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Australia China Business Council offers opportunities for win-win business development and trade results for Australia’s prosperity. National president Rhys Roberts and Victorian CEO, Frank McGuire, presented an Australian Rules football branded with the ACBC’s logo to China’s new Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Liu Jinsong at his Canberra reception, including ambassadors from around the world.

The emblem of Australia’s indigenous game was graciously received before the AFL grand final, as a symbol of how to expand business opportunities, the ACBC’s defining role for more than half a century, by increasing “kick-to-kick” partnerships with Australia’s biggest economic partner. 

Don't miss Canberra Networking Day on October 15 to further this cause.

It brings together leaders from government and business across the Australia–China relationship for a day of high-level insight, connections and opportunities. Book now

ACBC Victoria's ideas to expand and extend business development and trade were well received at the Multicultural Business Leaders Roundtable hosted by new Premier Ben Carroll and new Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Natalie Suleyman.

ACBC's National and Victorian President, Rhys Roberts, emphasised China's role as Australia's major economic partner for seventeen years and strategies to drive expansion.

Frank and Rhys helped businesses coordinate with the City of Melbourne and a delegation from Guangzhou, part of the Greater Bay Area including Shenzhen and Hong Kong. This major hub is vital to extend trade, technology and commerce in Southern China.

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates gratitude and brings families and communities together. This year the Australia Hui An Association in Melbourne raised A$25,800 for communities devastated by catastrophic flash floods and landslides in the region, including Nepal.

Frank McGuire

CEO

ACBC Victoria

ACBC Victoria & CPA Australia Executive Women's Forum

ACBC Victoria, in partnership with CPA Australia, is pleased to host the Executive Women’s Forum, bringing together accomplished senior executives to share insights and perspectives on leadership across cultures and international markets.

Through a candid panel discussion, speakers will share insights from their professional journeys and reflect on the opportunities and challenges of leading in the Australia-China business environment. The conversation will examine how leaders navigate different business cultures, build and develop high-performing teams, manage competing professional and personal priorities and drive meaningful organisational growth.

Hear from these star executives as they address:  

1. Leading across cultures and international markets 

2. Career and leadership lessons, including managing competing priorities 

3. Building talent, inclusive teams and sustainable organisational growth. 

The forum will also celebrate the achievements of women shaping business engagement between Australia and China, while providing an opportunity for attendees to connect with senior leaders and like-minded professionals. 

Forum Details

Date: Thursday, 8 October 2026

Time: 11.15am for 11.30am - 1.00pm AEDT

Venue: International Chamber House, Level 5, 121 Exhibition St Melbourne VIC 3000

Tickets

ACBC & CPA Member: $30+GST+BF

Non-Member: $55+GST+BF

Canberra Networking Day

ACBC’s Canberra Networking Day returns on 15 October 2026. Bringing together leaders from business, government and industry for a day of ideas, connections and practical conversations on Australia–China relations.

This year’s theme, Engagement to Advantage: Building Australia’s China Capability, will explore how Australian businesses can strengthen their capability, resilience and confidence in one of Australia’s most significant and complex economic relationships.

The 22nd annual event will once again be facilitated by David Speers, host of ABC’s Insiders, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed to participate. The updated program and additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026

Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm AEDT

Venue: Main Committee Room, Australian Parliament House

ACBC membership is nation-wide through a 'home' branch. We therefore welcome our members to register for events that our other branches may be organising.

ACETIE

Australia China Business Council proudly supported one of the biggest annual bilateral trade expos with Australia's major economic partner. 

The Australia-China Economic Trade and Investment Expo (ACETIE) 2026 brought together industry leaders, innovators and policy makers to explore new opportunities featuring “Intelligent Manufacturing.” 

The Expo highlighted emerging opportunities across electric vehicles, green energy, AI, tourism and high-quality consumer goods. 

Victorian Governor, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, opened the three-day event, chaired by The Hon. Andrew Robb AO.  

ACBC's CEO for Victoria, Frank McGuire, hosted an Electric Vehicle (EV) Forum, exploring opportunities for Australia-China collaboration across manufacturing, battery technology, charging infrastructure and critical minerals. With expert insights from the Victorian Government's, Katie Brown, and supply chain engineer, Mary Wang. 

National and Victorian President, Rhys Roberts, highlighted the value of the more than 50 years of leadership ACBC has built to expand trade, business development and prosperity in both countries. 

NexStar 2026 – EOI for Collaboration Opportunities with Chengdu New Energy Companies 

Proudly delivered by the City of Melbourne and the Australia-China Association of Scientists and Entrepreneurs (ACASE), the NexStar Entrepreneurship Program connects international students with technology companies to support global growth and cross-border collaboration.

NexStar 2026 brings three Chengdu companies to Melbourne to explore Australia's new energy and sustainable technology ecosystem, while fostering innovation, investment and international partnerships. Through market research, business matching and in-person engagement, the program aims to create business connections and support product localisation, technology collaboration and long-term partnership. The participating companies represent a diverse range of sectors, including waste-to-energy and environmental technologies, green hydrogen and electrolysis, and new energy commercial vehicles and smart mobility solutions.

