Recent Australia Unlimited Activities:
Friends of the Foundation Luncheon
On Wednesday 20 August, The Global Foundation held a luncheon in Perth for members and friends.
Click here to see a guest list from the event.
Promoting and Measuring Australia's Global Competitiveness: Dialogue with The Hon Wayne Swan MP, Federal Treasurer, Commonwealth Government of Australia
 On Monday 11 August, The Global Foundation convened a dialogue with The Hon Wayne Swan, MP, Treasurer of the Australian Government, and 40 Global Foundation members on the theme of promoting Australia’s global competitiveness as part of its Australia Unlimited 2008 program. The Treasurer outlined the government’s plan to ensure Australia maintains and increases its competitiveness in a changing global context, characterized by the transformation of the region. The Treasurer stressed the need for Australia to modernise its economy, through reforms in COAG, climate change and tax. He stated that ‘to remain competitive in the 21st century, we need to modernise the framework of incentives to work, to compete, and to succeed.’ The full text of the Treasurer’s speech is available here.
The dinner with the Treasurer and the Forum with Mr Giovannini (please refer below) were kindly hosted by Mr Peter Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Transfield Services at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Kirribilli, Sydney.
Forum with Mr Enrico Giovannini, Chief Statistician, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The dialogue with the Treasurer was preceded by discussion with Mr Enrico Giovannini, Chief Statistician, OECD, on the need for Australia to develop effective benchmarks in areas such as innovation and productivity as a means of measuring and encouraging Australia global preparedness and global connectedness. Such measures could form an integral part of measuring Australia’s progress overall, in line with the OECD project on ‘Measuring the Progress of Societies’. This global initiative encourages societies to measure their progress, in ways not limited to but including, measuring competitive, innovation and economic growth. Hosted by The Global Foundation, Mr Giovannini will be in further discussions this week with Treasury representatives and Australia’s Chief Statistician to determine Australia’s continuing partnership with the OECD on the global measurement project.
Encouraging Australia's Global Competitiveness: The role of innovation, science and research in keeping Australia competitive, and how government and industry intersect
 On Tuesday 22 July, the Foundation convened a private roundtable and dinner for forty of its members with The Hon Senator, Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in the Australian Government. The dialogue was hosted by Telstra Chairman, Donald McGauchie, and formed an integral part of the Foundation’s Australia Unlimited 2008 Program.
Moderated by David Miles, Chairman of Innovation Australia, the dialogue provided an unusual opportunity for private interaction between our corporate, university, research and civil society leaders with a senior minister of the Australian government on national policy formulation and the role and future of innovation for Australia in a global context.
Discussion centred around Australia’s engagement in globally significant innovation, research and development. With the momentum generated by the evening, the Minister and the Foundation agreed to continue the discussions and development of the principles and ideas tabled in response to the expressed need to activate an increase in investment and commitment to innovation, science and research in Australia as fundamental components for Australia’s long term national success and global competitiveness.
Energy Security and Climate Change: Australia’s global and national response
 The Foundation presented the Australia Unlimited 2008 Dialogue Series forum on Energy Security and Climate Change: Australia’s global and national response in Melbourne on 11 June. Featuring a presentation on energy scenarios to 2050 by Mr Jeremy Bentham, Vice President, Global Business Environment, Shell International, The Hon Peter Batchelor MP, Victoria State Minister for Energy and Resources, Mr Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF Australia and Mr Peter Szental, Managing Director, Szencorp.
A Fair and Successful Society: Partnerships for Indigenous success
 The Governor of Queensland HE Ms Quentin Bryce AC partnered with the Foundation in hosting a Roundtable discussion, in Brisbane on 28 May 2008, on partnerships for indigenous success. The Roundtable offered an opportunity to celebrate and showcase indigenous entrepreneurship and talent, and to support the necessary interconnectedness between the private sector, the indigenous community and government.
Energy Security and Climate Change: Clean Energy and Environment Dialogue takes place in Beijing, 9 April 2008
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd joins 80 Australian and Chinese leaders from business, science, think tanks and government for Foundation Dialogue in Beijing. Report available.
To view further Australia Unlimited activities click here.
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