march advance 2013

www.austchamthailand.comA MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN-THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTRALIA THAILAND BUSINESS COUNCIL

March 2013

Embassy NEws Australia Day Celebration andTaste of Australia 2013 Launch

AustrAliAnAlumniAustralianAlumni DRINKiQ Networking Event

11 22 24

aTbC UpdaTE10th Anniversary Thai Culture and Food Festival

14

bUsiNEss briEfFree Trade Agreement with Malaysia in Force

The australia-Thailand institute: supporting the australia-Thailand relationship

australia Unlimited recognises Global Talent

in this edition

success the rice way

Exceptional people. Outstanding opportunities. Academic excellence.Shrewsbury International School offers outstanding IGCSE and A Level courses, a unique humanities programme for all Y12 & Y13 students, and unparalleled careers advice for entry into the world’s leading universities.

Scholarships are available - Academic, Music, Art and Drama

Call 02 675 1888 or email [email protected]

Be part of the Shrewsbury success story.

www.shrewsbury.ac.th

Contact Ad A4.indd 1 27/02/13 2:24:25:PM

Inside Front Cover

Shrewsbury School1/1

Note: __________________

ATS specialistmortgage

ATSspecialistmortgage

Aussie Property 1/1

Note: __________________

ATS specialistmortgage

ATSspecialistmortgage

ContentspatrONhis Excellency James wiseAustralian Ambassador to the Kingdomof Thailand

prEsidENtJohn andersonMeinhardtPortfolio: Regional Links

viCE prEsidENtsm.L. Laksasubha KridakonBaan Laksasubha ResortPortfolio: Alumni

belinda skinnerTop Talent AsiaPortfolio: Communications and English Teaching

trEasUrErLeigh scott-KemmisDBMPortfolio: Advancing Trade and Commerce

dirECtOrsdavid bellCrestcom – Ra-Kahng AssociatesPortfolio: Speakers and Talks

Khun Jurairat JammaneeHASSELLPortfolio: AustCham Ball

warwick Kneale Baker Tilly Portfolio: Community Services

sam mizziMcConnell Dowell Portfolio: AFL and Eastern Seaboard Industry

sriram NarayanQantas / British AirwaysPortfolio: Business Conference and Business Awards

alan polivnickWatson, Farley & Williams (Thailand) LimitedPortfolio: Legal

Charles wrightmanNatural Ville & LenotrePortfolio: Sponsorship

saeed Zaki, ph.d.dwpPortfolio: Breakfast Briefings

bUsiNEss briEfs6 Success the Rice Way 10 The Australia-Thailand Institute:

Supporting the Australia-Thailand Relationship

11 Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia in Force

12 Congratulations to AustCham ‘Global Achievers’ Australia Unlimited Recognises Global Talent

13 Austrade Office for Myanmar

atbC UpdatE14 10th Anniversary Thai Culture

and Food Festival

Cover: Success the Rice Way – Australian Alumni

18

6

COmmUNity sErviCEs18 AustCham Community Service

Focus for 2013: The Beaumont Partnership Foundation

20 Voluntary English Teaching21 AustCham Sundowners

Community Services Sponsor – AIP Foundation

Embassy NEws22 Australia Day Celebration22 Taste of Australia 2013 Launch

australian alumni24 AustralianAlumni DRINKiQ and

Cocktail Workshop

ChambEr EvENts25 Joint Property and Infrastructure25 Aussie Economy, Tax and

Superannuation Seminar26 AustCham Bangkok

Sundowners

NEw mEmbErs & mEmbErs’ ChaNGEs

27 AustCham Welcomes New Members

frOm thE ChambEr OffiCE

30 Message from the Executive Director

March 2013 5AustChamThailand Advance

Beaumont Partnership Foundation’s pro-ject to build a school in Chaiyaphum Province. You can read more about in the following pages. AustCham has decided to adopt the school project as our com-munity services focus for 2013 so expect to hear more about it – and how you can contribute. It is certainly an ambitious project but it is also more than just an ‘idea’. The project is full steam ahead with some of the first buildings being finished and arrangements being put in place to accept the first enrolment of around 120 students.

I had the opportunity of meeting our For-eign Minister Senator the Hon Bob Carr on 21 February during a brief stopover in Bangkok. Unfortunately the Minsters busy schedule meant that he was not able to speak to the wider membership but I did find him engaged and interested in how to promote Australian business in Thailand.

In closing I would like to thank all those who have supported me over the past two years, including the AustCham staff and the Board. I wish the new Board every success and am happy to offer my support as needed.

John AndersonPresident, AustCham Thailandwww.austchamthailand.com

By the time this goes to print there will be a new AustCham President and I will be joining the ranks of

the ‘Past Presidents’. The two years in which I have been President has gone quickly. It has been a real privilege to have led the Chamber as President and also served as a Board member – in all for a total of six years. It has been a quite a lot of work at times; however it has also been very rewarding. I have made many friends through the Chamber and have found it often a welcome challenge from the usual day-to-day. It will probably feel a bit strange not to be such a close part of it all; however I am genuinely looking forward to filling that time with my family and to concentrating on Meinhardt busi-ness and some other pursuits.

February was another busy month for AustCham. Sundowners saw a large turnout at the Eastin Grand Hotel. Our sponsors that night were MBMG and Berri Estates. The first Alumni event for the year was also a big success. The novel DRINKiQ & Cocktail Workshop was held at Radisson Suites.

We were also pleased to support the offi-cial Berri Estates Thailand launch at the Australian Ambassador’s Residence. This was a great opportunity for many of the Chamber’s sponsors to meet and mingle with Siam Winery guests, as well as senior executives from the owners of Berri Estates, Accolade Wines in Australia.

I have the pleasure of this month announc-ing some additional annual corporate sponsors that have come on board after some discussions in January. We are par-ticularly thrilled to have at the Gold level PTT EP and the Beaumont Partnership. The Beaumont Partnership is of course well known to the Chamber and a very welcome addition to our Gold sponsor line-up. Over the past couple of years the Chamber has made a special effort to reach out to some of the large Thai investors in Australia (a relatively new and exciting development in the bilateral com-mercial relationship). Those efforts are now reaping dividends with two of those investors – Minor Group and now PTT EP – supporting the Chamber and becoming actively involved in our activities.

Some members might be aware of the

FROM THE BOARD

EX OffiCiOGreg wallisSenior Trade Commissioner, Thailand

COOrdiNatOrspaul wilkinsonJVK International Movers Ltd.ESB CoordinatorEmail: [email protected]

trevor dick Indochine Asset ManagementESB CoordinatorEmail: [email protected] harry UsherLady PiePhuket CoordinatorEmail: [email protected]

australian-thai Chamber of Commerce20th Floor, Thai CC Tower889 South Sathorn RoadBangkok 10120Tel.: +66 2 210 0216 Fax: +66 2 675 [email protected]

Editorial CommitteeBelinda Skinner, Josh Hyland,Gary Woollacott, Domenica Agostino

marketing & production Scand-Media Corp. Ltd4/41-42 Moo 3, Thanyakarn VillageRamintra Soi 14, BangkokTel.: +66 2 943-7166/8 Fax: +66 2 [email protected]

advertisingFinn BalslevEmail: [email protected]

Contributions to Advance magazine are welcome. Please submit content to [email protected] by the first day of the month for publication in the following month’s magazine.

