THE SWEDISH BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA AWARD WINNERS 2024

On November 21, the SACC Swedish Business in Australia Awards took the spotlight, uniting the Swedish-Australian business community in a prestigious celebration of excellence. The event recognised organisations that have shown exceptional commitment to advancing sustainability, driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, initiating and strengthening partnerships and collaboration, creating a meaningful social impact and recognising the achievements of individual business professionals.

This annual gathering highlighted the achievements of businesses that continue to set new benchmarks in their respective fields, embodying the core values of Swedish-Australian collaboration. The Swedish Christmas inspired event, co-hosted by the Embassy of Sweden, took place at the prestigious Heritage Ballroom at the Fullerton Hotel Sydney, offering an elegant and festive atmosphere for the evening’s proceedings.

The event commenced with a beautiful Lucia performance by the Swedish School in Sydney. Attendees were then welcomed by Jan Gardberg, President of SACC, followed by the Guest of Honour speech by HE Pontus Melander, Ambassador of Sweden to Australia. A highlight of the evening was the Julbord, a traditional Swedish Christmas buffet, with an array of delicacies, providing a true Jultomten journey through the Swedish Christmas traditions.

The event showcased the finalists and winners of the 2024 Swedish Business in Australia Awards. Celebrating the achievements of inspirational companies both newcomers and well stablished businesses showcasing successful collaborations between Sweden and Australia. Organisations and professionals were recognised for their significant contributions to shaping the business landscape and setting new standards of excellence.

The 2024 SACC Swedish Business Awards were presented in the following categories:

  1. Excellence in Innovation
  2. Excellence in Sustainability
  3. Excellence in Entrepreneurship
  4. Excellence in Partnerships and Collaboration
  5. Excellence in Social Impact
  6. Business Professional of the Year
  7. Young Professional of the Year

We invited companies, enterprises, business executives, young professionals and entrepreneurs with strong ties to Sweden to submit nominations. Additionally, organisations and individuals were encouraged to nominate specific projects, such as sustainability focused projects, products or services, innovative campaigns, or impactful initiatives.

The judging panel, comprised of esteemed industry experts and leaders, carefully reviewed each nomination to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process. The impressive range of submissions made the selection process particularly challenging for the judges. After a detailed and careful screening of all nominations, the winners were determined and announced at the event. Each category reflected the outstanding accomplishments and dedication of individuals and organisations committed to driving excellence in their respective fields. The final results celebrated not only the winners but also the remarkable contributions of all nominees, showcasing the strength of Swedish-Australian business ties.

The 2024 results within the seven categories were announced at the awards event as follows.

Excellence in Innovation

This award was open to all Swedish or Swedish-Australian businesses; large or small, newcomer or established. Recognises businesses that have made significant contributions to their industry through the introduction, improvement and implementation of an innovative solution or idea, a method, technology, process or application, new, existing or long-term.

The Excellence in Innovation Award 2024 was granted to Amokabel with Hitachi Energy and Piab Group as runner ups.

Motivation: Amokabel, with innovative Swedish engineering tailored to the Australian Government’s demands and unique environment, developed a Covered Conductor Solution to eliminate the risk of power line-initiated bushfires and significantly enhance network resilience. By refurbishing existing infrastructure, it embraces circularity, supports local manufacturing, and drives Australia’s renewable energy transition, aligning with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

This innovation saves lives, reduces bushfire emissions, and delivers safe, affordable power to communities. Designed for Australia’s unique challenges, it strengthens the reliability of the electricity network and addresses climate risks, making Amokabel a deserving candidate for this award.

Excellence in Sustainability

The Sustainability Award recognises organisations that execute initiatives that demonstrate leadership and commitment to sustainable business practices in planning, and operations in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). We encouraged businesses of all sizes and sectors that go above and beyond to achieve any of the SDG’s, to reduce the impact of their operations on the environment and/or provide products and services that have positive environmental outcomes. With many Swedish organisations excelling in this field, selecting a winner in this category was challenging for the jury, given the exceptional calibre of the finalists: ABB, Arjo, and Flick Anticimex.

The Excellence in Sustainability Award for 2024 went to Arjo.

Motivation: Leading the way in reducing healthcare waste and advancing sustainability, Arjo operates Australia’s first TGA-certified, ISO-accredited facility for reprocessing single-use non invasive medical devices, addressing the sector’s annual 168,000 tonnes of waste. Arjo’s chemical-free pasteurisation technology enables safe reuse of medical products, reducing landfill waste without added costs for hospitals. With biodegradable materials, recycled packaging, and optimised transport, Arjo demonstrates a holistic commitment to sustainability. Recognising Arjo with this award highlights its innovation and inspires broader adoption of sustainable practices in Australia’s healthcare industry.

