Australia, New Zealand and our Asia-Pacific neighbours can learn a great deal from members of the European Union (EU) where the transition towards a circular economy is already underway. This was an obvious takeaway from our 2023 European Study Tour organised by the Australian Circular Economy Hub and Planet Ark, which derived significant learnings from the Netherlands, Sweden, France and the UK as well as the World Circular Economy Forum in Helsinki, Finland.
Join us for the fourth webinar of the ACE Hub European Study Tour series, where two more delegates who joined our 2023 tour will discuss transformations being pursued by governments and business in industry including plastics, textiles and the built environment in Europe.
Moderated by Planet Ark’s Nicole Garofano, during the webinar, we will be joined by Hayley Jarick and Helen Millicer who will delve into key topics such as sustainable materials, circular economy policies, targets and practices, and collaborations driving progress in the EU and worldwide.
When: Tue 23rd Apr 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm AEST
This webinar will be held via Zoom. A link will be shared closer to the date.
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/industrytransformations
Nicole Garofano is Planet Ark’s Head of Circular Economy Development, responsible for leading the ongoing strategic development of the Australian Circular Economy Hub, and a lead author of the Circularity in Australian Business report. For almost 20 years, Nicole has worked in environmental education and action with a focus on waste management and circular economy initiatives. Since 2021, Nicole has been the spokesperson for the ACE Hub’s work driving Australia’s circular economy transition.
Hayley Jarick is the Company Secretary and CEO of the Supply Chain Sustainability School Limited, an Independent Director of ResponsibleSteel, Chair of Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub Procurement Working Group, and within WWF’s Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA), a Project Control Group (PCG) member and Chair of two working groups; steel and knowledge. Hayley completed her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in International Business and Legal Studies, at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Helen Millicer is a recognised, award-winning strategist on circularity and climate-ready future, with 30 years leadership experience in executive and governance in government, industry associations and business. As CEO of One Planet Consulting she is engaged on national projects, grant assessments and strategies. She is the principal author of the 2023 seminal report for the Australian Government recommending 10 major changes for the eco-design of all products into the Australian market, the key advisor on forming Australia’s first EPR stewardship program for plastics incorporating eco-modulated brand levies and recycled content, and co-founder of an influential new program, ClimateWise Associations. Helen has a long, distinguished career as director and chair of boards and is a Ministerial appointee to the inaugural WRR board for the Tasmanian Government. Helen has national and global networks and insights, is graduate of AICD, Churchill Trust Fellow and regular speaker at conferences and forums.
SWEDELINK Newsletter Autumn 2019
SWEDELINK Newsletter Autumn 2019
Circular Economy Forum in Canberra 18 June
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 Australian Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee was set up in 2022 to bring together Swedish companies committed to the Sustainable Development Agenda through actions and contributions.
The Embassy of Sweden together with the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to a Circular Economy Forum with Swedish companies in Australia that are leading the way in transitioning to a circular economy.
Member companies from the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce will share their circular initiative action plans, industry solutions and innovation roadmap, identify common challenges, and discuss potential ways forward to accelerate to a low-carbon circular economy and net-zero society.
Date: Tuesday 18 June
Time: 12.30-16.00 pm
Location: The Embassy of Sweden Canberra, 5 Turrana Street, Yarralumla ACT 2600
Dress code: Business attire
RSVP by 4 June
Program
12:30 Registration, meet and greet
12:40 Welcome, Acknowledgement of Country: HE Pontus Melander Ambassador of Sweden to Australia
12:45 Networking lunch
13:45 SACC Sustainability Committee Introduction: SACC representative and Flavia Vaz, Chair SACC Sustainability Committee
13:50 Keynote speakers – Australian Government and Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group representatives tbc (7-10 minutes each)
14:10 Presentation – SACC Sustainability Committee members will share circular initiative action plans and examples of positive progress.
14:25 Afternoon tea and coffee
14:40 Panel discussion – Industry solutions and innovation roadmap, identify challenges and discuss potential ways forward to accelerate to a low-carbon circular economy and net-zero society.
15:40 Q&A
15:55 Conclusion, upcoming events and activities: SACC representative and Flavia Vaz, Chair SACC Sustainability Committee
16:00 End of Event
We are looking forward to seeing you in Canberra in June!
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?
5 step process to implement circular economy (CE) in your business
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:
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
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
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:
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.
Online Event 23 April 1-2pm AEST – Circular Economy Learnings from Europe: Industry Transformations
Australia, New Zealand and our Asia-Pacific neighbours can learn a great deal from members of the European Union (EU) where the transition towards a circular economy is already underway. This was an obvious takeaway from our 2023 European Study Tour organised by the Australian Circular Economy Hub and Planet Ark, which derived significant learnings from the Netherlands, Sweden, France and the UK as well as the World Circular Economy Forum in Helsinki, Finland.
Join us for the fourth webinar of the ACE Hub European Study Tour series, where two more delegates who joined our 2023 tour will discuss transformations being pursued by governments and business in industry including plastics, textiles and the built environment in Europe.