Are you a Melbourne-based business looking to connect with leading Chengdu new energy companies? We welcome expressions of interest to get involved in NexStar 2026 and explore new business, technology and partnership opportunities.

Vivo puts people back in the picture

Last month, we noted that AI is making content so cheap and easy to produce that spend on mediums less impacted by AI are soaring.

Out of home media such as billboards, for example, is growing at more than twice the rate of overall marketing spend. There is also content online that is carrying more weight with consumers.

As feeds fill with synthetic images, automated reviews and polished but interchangeable brand posts, evidence of genuine human experience carries more weight...

Read more

Source: China Skinny

No one does sport like Victoria

There's nowhere in Australia that does sport like Victoria.

This year's AFL Grand Final delivered a massive boost for the state's economy, tourism sector and reputation as the nation’s premier events destination.

The MCG once again played host to the biggest day on the sporting calendar, with fans from across the country descending on Melbourne with 100,023 attending on the day.

Interstate travellers flock to Melbourne

Melbourne Airport welcomed 243,000 passengers on Thursday and Friday, with 52 additional return flights from Perth this week compared to the same week last year as visitors made their way to Victoria for the big dance...

Read more

Source: Premier of Victoria

Accreditation for import and export businesses

Australian Trusted Trader provides Australian importing and exporting businesses with the opportunity to earn free accreditation to reduce the red tape involved at the border.

Accredited businesses are able to streamline their processes and expediate the flow of their cargo in and out of Australia, facilitating faster access to markets.

Applications can be made at any time

Apply here

Source: Business.gov.au

Funding for Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) initiatives

The program aims to fund innovative projects specific to the LCLF Priority that benefit Australia’s transition to net zero through the acceleration of commercial scale domestic production, pre-commercial technology demonstration and feedstock and supply chain enablement.

Applications close: Application will remain open until funding is exhausted or ARENA closes the program.

Apply here

Source: Business.gov.au

ACBC Victoria's nine member-only working groups and forums serve as knowledge hubs and information exchanges, driving events and content. The Working Groups work are important platforms for frank and open dialogue where participants have the opportunity to discuss their business, make important connections and hear the latest news regarding their sector through an Australia-China lens.

We warmly invite expressions of interest from our members who would like to participate.

Upcoming Working Group meeting dates:

• Property & Development Thursday 22 October 12.00 noon - 1.00pm

• Agribusiness & Food Wednesday 18 November 10.00am - 11.00am

• Energy & Resources Thursday 12 November 12.00 noon - 1.00pm

• Future Leaders Forum Tuesday 13 October 4.00pm - 5.00pm

• China Capital Markets Tuesday 8 September 10.00am - 11.00am

• Education & Training Wednesday 14 October 10.00am - 11.00am

• Health & Medical Research Thursday 2 December 11.00am - 12.00noon

• Tourism & Visitor Experience Wednesday 7 October 10.00am - 11.00am

Membership of a Working Group maximises the value of your ACBC membership. For more information, contact [email protected]

We wish a warm welcome to our new members. We thank you all for joining ACBC Victoria and hope to see you soon at our upcoming events!

BrandScent Global

BrandScent is an Australian scent marketing company redefining how businesses connect with customers through fragrance. With a dedicated in-house perfumer team in Australia and dual medically trained founders, we combine clinical neuroscience and sensory artistry to create distinctive brand experiences for some of Australia’s most recognisable brands.

Learn more

Mines in the Vines

Mines in the Vines event series are designed to connect listed companies with a curated investor audience in a setting that encourages genuine dialogue and stronger alignment with leadership.

When Mines in the Vines event series launched in 2023, the premise was simple yet unconventional: take mining and investment meetings out of sterile boardrooms and place them among the vines , it's where mines meet the vines.

Learn more

Welcome back to our renewing members!

Swisse Wellness

Swisse Wellness is a global Australian brand dedicated to making people healthier and happier through natural health products and education.

Since our acquisition in 2015 by Hong Kong listed Health & Happiness Group, we have become an integral part of the global H&H Group house of wellness brands. H&H Group is a global health and nutrition company.

Learn more

Target M

Focus Media Australia is part of an international digital out-of-home network — bringing proven media scale into local building partnerships.

From elevator media to indoor building screens — connecting brands, buildings and audiences across these markets. Explore the network below and click any market to open its local site.

Learn more

Lily Ong Business Lawyers & Migration Consultants

Lily Ong Business Lawyers and Migration Consultants is a boutique legal practice located in Melbourne CBD and can meet at our fringe office in Fitzroy by appointment. We draw on our specialised knowledge in Property, Commercial and Immigration Law to achieve the best results for our clients. For this reason we have a very high retention and referral rate.

Learn more

Not an ACBC Member yet?  Please sign up online, download our brochure, or call us for further details (03) 9027 5606

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