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Phillip Terry	Development Plan for UGL Rail's Asian Growth in rail transport
Jason Collins and Rachel Wilson	Delegation of Young Australian Leaders to India in 2007
Toby Dale	Postcards from Sydney
Paul Dalgleish
Eman Dandan
Sebastian De Brennan	Succeeding in Asia: The Australian Legal Services Industry
George Karagiannakis and Anthony Philpott	Implementing an International Regulator Engagement Framework in Beijing
Anson Mak and Chris Wen	Engaging with Chinese Students & Parents in Education
Christina Parasyn, Robert Taylor-Pyke and Elizabeth Warner	Operation International Sustainability Project
David Rees
Matthew Terpstra	International Marketing Strategies for the Japanese Market
Sim Ung	Advancing Australia's business relationships with China through the Australia China Business Council

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Phillip Terry

Project: Development Plan for UGL Rail's Asian Growth in rail transport

The Australian transport market in the rail sector is currently experiencing an era of significant growth. The local industry is struggling to respond with the skills to meet demand. This growth has been driven by a local history of under investment and the current international resources boom. This has cascaded into real growth in rail transport due to demand for raw materials for many manufacturing and support industries. Rolling stock requirements for the transportation of coal and iron ore are correspondingly high. Methods of rolling stock production are being reviewed and the local market is looking to more strategies to achieve higher, more efficient output with diversification of its resource base.

More broadly the local rail market has a finite size, so organic growth for industry players will plateau in the medium to long term. Both these industry characteristics drive strategies for offshore development with out regional neighbours.

To meet this challenge a broad plan was considered to develop a market understanding and general strategy and action plan to expand UGL Rail's footprint in the Asian region. The development plan sought to identify and generally prioritize transport markets which will allow the development of offshore business in rail infrastructure and rolling stock, manufacturing and maintenance services.

The plan examined the Asian region broadly, developed an understanding of rail systems, identified the potential markets and finally, attempted to articulate possible growth strategies for targeted markets. These strategies have required inter-reaction and discussion with potential partners within the region. Negotiations with manufacturing organisations which have the capability to support UGL Rails growth strategies have been an important task and the ability to understand certain Asian cultures in the context of these discussions has been critical.

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Jason Collins and Rachel Wilson

Project: Delegation of Young Australian Leaders to India in 2007

This project is developing a potential new product for Asialink's Leadership program. In partnership with the Australia Asia Young Leaders Program (AAYLP), the project will establish an in country module for the Asialink Leaders Program.

Asialink Leadership participants and alumni will be offered the opportunity to join young political leaders on a study tour to India and build relevant high lveel in-country networks during the first week of October 2007.

The main objectives of the program are to examine the dynamics within the political, business and social structures in India as it rapidly integrates with the global economy, and in particular, the bilateral relationship between India and Australia.

The delegation will visit the capital, New Delhi and potentially two other cities - Bangalore (as the centre of India's burgeoning ITC sector) and Mumbai. The program will include meetings with senior officials from the Australian High Commission, senior representatives of the Indian Government and Parliament; regulatory bodies, industry associations/business councils, the media, community/advocacy groups and academia.

A component of the program will include a visit to Agra, other culturally significant sites of interest, and briefings on the complex nature of Indian religious and cultural practices.

Issues to be examined in detail are:

• India's multi-party democracy & federal structure
• Security issues - nuclear capability, border security, relations with neighbours
• Economic development
• Social challenges - expansion of middle-class, education, poverty, religious conflict

Delegates will be required to undertake readings on all these aspects prior to the delegation, and participate in a pre-delegation briefing in Australia and at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.

For more information please contact
Jason Collins
Managing Director
MATRIX Corporate Marketing Pty Ltd
Level 5, 80 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2011

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Toby Dale

Project: Postcards from Sydney

Project Aims
The aim of this project was to put on an exhibition in Japan, as part of Sydney City Council's Sister City Program's contribution to the 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange. Secondly, the project aimed to reinvigorate and give momentum to the activities of the Sydney-Nagoya Sister City program.

Outcomes
The exhibition, Postcards from Sydney, received considerable support from Nagoya City Council and was successfully exhibited in October 2006, as part of the official program of the Nagoya City Festival.

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Paul Dalgleish

Project:

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Eman Dandan

Project:

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Sebastian De Brennan

Project: Succeeding in Asia: The Australian Legal Services Industry
[pdf, 88kb, 9pgs]

According to the International Legal Services Advisory Council of Australia (2003), Australian law firms are internationally competitive in the provision of a wide range of business and other services; enjoy a number of advantages which include geographic proximity to the strategically important markets of Asia and professional charge-out rates which are lower than most American and English law firms (who dominate the market for international legal services in the region); and possess an impressive record of delivering on major international deals.

On the other hand, the success of Australian law firms has been inhibited by a range of factors, including: deep-seated regulatory barriers; unrealistic expectations as to the rate (and pace) of economic returns in the region; a lack of appropriate educational initiatives for undergraduate Australian lawyers; and a failure to properly understand the complexity of Asian business practices.

This project endeavours to identify ways in which the Australian legal services industry might address some of these inhibiting factors. Assorted publications of relevance will be posted to this site. Outside contributions are especially encouraged, and those who wish to post an article to this webpage, or provide comments of a general nature, can do so by contacting the project leader on the details provided below.

