia, industry and government, we can collectively address sustainability challenges while driving impactful, research-backed solutions.

Building on the success of the 2022 Swedish Australian Innovation Technology and Design Summit held at the University of Technology Sydney, the 2025 event offers exciting opportunities for universities, companies and organisations to showcase their innovation highlights, engage with students and business leaders and lead thought-provoking discussions to inspire collaboration.

Mark your calendar: 17-18 September 2025, Melbourne and stay tuned for more information, including registration details, speaker announcements and event highlights. 

Please find details about the 2022 Innovation Summit here.

Contact the SACC for further information here sacc@swedishchamber.com.au.

Sustainability Committee drives sustainability thought leadership and advocacy

2024 was a very successful year for the Committee, delivering on the members’ priorities of creating awareness and influencing policy makers for sustainable business practices and private-public sector collaboration.

Committee Chair Flavia Vaz driving fresh outlook and direction with focus on:

  • Advocating for more sustainable business practices in Australia
  • Share knowledge and put in context advancement of sustainability initiatives in Australia according to companies sustainability strategies and the SDG’s benchmark.
  • Proactively drive the agenda through engagement in the market with various groups and collaboration amongst other industries.
  • Reach out to Australian businesses about opportunities and possibilities, for further interest and engagement with local/national activities.

Highlights in 2024 included a significant focus and advocacy for circularity as Australia is recognizing the importance in the context of resource efficiency and climate targets. As a result, the country is moving towards a national framework similar to European countries, with the Sustainability Committee positively influencing with a number of key activities:

Welcoming new committee members:

Knowledge sharing:

Andrew Petersen CEO Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia on important global developments COP 29 and COP 16

Linda Nordin, Circular Economy Specialist at SMEC on the Fossil Free Sweden conference in October in Stockholm

 

What’s coming for 2025

With Net Zero 2030 interim targets only a few years away, the energy transition is gathering pace in Australia. There is an opportunity to create awareness for pathways, collaborations and partnerships building on the diverse and inspiring leadership of our member companies.

2025 events to engage businesses, policy makers and communities and influence for a more sustainable future

  • Focus on energy transition with webinar series for thought leadership
  • Continues momentum for circularity with Circular Economy workshop in Melbourne
  • Leverage sustainability with the Swedish Australian Innovation, Technology and Design Summit in Melbourne in September 2025

Opportunities for collaboration

Being aligned with member priorities is vital, there will be an online survey to gauge input on 2025 focus areas, activities and areas for collaboration.

The SACC Sustainability Committee meets quarterly and welcomes active participation from members of the SACC – both from sustainability focused functions and other representatives. The Committee also has a core committee, which meets more regularly and is seeking expressions of interest from member companies & individuals to get involved.

A big thank you to our members, partners, and supporters for making this year a success. We’re excited to continue the journey in 2025 with more initiatives, events, and opportunities to create lasting impact.

Stay tuned and stay inspired — sustainability is a team effort, and we’re just getting started!

For SACC members who wish to join the Sustainability Committee, please contact Flavia Vaz or Camilla Jennings.

sacc@swedishchamber.com.au

Strengthening Ties: SACC Reignites Collaboration with New Zealand Scandinavian Business Association

We are thrilled to announce the renewed collaboration between the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) and the New Zealand Scandinavian Business Association (NZSBA).

This partnership aims to deepen connections between the Swedish business communities in Australia and New Zealand, creating new opportunities for growth, networking and knowledge sharing.

By working together, SACC and NZSBA will co-host events, support cross-border business initiatives and provide members with enhanced access to resources and professional networks. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering strong regional ties and promoting Swedish business interests in the Australasian market.

Stay tuned for exciting joint initiatives and events as we embark on this renewed journey of collaboration with NZSBA!

 

ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND SCANDINAVIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

The New Zealand Scandinavia Business Association (NZSBA)’s vision is: To create value for members by promoting partnerships between individuals and organisations in New Zealand and Scandinavia for the benefit of bilateral trade and goodwill. Founded in 1991 as the New Zealand Sweden Business Association, NZSBA’s focus expanded to Scandinavia / the Nordics in 1993.

NZSBA is a great platform to profile/promote Nordic NZ business, establish warm, valued relationships – and have fun.  We have a growing, vibrant membership, and a wide group of supportive stakeholders (including the Nordic Ambassadors, NZ’s Ambassador to Scandinavia, the EU Delegation in NZ, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Europe Business Council, the Auckland Business Chamber, and the Nordic Honorary Consuls, amongst others) – which means we have a strong network effect.