Opinions expressed in Advance do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.

president’s message

6 March 2013 AustChamThailand Advance

BUSINESS BRIEF

By Mark Carroll

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a feature of most contemporary businesses. It might include anything from a focus on employee welfare to large-scale pro-

jects that transform communities (see this month’s article, for example, on the Beaumont Partnership Foundation’s school project in Chaiyapoom Province). At least one company in Thailand, however, has taken CSR a step further. It has estab-lished what its Chief Executive Officer, Peetachai Dejkraisak (otherwise known as Neil), describes as a “social enterprise”. That is, a company where social outcomes are intertwined into all aspects of the business model. Yields, dividends and corporate growth are measured not just in dollars and cents, but in what some refer to as the ‘triple bottom line’ – people, planet, profit. At best, profit and social outcomes are symbi-otic in a social enterprise.

Whereas CSR programs have almost universal support as a concept, it is fair to say that the social enterprise model is still viewed with some scepticism. Better social outcomes –some might say – can be achieved by focussing business on busi-ness, and then channelling a percentage of profit to specific social activities. Mix youth and social enterprise together, and comments about rosy-eyed idealism can be expected.

Such was the situation – but worse – when Neil had the idea to establish a new business in Thailand. Not only was he young. Not only did he want his business to be a social enter-prise. With no prior experience his plan was to enter into the ancient agricultural industry of rice!

Yet Neil and his two founding colleagues at Siam Organic Co. Ltd., Pornthida (Palmmy) Wongphatharakul and Apilux (Arm) Huvanandana, have proven the sceptics seriously wrong. Sceptics, we should add, that included Neil’s own parents. Today, Siam Organic has not just its own brand, but its very own variety, of premium quality organic rice. Jasberry is its name and it has a rapidly expanding fan-base of gourmet groupies not just here in Thailand, but internationally.

It took sheer determination, confidence and vision For Neil and his colleagues to take their business plan for Siam Organic from paper to production. These traits, says Neil, were not something that necessarily came to him naturally, however. They developed over time at Australia’s Canberra Grammar

P10308647740Nasdaq

School, the University of Melbourne, and Thailand’s Sasin Graduate School of Business Administration. Neil credits his educational background with not only giving him the knowl-edge and technical skills to follow his dreams, but also the personality and temperament necessary to see them fulfilled.

Looking back on his time in Canberra Neil can clearly identify moments that left a deep impression on him. Some of those moments were what Australians typically call ‘character-build-ing’. In other words: not easy. It was a challenge, for example, for Neil to leave his family in Thailand for faraway Australia. At fourteen he was the only Thai student at an all-boys board-ing school.

One of the first lessons Neil learnt was that it wasn’t Australian practice to share (some might say copy) homework. Whereas his previous school had put an emphasis on students hand-


management, water quality and soil rehabilitation. There is a focus in the course on sustainable development and Neil’s instinct told him that such skills were needed in Thailand.

Neil describes his time in Australia as “life-changing”. Not only did his Australian “mum and dad” introduce him to agricul-ture, they also “taught me the Australian way. They kept me grounded. My [Australian] mum used to volunteer and that helped me realise the importance of giving back to the com-munity. High school at Canberra Grammar allowed me to explore different interests, such as music and drama, and to expand my horizons. I have nothing but the highest praise for the school. Meanwhile, five years at Melbourne University gave me the technical foundation to do what I’m doing today. Looking back, it couldn’t have worked out any better.”

With his Australian experience providing an essential founda-tion, the catalytic ingredient for the company Neil now leads was business school at Sasin. It was there events started prompting Neil to ask the question about his life and career focus. Sasin also provided him with the connections and pathways to turn his conviction into a business.

Siam Organic Co. Ltd. was conceived when Neil and four of his classmates teamed up to enter a business plan competi-tion. Key to their plan was to make social responsibility centre-

ing in work with all the right answers, the objective in Aus-tralia wasn’t just the end-product. It was more about how you got there and – most importantly – what you learnt along the way! Neil says the incident “taught me that individuality, being yourself and taking pride in your own work was important. It promotes critical thinking and helps you build confidence to follow your own journey”.

Neil also recalls being given a hard time about his English abil-ity. His answer was to acquire a dictionary, invest quite a few late nights and prove them wrong. And prove them wrong he did when he topped the English class. Determination and results, he found, also earned respect.

It was also during high school that Neil started to develop a deep affection for the environment. His Australian guardians – friends of the family and his other “mum and dad” – owned a property in Cootamundra. Quintessentially Australian, the town is best known as the birth place of cricketing legend Sir Donald Bradman. Spending his holidays ‘on the land’ Neil was introduced to agriculture and found that he “just connected with nature”. That experience in rural Australia prompted him to go on to study environmental engineering and economics at the University of Melbourne.

Melbourne University is Australia’s top engineering school and widely regarded as one of the best universities in the world. Beginning with just 15 students in 1861, the engineering fac-ulty now boasts representatives from 100 countries and a stu-dent body of more than 3,000. Environmental engineering is not easy degree, requiring students to become expert in issues such as land use and management, salinity, water resources

BUSINESS BRIEF


By diversifying the business – and making the rice-growers part of it – Neil is confident he can help put more money into the pockets of the farmers while also helping them to hedge the risk of relying on agricultural output alone.

BUSINESS BRIEF

piece of their conceptual company. As it turns out, it was that conviction and focus that led the group of students to their first major break. In the course of their research into organic rice in Thailand, they chanced upon a Kasetsart University researcher who had developed a new variety of ultra-healthy rice. The researcher was being courted by major agri-busi-ness, but preferred a partner that had a common life outlook, and shared a deep respect for the social cause and environ-ment. Thus the partnership was sealed.

After some trial and error in gathering a network of growers for their new rice, Siam Organic launched Jasberry to the market in December 2011. The name Jasberry reflects its properties – “the taste of world-famous Thai jasmine rice and the anti-oxidant benefits of berry fruits”. The rice is high in fibre and claims to have more antioxidants than blueberry and green tea. Studies have linked a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. And of the high antioxidant foods, berries are among the best. Jasberry also has less sugar than regular white rice and a lower Gly-cemic Index (GI) rating. Low-GI foods release glucose more slowly and steadily, keeping the body’s metabolic processes and energy levels balanced. Low-GI can also result in feeling fuller for longer periods of time after eating, thus promoting weight loss.

Two years into the business plan that won them the mai Bang-kok Business Challenge and Siam Organic has made a very strong start. But it is only in the early stages of its ambitions.

By year five the intent is to have a growing network of 20,000 organic farmers [of the estimated two million rice producers in Thailand] who are not just selling rice to Siam Organic but who actually have a key stake in the business and its earn-ings. “We don’t just have a buy and sell relationship with our farmers. The more revenue we make, the more farmers we help. It is all inter-linked”, says Neil. “We also believe that if the farmers are happy they are producing better quality rice and increasing productivity. We think it’s also about sustainability as providing the farmers with a future also provides our busi-ness a future.”