Excellence in Entrepreneurship

This award recognises the efforts and achievements of exceptional entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses (large or small) who are working in the field of entrepreneurship development. There were three shortlisted companies within this category AstraZeneca, Berkeley Communications and Nordman Design.

 The 2024 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award was secured by AstraZeneca.

Motivation: AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca ANZ, through its A.Catalyst Innovation Hub and BRIDGE Program, empowers Australian healthcare startups by connecting them with over 350 global experts and fostering collaboration with universities and institutions. Supporting over 30 startups in diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health, and training 200 biotech entrepreneurs through the BRIDGE Program, AstraZeneca drives innovation, economic growth, and job creation.

With its Swedish heritage and commitment to cross-border collaboration, AstraZeneca strengthens ties between Sweden and Australia, making it a deserving recipient of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award.

Excellence in Partnership & Collaboration

This award recognises achievements associated with partnerships and collaborations that develop, maintain, and grow successful Swedish-Australian collaboration, knowledge exchange, R&D, and creative and sustainable business development.

The winner of the Partnership and Collaboration Award went to Ericsson.

Motivation: Ericsson in partnership with Telstra delivered a transformative telecommunications upgrade to King Island, featuring the world’s longest over-water microwave link. Using Ericsson’s MINI-LINK technology, the project increased network capacity and availability tenfold, significantly enhancing connectivity for residents, businesses, and educational institutions on the island.

This achievement showcases the power of cross-continental collaboration between Swedish and Australian engineers, demonstrating innovative problem-solving in harsh environments. The project aligns with government initiatives to enhance regional connectivity, highlighting Ericsson’s commitment to leveraging technology for good and advancing sustainable development in Australia.

Excellence in Social Impact

This award recognises businesses/organisations/individuals that implement initiatives that have a positive and sustainable impact on the community and generate outcomes that have a long-term benefit. Initiatives can include but are not limited to projects, programs, processes, systems, developments, ventures and undertakings.

The Excellence in Social Impact Award was granted to IKEA Australia.

Motivation: IKEA’s commitment to refugee and asylum seeker employment through its Australian Refugee Workforce Inclusion program represents a meaningful and sustainable model of social impact.

The initiative benefits not only the participants, who gain financial independence and a sense of social belonging but also IKEA’s business. It has helped reduce staff turnover, improve workplace diversity, and create a new talent pipeline across various roles. Furthermore, IKEA’s initiative aims to reshape the narrative around refugees through advocacy and positive storytelling. This initiative stands as a beacon of social impact, demonstrating the powerful intersection between ethical responsibility and business success.

Business Professional of the Year Award

This award honours individuals who embody exceptional business acumen, strategic foresight, and inspiring leadership. It celebrates executives or entrepreneurs who have achieved significant success in their careers, whether within an organisation or through running their own business.

These professionals exemplify the core values of SACC, serving as role models for the next generation with their dedication to innovation, transformation, and sustainable progress.

The winner of the Business Professional of the Year Award went to Povel Torudd, Managing Director, Berkeley Communications

Motivation: Through transformative leadership, Povel has revolutionised business storytelling in Australia. Under his guidance, Berkeley Communications has rapidly emerged as a key player in the competitive PR industry, championing an innovative approach that prioritizes engagement and quality over visibility.

Beyond his professional success, Povel’s mentoring, pro bono work, and support for local start-ups highlight his dedication to nurturing future communicators. His commitment to diversity, mental health, and employee well-being reflects a forward-thinking approach, making a profound impact on both grassroots and professional communities.

His unique blend of strategic vision and passion sets him apart, making him truly deserving of this award.

Young Professional of the Year Award

Recognising the tremendous talent in the young professional business community, this award honours up and coming leaders (up to 35 years) who impress with their ability to make an impact, build strategic success and inspire others with their business acumen to raise the Swedish profile in Australia.

The winner of the Young Professional of the Year Award went to Joshua Di Paola, Solutions Architect, Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure

Motivation: Joshua’s outstanding contributions to Hexagon highlight his professionalism, innovation, and resilience in high stakes environments. His ability to bridge technical and non technical stakeholders and adapt to challenging circumstances has delivered critical solutions for life and death organisations like police, ambulance and firefighters.

A dedicated team player, Josh’s commitment to understanding client needs and delivering effective solutions has yielded exceptional results. His hunger to learn and success in implementing Swedish technology to enhance safety for Australians make him highly deserving of this award.

The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce would like to thank members and everyone engaged in the 2024 Swedish Business in Australia Awards.