We aim to hold at least four Business Forums a year and two Nordic Networking events. Our most recent Business Forums have been distinctively Swedish in flavour:

  • Prof. Udo Zander from the Stockholm School of Economics, global business thought leader, speaking on Innovation and Change;
  • Swedish global healthcare and hygiene group, Essity, speaking on its de-carbonisation project at its Kawerau tissue mill – a Sweden / NZ collaboration and commitment to sustainability, delivering a global first through using geo-thermal steam in the paper making process.

The Nordic Ambassadors and New Zealand’s Ambassador to Scandinavia are our Patrons, and actively engage with us and present to our members, as their diplomatic commitments across Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia permit. Ambassador David Taylor in Stockholm provides ongoing briefings from Stockholm for members.

NZSBA is excited to collaborate with the Swedish Australia Chamber of Commerce in 2025 (and beyond) – thank you Camilla and Jan for reaching out. We look forward to opportunities to work closely together and create value for members – the launch of IKEA’s first store in New Zealand in 2025 is the perfect platform for collaboration!

 

Best wishes

Chris Linton, President NZBA

https://www.nzsba.nz/

 

Introduction of Nils Hedberg Grimlund, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden Canberra

 

Dear all,

I arrived at the Swedish Embassy in Canberra in August as the new Head of Mission. One of our main tasks is to keep close contact with the Swedish business community, and to offer various kind of support and do promotion activities together with our Team Sweden partners: the SACC and Business Sweden.

For me, this is great. I spent the first ten years of my career in the private sector, and as a diplomat, I have worked with trade policy (in Stockholm) and business promotion (in Brazil and Poland). Mining has been a common theme in many of these past capacities, and here in Australia, I strongly look forward to engaging with this industry with all its rapid changes and enormous impact from leading Swedish companies. Australia’s green transition is another focus area for the Embassy (and me personally), where Swedish companies have much to offer.

But the Swedish impact is much broader and as a newcomer, I’m eager to learn about the local market, the business climate and how we can engage. Feel free to reach out (contacts below) if you need help from the Embassy, if there is a promotion activity we could do jointly, or if you are passing by Canberra and would have time for coffee.

Nils Hedberg Grimlund

Nils.hedberg.grimlund@gov.se

+61 417 841 367

Nordic Christmas Drinks, Denmark House, Melbourne, 11 December 2024

On Wednesday 11th December, the Melbourne Chapter of the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) hosted a Nordic Christmas Drinks event in collaboration with the Danish Club of Melbourne, the Finland Australia Chamber of Commerce and the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce at Denmark House in the CBD.

It was the first time that all four Nordic chambers in Melbourne had come together to host a combined Christmas event. Around 40 guests, drawn from the local Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Australian business communities were treated to a wonderful evening with an amazing selection of food and drinks.

A highlight of the evening was the drawing of the raffle prizes which included a Swedish food and beverage pack sponsored by ABB, a gift voucher sponsored by Denmark House, a Norwegian Christmas hamper including food and a Norwegian hand-made candle sponsored by Heimalage, and a Marimekko crockery set and Marimekko tote bags filled with Fazer chocolates, kindly donated by the Finland Australia Chamber of Commerce.

SACC looks forward to future event collaborations with the other Nordic chambers in Melbourne in 2025.

We would especially like to thank our sponsors for the evening, including ABB, Denmark House, Fifty Degrees North and Heimalage.

 

NEW SMALL BUSINESS MEMBER – OUTSIZED

 

Outsized is a high-end independent talent platform for enterprise clients and consulting firms in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

We help clients when they need independent consultants, subject-matter experts, and expert contractors on demand. We also support them with larger, more strategic programs to build and implement flexible workforce models. This can be virtual benches and bespoke talent pools; in other words talent models that really move the needle in terms of overall operational agility, innovation capacity, and profitability.

 

 

CONTACT

Sara Kahlau

Managing Director, ANZ

+61 406 181 989

sara@outsized.com

https://outsized.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarakahlau/

Outsized, 388 George Street, Sydney

 

 

 

 

SACC YP BUSINESS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM – Relaunching for 2025

BE A PART OF A REWARDING PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP

We invite SACC and YP members to participate in our Business Mentorship Program — a unique opportunity to grow and connect as either a mentor or mentee. This program bridges generations of business leaders with young professionals in the Swedish-Australian business community, fostering meaningful relationships and career development. 

HOW IT WORKS

The SACC and YP Committees oversee the matching process, ensuring the best possible mentor-mentee alignment. Once matched, mentors and mentees meet for 6-10 one-on-one sessions (in person or online) over the 12-month program. To support continuous growth, participants will have access to check-in events, including a mid-year evaluation, offering a chance to review progress and make any adjustments.

PARTICIPATION CRITERIA

  • To join as a mentee or mentor, you must be a member of SACC or YP
  • Both mentors and mentees are expected to attend the program launch and commit to 6-10 meetings over the course of the year.