More than just wholesaling rice, Neil and his colleagues have plans for Siam Organic to produce value-added products. They already offer gift sets for those who want to share Jas-berry and other healthy products with friends, family, col-leagues or anybody else for that matter. Research is also underway into how the health properties of the Jasberry vari-ety can be unlocked by incorporating it into various processed

food and beverage products. By diversifying the business – and making the rice-growers part of it – Neil is confident he can help put more money into the pockets of the farmers while also helping them to hedge the risk of relying on agricul-tural output alone.

Neil’s vision for Thailand’s rice industry is one where best-practice organic agricultural methods put rice farmers ahead of the pack financially, in quality of product and in environmen-tal sustainability. No doubt it’s an ambitious plan. But Neil has some experience in proving sceptics wrong.

For more information on Siam Organic please see www.siamorganic.net or contact +66 85 252 1262.

As a proud Australian university graduate Neil is a strong supporter of the AustralianAlumni program run jointly by AustCham and the Thai-Australian Association. See www.australianalumni.com for more information.

International School Bangkok

www.isb.ac.th

Eric Kenso Ward, ISB Class of 1979

Bringing out the superhero in each of us since 1951.


Do you know what the following projects have in common?

• Education: The Asia Education Founda-tion’s Australia-Thailand BRIDGE (Build-ing Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement) school partnerships project, and the Dis-cover Thailand University Scholarships

• Media: Journalism undergraduate internships with Thai media

• Community Programs: annual Next Generation Community Leaders visit to Australia, Swimsafe Thailand, Phuket Lifesaving Education Centre

• Arts: the South-East Asian Writers Lit-erary Festival

• Public Policy: young Thai women MPs visit to Australia, Australian Studies Centre 60th anniversary symposium on bilateral relations

• Business: AustCham Business Confer-ence

The answer: all of these projects are sup-ported by the Australia-Thailand Institute.

The Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) was established by the Australian Government in 2005 to promote bilateral relations with Thailand and support institutional and peo-ple-to-people links. As such, the ATI is a relatively new addition to the bilateral land-scape but during this time has supported projects that have made a real difference to the Australia-Thailand relationship.

You may recognise the Institute logo from the recent AustCham Business Con-ference; the Institute’s Chairman, Mike Courtnall, was a speaker at that event. However, for the most part, the Institute is something of a quiet achiever, support-ing numerous projects, programs and events each year, usually in the form of seed funding.

Through our discretionary grants program, the ATI gives members of the community

the australia-thailand institute:

supporting the australia-thailand relationship

Thailand, ensuring alumni from both coun-tries can benefit from exchanging their experiences and making new contacts to further build people-to-people links.

The Institute places a lot of emphasis on encouraging and cultivating the next gen-eration of future leaders. Most of the ATI’s programs will try to engage the next gen-eration so that they can take the expe-riences and linkages they have gained through the ATI with them throughout their careers. Examples of programs cur-rently supported by the ATI include the Discover Thailand Scholarships which provide top-up funding for Australian uni-versity students to study in Thailand, the Australia-Thailand BRIDGE school part-nerships program, and the ATI’s annual flagship program the Next Generation Community Leaders visit which bring young Thai leaders to Australia for a pro-gram focused on multiculturalism.

The next ATI Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for late March where board members will consider their 2013/14 busi-ness plan, determining the Institute’s prior-ity areas for the coming financial year, and deciding which annual targeted programs to run. This meeting will also consider the recommendations of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper to ensure they are incorporated into the ATI’s forward planning.

More information on the ATI, its pro-grams, and grant funding can be found at our website: www.dfat.gov.au/ati. The ATI Secretariat is always happy to answer your questions and can be contacted via email at [email protected].

the opportunity to seek modest funding for interesting projects which strengthen links between Australia and Thailand. Grants awarded through the Institute advance interests in a range of priority areas includ-ing education, science, culture, sport, women and girls and business with an underlying focus on encouraging the next generation of young Australians and Thais. Grant rounds are opened at least once a year (typically in March) allowing any Aus-tralian, Thai or Australian-Thai partnership to submit an online application to the Insti-tute’s Advisory Board for consideration. ATI grant rounds have provided funding to projects such as education on marine stinger safety in Thailand and employing integrated pest management practices on agricultural properties to supporting Akha traditions in northern Thailand and shadow puppet theatre arts residencies.

However, the ATI doesn’t just give grants. It fosters and promotes people-to-people links through targeted programs identified by the Advisory Board. These programs are often annual, recurring activities that target a specific area of the bilateral relationship. For example, the Institute hosts an annual media visit inviting journalists from a spe-cific media field to travel from Thailand to Australia for one week. Last year’s journal-ists were from the sports journalism field; the year before the Institute hosted repre-sentatives from the arts and culture media.

The Institute also tries to host at least one alumni event per year, bringing together past grant applicants, program partici-pants, and significant stakeholders in the Australia-Thailand relationship. These have been hosted both in Australia and

BUSINESS BRIEF


BUSINESS BRIEF

Australia’s ground-breaking free trade agreement with Malay-sia entered into force in January,

opening up opportunities for exporters and investors across most sectors. From the beginning of the year, 97.6 per cent of Australian goods currently exported to Malaysia are eligible for tariff-free treat-ment, rising to 99 per cent in 2017. Service providers - including universi-ties, schools, banks, insurers, telecoms companies and accountancy firms - will also benefit, with increased access to the Malaysian market and an easing of rules on control of Malaysian businesses.

Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson said the Malaysia-Aus-tralia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) would further integrate the Australian economy into the fast-growing Asian region. “It builds on the benefits already flowing from the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA to open up new opportu-nities for investors and exporters,” Dr Emerson said. “This high-quality agree-ment reduces trade barriers, increases transparency and provides greater busi-ness certainty, making it easier for Aus-tralians to do business in Malaysia.”

Dr Emerson said Australian exporters would benefit from improved market access for a variety of goods and ser-vices, including liquid milk and pro-cessed foods, automotive vehicles and parts, iron and steel. Under MAFTA, the remaining Australian tariffs on Malay-sian goods have been removed, help-ing lower the cost of consumer goods for Australians. MAFTA is Australia’s sev-enth free trade agreement. Agreements are already in force with Chile, New Zea-land, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and the multiparty ASEAN-Aus-tralia-New Zealand FTA.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has launched a web page dedicated to the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) for Austral-

free trade agreement with malaysia in force

ian businesses considering trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia.

The DFAT website contains a brochure explaining the benefits of the agree-ment, which came into effect at the start of the year. It also has detailed informa-tion, including a guide for businesses on how to make use of MAFTA to export or

import goods. Tariff schedules can be found under the Official Documents tab, Annex 1.

Information on market opportunities and insights for Malaysia in the areas of agri-culture, ICT, health and medical and oil and gas will soon be available on the Austrade website.