Project Leader: Sebastian De Brennan
Email: info@debrennans.com

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George Karagiannakis and Anthony Philpott

Project: Implementing an International Regulator Engagement Framework in Beijing

IAG has identified the need for a Regulator Engagement Framework that focuses on the requirements of IAG's international, as well as domestic operations.

The Global Regulator Engagement Framework ("Framework") is designed to provide a basis for formalising a prudential and corporate regulator engagement programme for IAG's operations, irrespective of the jurisdiction. The Framework has been developed based on IAG's existing domestic Regulator Engagement Protocol and is intended to reflect IAG's current international operational and formal reporting structure.

The Framework will assist IAG position itself, in the eyes of international prudential and corporate regulators, as a trusted and respected corporate citizen who wants to contribute to the growth and stability of the insurance industry in the specific country.

This project is aimed at formalising the existing prudential and corporate regulator engagement framework for IAG's Beijing operations.

Once implemented, the Framework will assist staff better identify and deliver the IAG's value proposition to regulators in China, by taking into account the local cultural, regulatory, political and business characteristics.

This project forms part of IAG's overall plan to provide consistent, robust and accountable frameworks in all countries in which IAG chooses to operate.

For more information regarding this project please contact Anthony Philpott and George Karagiannakis of Insurance Australia Group (IAG).

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Anson Mak and Chris Wen

Project: Engaging with Chinese Students & Parents in Education

This project seeks to develop a model briefing session to prepare educational staff (such as NSW Government School Principals and teachers) involved in overseas business trips or who interact with international students.

As China is the number one source country for international students for New South Wales Government Schools and the Australian Government, and as international education is currently the second largest service export industry in Australia, this project starts with China briefings, with a view to adopting the same model to spread to other countries in the future.

By deepening an understanding of China, Chinese people, customs, attitudes to education, and other nuances, staff will be able to better engage with students and parents in an educational context, and hence better satisfy the burgeoning Chinese education market.

This briefing session will be run in different modules.

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Christina Parasyn, Robert Taylor-Pyke and Elizabeth Warner

Project: Operation International Sustainability Project

This project will set up a framework for the ongoing life of the Operation International Program managed by the School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences at the University of Sydney. This project aims to allow 4th year Occupational Therapy (OT) and other health science students from the University of Sydney (and potentially other universities) ongoing travel to Asian and Pacific countries to work in remote, rural or urban slum Community Based Rehabilitation projects as part of their professional fieldwork placement.

Initiatives Completed;

• Steering Committee established comprising past and present students as well as external interested parties
• Terms of Reference voted and agreed to - including bank account and financial accountability, office bearers roles / responsibilities, webpage design, liaising with University, domain name reserved, decision making processes.
• Developed a financial assistance proposal - to assist the committee to explore future strategies to sustain the Operation International Program
• Developed Guidelines for the Financial Assistance Scheme aimed at provided grants to assist students undertaking Operation International placements
• Cumberland Foundation has agreed to provide funding for individual students (in the future) and some admin costs as per the financial assistance proposal

Currently planning a 1 day 'think tank' workshop with OT past and present participants and external stakeholders [see attached]. This workshop will be held on Saturday November 18, 2006 in Sydney (Cumberland Campus, Sydney University). The aim of this Think Tank Workshop is to get people together, ie future, current, ex students and other stakeholders, to discuss the future of Operation International. It is hoped that the day will provide the committee with some strategies for sustaining Operation International for years to come.

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David Rees

Project:

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Matthew Terpstra

Project: International Marketing Strategies for the Japanese Market

This project focuses on the organisation of a seminar for representatives of Australian companies interested in entering the Japanese market.

The objective of this project is to change the perceptions and approaches of Australian managers in dealing with potential Japanese business partners, thereby improving the probability of success in exporting Australian products to the Japanese market.

The seminar will focus on international marketing issues such as:

• Suitability of Australian products for the Japanese market
• Presentation of marketing materials to potential Japanese business partners
• Arranging a market visit to Japan to directly meet with potential Japanese business partners
• International trade exhibitions in Japan
• Formal business correspondence in Japan
• Developing business relationships in Japan
• Decision-making structures in Japan
• International marketing support available from Austrade for Australian companies interested in entering the Japanese market

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Sim Ung

Project: Advancing Australia's business relationships with China through the Australia China Business Council

The relationship between Australia and China has undergone remarkable development in the last thirty years since diplomatic relations were established. Australian firms already have a strong presence in China and the opportunities for further deepening the relationship are almost limitless.

The Australia China Business Council (ACBC) has long played an important role in supporting Australian businesses with an interest in China, enabling them to make the most of the opportunities that lie in our economic and trade relationship.

This project involves volunteering my skills to advance Australia's business relationships with China outside my own workplace through the ACBC. As National Treasurer of the ACBC, my role will be to ensure good governance and sound financial reporting systems, areas which are fundamental to the ongoing success and credibility of the ACBC.

My project also includes organising an event in early 2007 in conjunction with the ACBC, Asialink and the Institute for International Studies,UTS which showcases leaders from within the Australian business community with links to China who have motivating personal stories of success through entrepreneurship.

For more information regarding this project please contact:
Sim Ung
PricewaterhouseCoopers

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