A special thank you goes to the dedicated judging panel and all the companies who participated in the awards.

Download the Summary of the Swedish Business Award Winners 2024 here.

For more information please contact:

sacc@swedishchamber.com.au

www.swedishchamber.com.au

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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

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

Sweden Innovation Days 2024 – Watch the online event which took place 20-21 March

Sweden Innovation Days 2024 took place 20-21 March, this is an annual online digital event,  which this year attracted over 2,000 registered participants from 89 different countries.

The focus of the online conference is to connect innovation actors from around the world and to foster partnerships with clear and actionable missions to create a more sustainable world. Sweden is a sustainability front runner and committed to contributing to the Global Goals.

Sweden Innovation Days is dedicated to fostering international collaboration, so whether you are a start-up, intermediary or corporate, working in the public sector, civil society, academia or a government agency, there will be key takeaways for everyone.

The event is organised by Vinnova – Sweden’s innovation agency, the Swedish Energy Agency – leading the transition to a sustainable energy system and Formas – a Swedish research council for sustainable development in collaboration with Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP) and Business Sweden.

Watch the sessions for the 2-day online event here:

https://swedeninnovationdays.se/past-event/lets-innovate-for-resilience/

Swedish garden designers win award for ’New Nordic Notes’ sustainable garden design in Melbourne March 2024

Swedish garden designers win award for ’New Nordic Notes’ sustainable garden design at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in March 2024

’New Nordic Notes’ show garden, created by design duo Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne, was awarded Silver Gilt at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 2024, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every year. “The garden is a place for reflection, deeply rooted in the culture and nature of the Nordics, with details that keep surprising, which makes it a winner.”

The ’New Nordic Notes’ garden was highlighted on various YouTube and podcast channels and broadcasted on Better Homes and Gardens (Channel 7), Garden Gurus (Channel 9) and Gardening Australia.

”- New Nordic Notes show garden is a celebration and inspiration of the Nordics. The garden was created to encourage generations to look at their past with pride and respect. A place which motivates you to storytelling and create meaningful design expressions, to stay curious about materials and to appreciate nature, despite living in Australia or the Nordic countries.”

There is a particular word in Swedish, “smultronställe”, which translates to a place in the wild where an abundance of wild strawberries grows. Smultronställe is referred to as a beautiful place you can escape to from everyday life, a place which gives you sentimental and personal value.

“- We decided at an early stage to create a garden as a place free from stress, a place to relax and reflect, not to be dictated where to stand or sit. As an anecdote to ‘smultronställe’ we added strawberries in the planting beds, a variety with red flowers, much appreciated by visitors.”

After the show, memories and photos are what remains of the garden. All materials have been reused and all plants have been returned to suppliers, with sustainability in mind.

More info, Instagram @newnordicnotes

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show: https://melbflowershow.com.au/

 

Designer Profiles

Kajsa Björne

Kajsa holds a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture, with international experience, having worked and studied in Sweden, England, Japan and Australia. Kajsa was the lead designer for the award-winning Ian Potters Children’s Wild Play Garden in Centennial Park, in Sydney. She resides in Central Coast, NSW.

 Annika Zetterman

 Annika is a leading garden designer in Sweden, where she runs her design practice in Stockholm with projects in the Nordics and beyond. She is the author of the bestselling book ‘New Nordic Gardens’ and lectures on the subject both in Sweden and abroad.

 https://thamesandhudson.com.au/product/new-nordic-gardens-scandinavian-landscape-design/

https://www.booktopia.com.au/new-nordic-gardens-annika-zetterman/book/9780500296141.html

 

Photography by Allie Aszodi

 

Volvo Group Australia recently hosted A Night with Volvo Group at their headquarters in Wacol, Queensland

Volvo Group Australia recently hosted A Night with Volvo Group  at their headquarters in Wacol, Queensland to celebrate a new benchmark in trucking performance. The customer event was attended by His Excellency, the Honourable Pontus Melander, The Ambassador of Sweden and executive leaders from across the Volvo Group global organisation, including Volvo Group President and CEO, Martin Lundstedt, President Volvo Trucks, Roger Alm and Head of Volvo Construction Equipment, Melker Jernberg.

The international guests took part in revealing Australia’s most powerful on-highway truck, the FH16 with 780 horsepower D17 engine. The new engine delivers increased fuel efficiency with savings up to 5% and is compatible with renewable fuel HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).

“A world of possibilities has been built into this engine platform,” says Shayne Commons, Director of Product and Performance, Volvo Group Australia, “Highly efficient drive trains capable of using alternative fuels will be a key part of our path to net zero emissions.”