Around one million Australians are offshore at any one time, most of them on a long-term or permanent

basis. Far from being a brain drain, our ‘gold-collar’ diaspora plays an impor-tant role in Australia’s interaction with the world. They share Australian expertise, ideas and ways of doing things, project a compelling image of Australia and pro-vide networks and connections for Aus-tralians and Australian organisations.

Australian expats tend to be well edu-cated, well connected and successful. Some of Australia’s most talented, pro-ductive and motivated citizens chose to spend time building their careers away from home. Many retain a strong sense of Australianness and plenty of good-will towards their country of birth. The warmth is returned by Australians at home who are generally very positive about expats, and value the economic and reputational benefits the Australian diaspora brings.

Some of our most successful country-men and women are household names. But most are not. The Australia Unlim-ited: Global Achievers list recognises 50 Australians living and working abroad who have come to our attention. Some are at the pinnacle of their careers and others are just starting out. What they have in common is creativity, energy and an Australian passport.

Tech entrepreneurs, executives with multi-nationals, investment bankers, journalists, artists, designers and advertising creative, humanitarians, academics and exporters all feature on this impressive list. From 29 year-old

Congratulations to austCham ‘Global achievers’

australia Unlimited recognises Global talent

BUSINESS BRIEF

big data entrepreneur Ben Keighan, to 82 year-old Stuart Devlin known as the world’s best silversmith, Australians are achieving extraordinary things in every corner of the globe. The full list of the Top 50 Global Achievers can be viewed on the Australia Unlimited website www.

Paul Kenny, thailand CEO Minor Food Group

Based in bustling Bangkok, Paul Kenny has led Minor Food Group PCL as

CEO for over 12 years, following vari-ous management positions he held in

MFG since 1993. He is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction

and growth of the company to where it is today. Currently the company oper-ates more than 15 brands and a net-work of more than 1,300 restaurants in 16 countries internationally. He is a member of several boards, including

Minor International PCL, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

andrew Biggs, thailand Journalist, author and TV personality,Andrew Biggs Academy

Australian journalist Andrew Biggs arrived in Bangkok in 1989 on a two-day stopover and has been there ever since. In the past 24 years he’s become a high profile Thai-speaking farang (foreigner) working as a journalist, radio com-mentator, TV host, author, publisher and founder of English language school, the Andrew Biggs Academy. In 2005 Biggs was the first foreigner awarded the Phetch Siam Award for excellence in using the Thai language, evidenced by some 16 books he’s written including the 1997 best-seller How to Speak Thai Like a Farang.

australiaunlimited.com/society/australia-unlimited-global-talent.

austCham thailand would like to congratulate two of our members who feature on this list, andrew Biggs and Paul Kenny.


You are invited to our

Saturday 9th March 2013The fun starts at10.00am and �nishes at 1.00pm

Jungle Picnic

Free shuttle bus to and from the MRT at the Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 2. Reserve your tickets today! Visit our KIS Facebook page for reservations and event schedule.http://www.facebook.com/kisinternationalschoolEmail: [email protected]

Join us for a morning of delicious snacks, treasure hunt, games, prizes and art & craft activi-ties. Just 200 Baht per family and ideal for children 2-6 years old. All are welcome!

Australia will open an Austrade office in Myanmar this year as part of the Gillard Government’s drive to help

businesses break into and expand in Asia’s emerging and growth markets. Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson said the office would be opened in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial centre. When fully operational, it will be staffed by a Trade Com-missioner supported by a number of locally-engaged business development managers.

“Recognising and responding quickly to new opportunities in Asia’s growth and emerging markets is central to putting the Asian Century White Paper into practice,” Dr Emerson said. The Australian Govern-ment last year lifted travel and financial sanctions against Myanmar in response to political reforms in the country. Austrade’s presence in the country will consolidate this new commercial relationship while giving

that a new embassy would be established in Mongolia, while Austrade also opened a new consulate in Bogota, Colombia and created new trade commissioner positions in Accra, Ghana and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Austrade office in Yangon will help Aus-tralian companies establish a presence in Myanmar’s promising but challenging market, forecast to grow at around six per cent in 2013.

“This new office will support Australia’s busi-nesses in education and training, financial services, telecommunications, infrastruc-ture, mining and tourism,” Dr Emerson said.

Under reforms introduced by Dr Emer-son, Austrade has concentrated more of its resources in growth and emerging mar-kets, where its support can make the most difference to the success of Australian businesses in the Asian Century.

assistance to Australian companies looking to invest in the country.

Myanmar is strategically located between growth centres such as India, China and Thailand, and is South East Asia’s largest mainland nation. The country has extensive natural resources, including oil and gas, and a growing population. “This is another step in the Government’s commitment to expand Australia’s diplomatic and commer-cial footprint in Asia,” Dr Emerson said.

The Government also announced in the White Paper the appointment of a dedi-cated Ambassador to ASEAN, to be based in Jakarta. Last year it announced an Aus-trade-managed consulate in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and plans to open a new consu-late in Chengdu, China.

Also last year, the Government announced

Austrade Office for Myanmar

BUSINESS BRIEF


products sold at Costco and Woolworths. On the River Terrace along the River Yarra will be 20 Thai restaurant stalls including the Singha Beer Garden which will feature a live sound stage showcasing great live music from a local band with the ever pop-ular annual Thai Tiffany show closing pro-ceedings. This year the Festival is also partnering with the Australia Thai Artists Interchange - Hua Krathi Project (supported by ATI, Vic Multicultural Commission, RMIT and Melbourne Universities www.atai.com.au)

ATBC’s immediate Past National Pres-ident, Robert Taylor, a founder of Melbourne’s annual Thai Culture and

Food Festival has seen it grow to become the largest multi-cultural event at Federation Square in the heart of Melbourne since the inauguration in 2004. Last year the one-day Festival showcasing Thai Culture and Food as well as travel and tourism attracted over 64,000 visitors. Melbourne has a small Thai community and also a transient population of Thai Students so most of the visitors are local Melbournians who get to experience a day in Thailand. This year’s festival on Sunday 17 March 2013 celebrates the 10th Anniversary and major sponsors include Singha Beer, Mel-bourne City Council, Bangkok Metropoli-tan Administration (BMA) and CP Foods – together with Tourism Authority of Thai-land, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Thai Airways, Fed Square, and Tangola. In prior years the Australia Thailand Institute provided seed funding support.

On the main stage at Fed Square this year the festival will showcase Thai dance, music, martial arts and other performances from entertainers specifically brought to Australia courtesy of Bangkok Metropoli-tan Administration. The Joe Louis traditional Thai puppets will also appear at various Fes-tival locations and the local Thai’s will partici-pate in the Buddhist ceremony and the Thai Beauty Contest. Over in the Fed Square Theatre “The Edge” there will be Thai Cook-ing demonstrations, Buddhist meditation, Joe Louis puppet shows and Thai Artist talks (including a panel discussion on Con-temporary Thai Art and other shows).

In Fed Square a Thai Village will be set up which will include demonstrations of fruit carving, musical instruments, Thai lan-guage, Thai kids games, Thai Products and much more. The Swanston Street Forecourt will also host the CP Foods mar-quee where they will feature their local

featuring Contemporary Thai Art installa-tions from Thai artists living in both Thai-land and in Australia.