APPLICATION AND MATCHING PROCESS

Mentees and mentors will be asked to complete a short application form detailing areas of interest, skills and expectations. This information allows us to create thoughtful and effective matches, ensuring a positive and valuable experience for both parties.

We seek mentors with business management and leadership experience across companies of all sizes — from large enterprises to SMEs. Ideal mentors bring expertise in areas such as management, finance, fin-tech, technology, law, marketing and communication.

We are looking for mentors with business management and leadership experience from large to small and medium-sized companies, with expertise in different areas such as management, finance, fin-tech, technology, law, marketing and communication.

Why Become a Mentor?
Becoming a mentor offers a chance to:

  • Expand your perspective through exposure to new ideas and fresh thinking.
  • Enhance your leadership skills by guiding and supporting future leaders.
  • Experience the fulfillment of giving back to the next generation of professionals.
  • Build meaningful relationships that can have a lasting impact on your career and personal growth.

Why Become a Mentee?
Becoming a mentee offers an opportunity to:

  • Gain invaluable guidance from experienced industry leaders.
  • Accelerate your professional development by learning from those who have already navigated your career path.
  • Access new perspectives that help you build confidence, develop new skills, and set achievable goals.
  • Expand your professional network by connecting with influential figures in the Swedish-Australian business community.
  • Receive tailored support to overcome career challenges, seek feedback, and identify growth opportunities.

Here is what a mentee said about the SACC YP Mentorship Program:

I gained a whole lot from the relationship with my mentor! Not only did my mentor help guide me in my career path, but also acted as a coach and helped me grow on an individual level as well as on a professional. My mentor’s personality, extensive work experience and knowledge was exactly what I needed in a mentor at that point in time. It was a great match. My main goal with the mentorship program was to establish the next steps in my career path, which we did. Not only did I enjoy the progress we made from our monthly meetings which helped me in my career, but I also really enjoyed speaking with my mentor about his life journey. I would definitely recommend the program to others.”

Feedback from one of the mentors:

”Being a Mentor gave me a great sense of “value”. I was able to share my business and life experience gained from various positions during a lifelong career and apply this to the challenges of the Mentee. I think we achieved a lot together by identifying the key areas and specific actions which would support my Mentee’s development. I would absolutely recommend this program and will be partaking in the upcoming program.”

Whether you’re looking to share your experience as a mentor or gain valuable guidance as a mentee, this mentorship program offers a chance to grow, connect, and contribute. Join us in shaping the future of the Swedish-Australian business community.

APPLICATIONS CLOSES 14 February 2025

Application form for Mentors

Application form for Mentees

Contact us if you would like to find out more about the program.

SACC YP Swedish Christmas Dinner at Fika Manly 6 Dec 2024

On 6 Dec SACC YP Sydney celebrated Christmas with Swedish Julbord at Fika Manly. It was an amazing evening, an evening of delicious food and great company to celebrate the start of the holiday season! ✨

On December 6th, 30 young professionals came together at Fika Manly for a festive Swedish Julbord – Christmas dinner. The night was filled with amazing food and great vibes. Attendees got to enjoy Swedish Julbord classics like pickled herring, gravlax, meatballs and Christmas ham — all the good stuff that makes a Julbord so special. The warm atmosphere and holiday decor set the perfect scene for mingling, connecting and making new friends.

With great food, good vibes and awesome people, the SACC YP Christmas Dinner was a night to remember and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!

See you at our next event!

The SACC YP Board

Interested in becoming a member of the SACC YP? Find out more here.

 

Swedish Christmas Lunch in Brisbane 6 Dec 2024

On 6 December, the Brisbane QLD Chapter hosted a festive Swedish Christmas Lunch at Hundred Acre, St Lucia Golf Links. Guests were warmly welcomed by Chapter Chair Marie McIntyre and treated to a refreshing tropical-themed mocktail on arrival.

With stunning views of the greenery, attendees enjoyed a traditional Swedish menu featuring Toast Skagen and Gravlax. To accompany the coffee, local business Bake My Day Brisbane delighted everyone with freshly baked Swedish Dammsugare sweets.

The event featured two engaging speakers. Linda Nordin opened with insights on Circular Economy Week, highlighting global initiatives and collaboration. After lunch, Povel Torudd, Managing Director of Berkeley Communications Australia and Chief Business Storyteller APAC, delivered an inspiring talk on video-first content, effective business storytelling and the power of brand consistency — sparking lively discussion among the guests.

This event was kindly supported by:

The SACC Brisbane chapter thanks sponsors and all who attended and wishing everyone a happy holiday season and look forward to seeing everyone again in 2024!