Moderated by Planet Ark’s Nicole Garofano, during the webinar, we will be joined by Hayley Jarick and Helen Millicer who will delve into key topics such as sustainable materials, circular economy policies, targets and practices, and collaborations driving progress in the EU and worldwide.
When: Tue 23rd Apr 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm AEST
This webinar will be held via Zoom. A link will be shared closer to the date.
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/industrytransformations
Nicole Garofano is Planet Ark’s Head of Circular Economy Development, responsible for leading the ongoing strategic development of the Australian Circular Economy Hub, and a lead author of the Circularity in Australian Business report. For almost 20 years, Nicole has worked in environmental education and action with a focus on waste management and circular economy initiatives. Since 2021, Nicole has been the spokesperson for the ACE Hub’s work driving Australia’s circular economy transition.
Hayley Jarick is the Company Secretary and CEO of the Supply Chain Sustainability School Limited, an Independent Director of ResponsibleSteel, Chair of Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub Procurement Working Group, and within WWF’s Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA), a Project Control Group (PCG) member and Chair of two working groups; steel and knowledge. Hayley completed her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in International Business and Legal Studies, at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Helen Millicer is a recognised, award-winning strategist on circularity and climate-ready future, with 30 years leadership experience in executive and governance in government, industry associations and business. As CEO of One Planet Consulting she is engaged on national projects, grant assessments and strategies. She is the principal author of the 2023 seminal report for the Australian Government recommending 10 major changes for the eco-design of all products into the Australian market, the key advisor on forming Australia’s first EPR stewardship program for plastics incorporating eco-modulated brand levies and recycled content, and co-founder of an influential new program, ClimateWise Associations. Helen has a long, distinguished career as director and chair of boards and is a Ministerial appointee to the inaugural WRR board for the Tasmanian Government. Helen has national and global networks and insights, is graduate of AICD, Churchill Trust Fellow and regular speaker at conferences and forums.
AI – Key Trends and Developments to Expect Next – 1 May at Hexagon’s new North Sydney office
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of transformative trends shaping industries worldwide. The integration of AI technologies is no longer a luxury but a fundamental strategy for businesses aiming to secure their competitive edge and thrive. But what exactly are the emerging trends in AI that leaders must be aware of, and why is embracing these innovations critical for success in the digital age?
Please join us for this event 1 May with focus on AI, key trends and how to stay competitive. We will hear from event host Mattias Tidebrink, Senior Vice President, APAC, Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial and Dr Sandra Peter, Director of Sydney Executive Plus and Associate Professor at the University of Sydney who will discuss how AI has moved beyond the hype and is fundamentally transforming how businesses operate and society functions. She will discuss how AI is being practically applied across different sectors, unlocking new capabilities and raising new questions. A panel discussion and Q&A will follow the presentation.
At the event, we will take the opportunity to present the SACC Digitalisation Committee, a new initiative engaging member companies who are at the forefront of digital technologies.
When: Wednesday 1 May, 5.30 for 6.00 pm start until 8.00 pm (AEST)
Where: Hexagon, Greenwood Plaza, Level 4/32 Walker St, North Sydney NSW 2060
SACC/YP Members $15, Non Members $25 (drinks and canapés included), Guest of Hexagon free
Contact: sacc@swedishchamber.com.au
SACC Executive Forum in Canberra 15 May 2024
The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) and the Embassy of Sweden invite you to the SACC Executive Forum 2024. This year the annual forum will take place at the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra on Wednesday 15 May at 3.00-5.30 pm followed by networking.
This forum provides an opportunity for SACC Company Member Executives, Special Guests and Team Sweden Australia members to meet in person and to hear from HE Pontus Melander Ambassador of Sweden to Australia and keynote speakers on the following topics:
(focus on challenges and opportunities among Swedish industries represented in Australia such as mining, transport, technology, security, defence and healthcare)
Following the keynotes there will be an interactive round table discussion with focus on topics raised led by SACC Board Director, Penny George, Director Corporate Affairs at AstraZeneca Australia & New Zealand. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, current barriers, and explore future opportunities and collaboration.
Schedule:
3.00 pm Registration, coffee, tea and refreshments are served
3.30 Welcome by HE Pontus Melander Ambassador of Sweden to Australia
3.35 Introduction by SACC Board Representative
3.40 Keynote Speakers on – Australia and Sweden economic relationship and the importance of a Free Trade Agreement
4.00 Q&A followed by round table discussion led by SACC Board Director, Penny George
5.30 Conclusion, end of forum networking, drinks and canapés are served
7.00 End of event
Date & time: Wednesday 15 May, 3.00 – 5.30 pm followed by networking
Place: The Embassy of Sweden Canberra, 5 Turrana Street, Yarralumla ACT 2600
RSVP BY 8 MAY
This forum is by invitation only. For more information contact sacc@swedishchamber.com.au.
We are looking forward to seeing you there.
Yours Sincerely,
Jan Gardberg, President, Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce and HE Pontus Melander, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia
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.
Spotify album: https://open.spotify.com/album/5STDW88B7tOnPmukIt1sUD?si=myyFZKHnSEuPsxelFxoEUg