In the Flinders Street Amphitheatre there will be a pop up art gallery in the form of a shipping container to showcase artist’s work with screenings of media art being featured on the Fed Square Screen. This will be running from 13 – 20 March 2013 together with two other exhibitions hap-pening in Melbourne as part of the project timed to coincide with the Festival:

• RMITUniversitySchoolofArtGallery Two week exhibition at the RMIT Univer-

sity School of Art Gallery • ScreenSpace Three week exhibition at Screen Space,

to screen a selection of video works by contemporary Thai artists, between 7 - 23 March

The Festival works with the Thai Commu-nity through the participation of the various Thai Temples in Victoria; The Thai Students Association; the Thai Language School, etc. Robert Doyle, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and the festival patron, HE Maris Sangiam-pongsa, The Ambassador of Thailand to Australia will officially open the Festival.

So if you are in Melbourne and want to feel like you never left Thailand come along from 10am – or if you can’t attend –tell your Melbourne friends and family to make a point of visiting to experience a small taste of Thailand. You can find out more at www.thaifestvic.com or “like” the Festival at www.facebook.com/thaifestvic updated daily; follow twitter feed at www.twitter.com/thaifestvic and watch videos at www.youtube.com/user/thaifestvic

ATBC UPDATE

10th anniversary thai Culture and food festivalmelbourne, sunday 17 march 2013


A leading private international school in the centre of Bangkok, internationally accredited by the Council of International Schools, New England

Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Office of National Education Standards and Quality Assessment.

Accredited by and Affiliated with

Sukhumvit 53 | www.bkkprep.ac.th | Phone 02-260-7890Adjacent to Thonglo BTS Skytrain

Celebrating a decade of excellence 2003-2013

10th Anni BKKPrep_ADVANCE_180x130mm_FCHP_Feb2013.indd 1 2/22/13 5:43 PM

ATBC UPDATE

The ATBC Board met for the first time in 2013, and have made the

decision to embark upon a rigorous review of the organ-isation, its role, and business model. We believe the busi-ness environment has radi-cally changed and for our Council to remain vibrant, relevant and sustainable we need to be not just across, but ahead, of this curve and explore a new model of client service delivery.

In the era when our Council was formed, Australian trade groups generally focused on the promotion of export to developing countries in the region, and information was primarily available through face-to-face networks. Now, due to the accessibility of information through social media, online forums and virtual net-

works, our member services and funding models will need to evolve. The nature of business between Thailand and Aus-tralia has also changed. Thai investment in Australia is larger than Australian investment in Thailand by a significant order of magnitude. Multilateralism and market integration is increas-ing, and Thailand is a hub of a radically changing Greater Mekong Sub-region, and one of the most dynamic members of the coming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

We will be consulting with key ATBC stakeholders including government, peak business bodies, ATBC members and the broader business community in the coming months. We wel-come any input, feedback or contributions you would make and look forward to engaging in the process.

Tamerlaine BeasleyNational PresidentAustralia Thailand Business Council

LetterfromthePresident


COMMUNITY SERVICES

Effectively, these techniques provide shelter and also emphasise a sense of Thai culture through architecture.

Albeit the design and construction of the school takes part in the overall suc-cess of the development, its predom-inant aim lies with the students and the families. It’s designed to encour-age a new method of learning, enhanc-

The Beaumont Partnership Foun-dation’s ‘School for the under-privileged’ is a refreshing and

inspiring project that aims to create a brighter future for the more unfortunate children in the Chaiyaphum Province of Thailand. Without a sound educa-tion, millions of Thais’ are unable to reach their development potential and improve financial positions for them-selves or families. Evidently, there is a lack of opportunities available and a fundamental need for quality education needs to be met.

Thus, as a means to facilitate this need, The Beaumont Partnership Founda-tion is in the process of a development that will not only enhance the minds of the children, but also hopefully improve the relationships within local families entirely. Effectively, we should see a positive transformation and a pattern in behaviour in the community as a whole, resulting in a better nature and atmos-phere within these households.

With a virgin land largely untouched by urbanism, gaining its primary income on Agriculture; the school develop-ment is designed to be sensitive to its surroundings. This demonstration of sustainable building not only aids the neighbouring environment, however it is used to accentuate the importance of living in a greener atmosphere to stu-dents.

The school is submerged in a series of sustainable features that will provide the building with natural air flow as well as helping with natural coding. In order to maintain a structure that will withstand the notoriously violent climate in the area, it acknowledges and utilises the traditional Thai weather defences. This is done through the use of materials such as rammed earth, concrete and over-sailing steel hypar roof structures.

ing a growth in intelligence as well as creating an active, joyful and innova-tive experience. Furthermore, in order to improve living standards, the parents and community will be encouraged to engage in activities and teach skills that can be passed to generations to come.

Specifically focusing on the students, the project aims to enrich their lives through

the beaumont partnership foundation

austCham Community service Focus for 2013:


COMMUNITY SERVICES

identifying individual fortes or skills and improving them, as well as teaching the art of culture and the importance of respect and honesty. The develop-ment will hopefully capture the essence of unity between the students, as they will not only be thoroughly educated, but will have opportunities to create relation-ships and break social boundaries.

In order to increase the possibility of the ever-progressing project, you can help by providing financial donations payable in a lump sum, installments or in forms of materials and manpower efforts. Any helpful contribution will further con-solidate the higher levels of education provided for future generations and healthier lifestyles for these families.

It is in firm belief that the Founda-tion has already been graced with the green light generously given by two major donors, Howard Scott and Part-ners, a Swiss investment and banking

group, and the Pace Development Cor-poration Public Co. Ltd. from Thailand. Undoubtedly, these contributions are already making the project even more successful, further showing the capac-ity of its potential.

The movement towards a ‘change through education’ is further expanded through the ‘Sponsor a Child’ initiative. This six year commitment involves a donation of $US 1,000 per year, where donors are able to monitor the pro-gress of a specific child. The six years will provide students the teachings of four significant factors involved in the programme; Sustainability, Agriculture, Community Business Park and Hospi-tality vocational training.

Additionally, a website for the Beau-mont Partnership Foundation has been devised to further capture the hearts of contributors and hopefully expedite the project entirely. The website con-

tains the objectives of the Foundation towards the school project and breaks it down in components such as con-struction, concept, and development and so on. Moreover it provides con-tact details for easy access for further insight on the school project or any other queries.

The Foundation is certain that a better nature and atmosphere will occur in the families of the underprivileged; and more importantly, a quality education is being provided for the children. With the aim of creating a continuous self-sustainable development through busi-ness enterprises, students will hopefully be able to utilise the skills and knowl-edge they gain to purse future aspira-tions.

It is predicted that by the end of 2015, amidst the Northeastern sector of Thai-land will sit what could be seen as the epit-ome of humanity and social change.


COMMUNITY SERVICES

voluntary English teachingSaturday 16 February at Wat Phra Patharnporn School, Sri Ra Cha

AustCham Thailand sponsors a number of schools in the provinces of Chonburi and Rayong. Part of this support includes the provision of English classes, which are conducted by volunteers from our community. Volunteers work with small groups of children aged between 5 and 12 years and play simple games and activities which encourage the children to use the English language. No prior teaching experience is necessary, just a lot of enthusiasm! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact [email protected]


people. Beyond the devastating human losses, the economic cost is nearly three per cent of GDP. Although 75 per cent of road crashes involve motorcycles, the helmet use rate is alarmingly low.

The time is right for concerted action to combat road injuries and deaths in Thai-land. The Thai government’s commit-ment to achieving 100 per cent helmet use both represent amazing opportuni-ties to bring this issue to the forefront of the national agenda.

For twelve years, AIP Foundation, a US and Thailand registered non-profit organ-ization, has implemented innovative and proven programs to reduce road traf-fic injuries and fatalities in Southeast Asia. In partnership with Ministry of Inte-

There are many worthy charities around Bangkok and AustCham would love to be able to assist them

all. Unfortunately we can’t! The Com-munity Services Subcommittee have instigated an initiative to endeavour to support some of our member related charities. Our aim is to promote various charities to our members in order to raise awareness or where our members are perhaps looking for a new CSR partner – a type of CSR matching service. Each month part of your Sundowners entry fee will go towards the monthly CS sponsor. Each charity will have presented to, and been approved by, AustCham’s Commu-nity Services Subcommittee.

In Thailand, motorcycle crashes are the second leading cause of death for young

austCham Community services sponsor – aip foundation

COMMUNITY SERVICES

rior, AIP Foundation is implementing the Thailand Helmet Vaccine Initiative. AIP Foundation’s multifaceted approach includes activities targeting children, par-ents, law enforcement, and the general public through helmet donations, public awareness campaigns, safety trainings, childhood education, and community engagement.

To find out more about how your com-pany can become involved in these tan-gible, lifesaving programs, contact [email protected] or (66-2) 676 0274.

Alternatively, donations can be made directly to: Siam Commercial Bank account number 101-235276-6, Sathorn Branch, account name “Asia Injury Pre-vention Foundation”.


EMBASSY NEWS

australia day CelebrationAustralian Ambassador to Thailand Mr James Wise and his wife Teresa Wise welcomed distinguished guests to the Australia Day reception held recently at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Among distinguished guests were General Songkitti Jaggabatra AM, Former Chief of Defense Forces; Police General Chavalit Yodmani AO, Former Chairman of Amata Corporation PCL, and his wife Mrs Tempun Yodmani; Mr Chanin Vongkusolkit, CEO of Banpu Public Company Limited; Mr Sudhitham Chirathivat, Executive Chairman, Central Group of Companies; Khunying Kingkaew Uathavikul; and Dr Richard T Ekai, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

Australian Ambassador to Thailand HE Mr James Wise and President of Central Food Retail Mr Alistair Taylor recently launched ‘Taste of Australia 2013 : Australia Unlimited’ at Central Food Hall, Central World together with Australian Celebrity Chef Marion Grasby from Masterchef Australia. Taste of Australia 2013 brings an array of top quality Australian products to Thai consumers at 56 Central Food Halls and Tops market nationwide until 13 March 2013.

taste of australia 2013 Launch

From left: Mr Julian Sebastian Gatenby Devies, Executive Director, Thammachart Seafood; Mr Tong Dhiranusornkit, President & CEO, Kim Chua Group; Mr Nick Reitmeier, Vice President – Buying International Food & Wine, Produce and Own Brand, Central Food Retail; Mr Greg Wallis, Senior Trade Commissioner to Thailand, Australian Trade Commission; Ambassador Wise; Mr Alistair Taylor; Marion Grasby, Marion’s Kitchen; Ms Phattaraporn Phenpraphat, Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations; Mr Sarakit Chutikul, Business Development Manager, Australian Trade Commission.

Corporate branding for corporate tables is available; ask the team for more details.Reserve your tickets now +66 2 210 0216, [email protected]


australianalumni driNKiQand Cocktail workshop

AuSTRALIANALuMNI

AustralianAlumni hosted its first networking event of the year with the help of the knowledgeable and entertaining team from Diageo Moet Hennessy Thailand. They talked to guests on the facts of alcohol and its effects, how to drink responsibly and conducted a ‘make your own’ cocktail workshop with their very talented mixologists. Alumni and their guests immensely enjoyed the unique networking evening thanks to the Diageo team and venue sponsor Raddsion Suites Bangkok.

thursday 21 February 2013 at radisson suites Bangkok


February Sundowners sponsor MBMG Group hosted a ‘Super-man and Superwoman’ seminar before Sundowners presented by visiting Australian Tax and Superannuation expert Scott Douglas and leading global portfolio manager Joanne Baynham. Attendees listened to an overview of the Australian economy and an update on Australian tax and superannuation issues.

The British Chamber of Commerce (BCCT), the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC) and AustCham together hosted a Joint Property and Infrastructure evening presentation with Mr James Pitchon, Executive Director of CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Mr Pichton, who has been with CB Richard Ellis since 1987, is responsible for servicing property requirements of multi-national corporations and the coordination of more than 1,000 multi-national corporation property transactions in Thailand over the last nineteen years. The presentation centred around his thoughts on the topic of “Outlook for the Thai property market”.

aussie Economy, tax and superannuation seminar

Joint property and infrastructuretuesday 12 February 2013 at rembrandt hotel & towers

Wednesday 6 February 2012 at eastin Grand hotel

austChamThailand

CHAMBER EVENTSCHAMBER EVENTS


CHAMBER EVENTS

AustCham welcomed the New Year at the first Sundowners of 2013 in the stylish ballroom of the Eastin Grand. Members and guests had an enjoyable night of networking and catching up, with thanks going to our corporate sponsor MBMG for making the evening possible. Continuing on from the new Community Services initiative implemnted last year, The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) were present to enlighten guests on the importance of road safety and helmet wear. You can read more about the wonderful work they do in the Community Service pages.

austCham bangkok sundownersWednesday 6 February 2013 at the eastin Grand hotel sathorn

1

4 5 6

3

2


CHAMBER EVENTSCHAMBER EVENTS

1) Scott Douglas, MBMG Group; Joanne Baynham, MBMG Group; Paul Gambles, MBMG Group; John Anderson, AustCham President, Meinhardt 2) Saeed Zaki Ph.D., dwp; Karen Hochhauser, APM Group; Rungkamol Hongskul, APM Group; Porntip Utsahaphan, Samitivej Hospital 3) Rafal Furdzik, DNNDirect Software Development; Amy Byrum, RSM Advisory; Katarzyna Filas, JAC Recruitment Thailand; Anna Maria Berger, JAC Recruitment Thailand. 4) John Casella, PKF Tax Consulting Service (Thailand) Ltd; Neil Chiu, Allied Pickfords; Graham MacDonald, MBMG Group. 5) Bruce Cohen, Capital Relocation; Natchanan Dechaakhrawanit, Allied Pickford; Sira Bencharit. 6) Warwick Baglin, Meinhardt; Sisi Kochakorn Sookprayoch, Meinhardt. 7) Timothy J. Beaumont, The Beaumont Partnership; Teresa Wise; H.E. Mr James Wise. 8) Belinda Skinner, AustCham Vice President, Top Talent Asia; Shane Torr, PeopleServe Asia; Timothy Jones, PeopleServe Asia. 9) Ian Harriss, The Clubhouse Sports Bar&Grill; Richard Jackson, RLC Boutique Recruitment Solutions. 10) Anucha Chintakanond, Asst.Prof; Noppawan T, Krung Sri Ayudhaya Bank; Ampa A, Poultry Association. 11) Wantana Tanya, The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel; Panida Kaewpradit, McConnell Dowell; Lloyd Wilson, Berkeley International School. 12) Chris Thatcher, British-Thai Chamber of Commerce; Jurairat Jammanee; Rungnapha Kaewduangsri, Santa Fe Thailand. 13) Ratanawadee H. Winther, AIP Foundation; John Anderson. AustCham President, Meinhardt; Ekjaree Thanasawangkul, Dataconsult. 14) Steve Callerame; David Norcross, KPMG Phoomchai Audit; Johan Vandebeek, Applitek.

7

10

12 13 14

11

8 9


the company in 2010. Previous clients include companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, ARB Corporation, Max Kirwin Mazda, Bunnings, Australand and DEECD to name a few.

In 2011 Steve Swaine Project Manage-ment was engaged by ARB Corporation to Project Manage the construction of their new 18500 sq. m factory and distribution warehouse in the Eastern Seaboard Indus-trial Estate and have since developed the business to extend these services to other Australian Companies undertaking reloca-tion or expansion in Thailand.

Products/Services: Steve Swaine Pro-ject Management offer Construction and Project Management Services to Austral-ian or other western companies wishing to relocate into Thailand or expand their existing facilities in Thailand.

The services offered include:• Assistance with land assessment Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services• Procurement of Building Contractors or

Design and Build Contractors• Preparation of a design brief• Contractor selection and tendering• Assessment of tenders• Project Management during the con-

struction phase through to handover

Viking Power systems Co., ltd 242/44 Moo 3, Tessabahn 2, Phala, Ban Chang, Rayong 21130Phone : +6686 113 0027Fax : +6638 602 244 Website: www.vikingpowersystems.comEmail : [email protected]

Representatives:Mr Peter David Wisken - General Manager Ms Wilaiphan Saengdee - Company Director

Background: Viking Generators Pty Ltd was established 1986 in Sydney, Aus-tralia as a generating set service com-pany. From their Australian manufacturing base Viking supplied power generation and support equipment in Australia and the Asia Pacific region for more than 20 years. Plans were commenced in 2006 to move the manufacturing and main operations to Thailand.

Kingston holdings Co., ltd11,14,16 Soi Sukhumvit 11Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey-NuaWattana, Bangkok 10110Phone: +662 651 1200Fax: +662 651 3840Website: www.kingston-holdings.com

Representatives:Ms Patsada Satthacharoen - Marketing and PR ManagerMs Pichayada Pavarakulsiri - Public Relations Executive

Background: Currently, the group oper-ates executive serviced apartments in Bangkok and these six properties are strategically located in Sukhumvit area with approximately 1,281 rooms. The Kingston Holdings is managed by Com-pass Hospitality Co., Ltd.

Products / Service:• Grand President, Executive Serviced Apartment• Royal President, Executive Serviced Apartment• President Park, Executive Serviced Apartment• President Solitaire• President Palace• Kingston Suites

steve swaine Project management1A Blackwood Drive, Wonga ParkMelbourne, Victoria 3115 AustraliaPhone : +613 9722 2367Email : [email protected]

Representatives:Mr Steve Swaine - Director

Background: Steve Swaine operated a successful Commercial and Industrial Building Company in Melbourne, Aus-tralia for over 26 years until the sale of

In 2007 Viking’s new manufacturing base at Sattahip commenced production of acous-tic enclosures, industrial exhaust mufflers and generating set accessories such as test load banks. The Sattahip location also allowed them to expand into supplying diesel power generation packages to the local offshore oil and gas industry.

The product range is sold in a number of countries throughout the Asia Pacific region with the majority of exports still destined for Australian customers. Manu-facturing is currently split approximately 60 per cent export and 40 per cent Thai-land with the majority of the Thai produc-tion for the oil and gas industry

Products/Services:Type of Business Activities• Import and Export• Design and Manufacturing• Sales and Marketing• Engineering and Metal Fabrication• Engineering Consulting

Product Lines• Electrical Generating Sets• Lighting Equipment and Accessories

for film and television• Acoustic enclosures and noise reduc-

tion equipment i.e. exhaust mufflers• ndustrial exhaust silencers• Generator testing load banks

rlC Co., ltd 73/6 Rumrudee Soi 2, Ploenchit Road, Lumpinee, PathumwanPhone : +66 2 650 9018 Website: www.rlc-asia.comEmail : [email protected]

Representatives:Mr Markus Wehrhahn Mr Richard JacksonMs Watsharaawee Wutthimaythissuwan

Background: RLC was recently estab-lished to address the needs of the growing number of companies looking for a custom-ized and personal approach to recruitment. The experienced Management Team of RLC bring with them collectively many years of local and regional recruitment know-how gained in the local Thailand market and in SEA.

RLC offers recruitment services in the following sectors; Heavy Industry, Light Industry, Life Sciences and Services. The core of the business caters to mid-range level professionals to senior and execu-tive management appointments.

NEW MEMBERS AND MEMBERS’ CHANGES


NEW MEMBERS AND MEMBERS’ CHANGES

Products/Services:RLC offers bou-tique recruitment solutions which address the unique differences in the various industrial sectors, thus enhancing the quality of delivery for each client.

RLC is unique in the sense that it caters to fulfilling client’s needs in both Execu-tive Search Services, where confidential searches are undertaken to pro-actively pinpoint and target the right candidates but also offers Standard Recruitment Services where a comprehensive approach to tar-geting the right pool of candidates is under-taken through the use of various media.

langdon nicholas, mr Level 17 Alma Link BuildingNo. 25 Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd.Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

Change of representative

• Mr Jorge Monje, General Manager is a new representative of The Metropolitan.

• Mr Scott Blume, CEO is a new repre-sentative of Wotif Group.

• Mr James Robert Wilson, General Man-ager is a new representative of Dusit Thani Bangkok.

• Ms Ratree Skuntantimeta, Managing Director is a new representative of Kim-

Gold sponsors

bronze sponsors

PTT Exploration and Production Public Company LimitedPTTEP is a national petroleum exploration and production company dedicated to providing a sustainable petroleum supply to Thailand and the countries they operate as well as to bring in foreign exchange earnings to their country. A top-ten publicly-listed company in the Stock Exchange of Thailand, PTTEP operates more than 40 projects around the world and has a workforce of 4,000. Since 16 June, 2011, PTTEP has become a participant of the UN Global compact, to strengthen their commitment to its ten principles related to 4 core areas: human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, which is in compliance with their good Corporate Governance and Code of Business Conduct.

The Beaumont PartnershipThe Beaumont Partnership is a design studio with a focus on its people and their collective talents and creativity. It is internationally recognised in three core areas of client and industry service - architecture, interior design and landscape design. Having been operating successfully in Thailand for 23 years The Partners believe it is time to give back to the country which has supported them and provided their company with so many fulfilling opportunities.

The Beaumont Partnership Foundation was established five years ago to serve needy rural communities and offer a high standard of education to ordinary children free of charge, aimed at maximising their potential and helping them be the very best they can be. Its ambitious flagship project – the Ruam Pattana school in Chaiyaphum Province is now moving from concept to reality. School buildings are being finished and preparations are being made for the first student intake. The new school will not just transform the lives of its students but benefit the entire surrounding community.

is proud to introduce additional Corporate Sponsors for 2013

dream hotel bangkokspecial dream offer only for austCham members Ten per cent off bar prices. Best available internet rates for all rooms. One free room upgrade.15 per cent discount on a la carte meals and beverages.

Terms and Conditions: • Rooms must be booked directly

with the hotel in advance and confirmation is subject to avail-ability

• Room upgrade is subject to avail-ability

• Proof of AustCham membership is required

• Cannot be combined with other promotions

• Food and beverage discount

Offer until: 30 September 2013Call: + 66 2254 8500

AUSTCHAM MEMBER OFFERSberly-Clark Thailand Limited.

• Ms Maxine Driscoll, Head of School is a new representative of Traidhos Three Generation Community for Learning.

• Ms Nisara Khumphong, Public Rela-tions Manager is a new representative of Centara Grand & Bangkok Conven-tion Centre at CentralWorld.

• Mr Michael Berger, Business Develop-ment Manager is a new representative of Bangkok Base.

• Ms. Siyaphas Chantachairoj, Direc-tor, Corporate Marketing & Residential Customer Development is a new rep-resentative of Hemaraj Land and Devel-opment Public Co., Ltd.

• Mr Brendan Daly, General Manager is a new representative of Amari Orchid Pattaya.

• Mr Brenton Mauriello, CEO is a new representative of dwp.

Change of Company address

VeritasEnterprisesLtd.213/2 Asoke Towers Building (3rd Floor) Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke) Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110Tel: +6681 844 7015

StAndrewInternationalSchool7 Sukhumvit Soi 107 bearing 10260


an extent Thai business in Australia. He clearly saw the bigger picture. He was a volunteer in the true sense of the word.

AustCham is of course a member based organisation. It only exists because of the financial contributions of members. There is no other funding source. Consequently, we work hard to maximise the tangible returns from membership. But AustCham also delivers a range of intangibles. Intangibles such as promoting Australia and Australia-Thai relations, and being a business community focal point in Thailand. In important respects it is these intangibles that make us more than just a marketing and facilitation organisation. It is where the greatest opportunities lie for members to contribute.

I don’t want to get too ‘John F. Kennedy’, but I think it’s always worthwhile if members ask the question every now again of “what can I contribute to the Chamber?” as well as “what is the Chamber doing for me?”.

Mark CarrollExecutive Director, AustCham Thailandwww.austchamthailand.com

Congratulations to the AustCham Board of Directors for 2013-14. At the time of writing I don’t really know

who that will be, but what is certain is that there will be some significant change. The most significant, of course, will be at the top. Current President John Anderson has served the maximum period of six years on the Board, including the last two years as President. He was, therefore, ineligible to stand again.

During his time on the Board John has done much for AustCham. Most of all, however, I would like to publically thank him for his leadership. There are of course many styles of leadership – and even more people who believe they are leaders. But John is the real deal. I have benefited from his leadership in that it has enabled the Chamber to embark on important new initiatives. It has also contributed substantially to my own professional development. John has played a strong and appropriate role of Chairman of the Board, not micro-managing but setting the tone and direction of the Chamber and keeping across enough of the detail to make sure we are on-track. He’s given us the space to develop the capability within the AustCham office. This is crucially important for the Chamber’s longer-term future. To reach its full potential the Chamber must be an institution in its own right, not reliant on any particularly individual.

On occasions John has also given me a kick up the proverbial when I’ve needed – or deserved – it.

A particularly admirable aspect of John’s leadership has been his selflessness. A selflessness that has come at the expense of time with his family, and criticism and pressure that comes along with making decisions. Perhaps most importantly, John took on the role of AustCham President not because of any personal agenda – or any desire to ‘lift his profile’ (as I too often hear as being a motivation for being involved in the Chamber) – but because he believed in what the Chamber stood for. He saw its potential to contribute and ‘make a difference’. John saw the Chamber as an important institution that represents Australia and Australians. He believed the Chamber could be a force that supports and promotes business – particularly Australian business – in Thailand, and to

FROM THE CHAMBER OFFICE

Calendar of Events

wEdNEsday 6 marChbangkok sundowners18:30-21:30Venue: Grand Hyatt Erawan BangkokCorporate Sponsor: MeinhardtCommunity Service Sponsor: The Beaumont Partnership Foundation

friday 8 marChLuncheon meeting: Global market Update12:00-14:00Venue: Oriental Residence Bangkok thUrsday 14 marChst paddy’s day Networking Event18.30 – 21:00Venue: JW Marriott Hotel satUrday 16 marChvoluntary English teaching8:00-16:00Venue: Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, RayongFor more information please contact [email protected]

friday 29 marChphuket sundowners18:00-21:00

message from the Executive director

thank you to February sponsors:

Advertisement Page

Ad...1/1

Note: New.....

Full Page AD for ADVANCE_Jan FApath.indd 1 2/6/13 10:48 AM

The Coffee Club Thailand@thecoffeeclubth

NO

W OPEN

BEACHKATA

THECOFFEE

CLUB

GOOD FOODGREAT SERVICE

EXCELLENT COFFEEThe Coffee Club is the perfect place to catch up with family and friends, for a business meeting or simply have some time out with a relaxing coffee.Our signature blend coffee is UTZ certified which comes with an assurance that every coffee prepared by our baristas is produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.From great value All Day Breakfast, Pastas, Gourmet Sandwiches, Salads, Grills, Thai favourites, and of course delicious cakes and excellent coffee; there is something for everyone at The Coffee Club.

The Coffee Club is the perfect place to catch up with family and friends, for a business meeting or simply have some time out with a relaxing coffee.Our signature blend coffee is UTZ certified which comes with an assurance that every coffee prepared by our baristas is produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.From great value All Day Breakfast, Pastas, Gourmet Sandwiches, Salads, Grills, Thai favourites, and of course delicious cakes and excellent coffee; there is something for everyone at The Coffee Club.

:: FREE WI FI :: NO SERVICE CHARGE:: FREE WI FI :: NO SERVICE CHARGE

PHUKET:: Jungceylon | Turtle Village | Kata Beach

SAMUI:: Chaweng Beach PATTAYA:: Royal Garden Plaza | Naklua Road BANGKOK:: Suvarnabhumi Airport | Major Ekamai

march advance 2013

Documents

business conference

global talentin

aussie property

shrewsbury success story

chamber office30 message

rice wayexceptional

food festivalcover

available academic