3. Australian Technology and Innovation Forum > 3
WHY AUSTRALIA
Global demand for high-value, highly skilled and customised
services and new technology is accelerating. Advances in
technology – including the way we generate, process and use
data – are creating new avenues for optimising productivity and
understanding consumer demand and preferences.
As this demand accelerates, Australia offers investment
opportunities across growth sectors such as intelligent
transport systems, financial technology, cyber security and
digital health.
A track record of success
Australia has particular success in five significant and diverse
sectors: wealth management, tourism, education agribusiness,
and mining. Ongoing demand in these sectors is expected to
drive investment in Australia and internationally.
A diversified, services-based economy
Australia’s services sector is growing faster than any other
industry, with the sector (excluding construction) accounting for
more than 70 per cent of real gross value added (GVA). Financial
services are the largest contributor to Australia’s services sector,
generating 9 per cent of the country’s total GVA.
A partner for growth in Asia
Australia has strong business and cultural ties with Asia and
longstanding trade, investment and research links in Europe and
North America. The country’s medium and long-term growth
outlook is supported by increasingly strong ties to the rapidly
growing Asian region. Recently completed free trade agreements
make Australia even more competitive and increase prospects for
greater two-way investment.
A large and expanding digital economy
Digital technologies are forecast to contribute A$139 billion to the
Australian economy in 2020, up from A$79 billion in 2014. This
represents growth of over 75 per cent.
A highly educated and
productive workforce
Professional, scientific and technical services, education and
training, and information media and telecommunications together,
make up almost 15 per cent of total economic output, reflecting
Australia’s highly skilled, well-educated and innovative workforce.
A culture of early adoption
Australians are keen adopters of new technologies. Over two-
thirds of Australians own a contactless payment card, 69 per cent
of Australians are active daily on social media sites and Australian
e-commerce sales surpassed A$10billion in 2015.
›› An economy of scale
›› 25 years of consecutive annual economic growth
›› The 12th largest economy in the world with a GDP of
US$1.3 trillion
›› The leading digital economy in the Asia-Pacific
›› Market access
›› World-class technology RD
›› Educated labour force
Australia offers:
The future prosperity, health and sustainability of the world is closely bound to the human capacity
for innovation. High cost is driving governments and companies to optimise their operations, use
resources more efficiently, and find smarter ways to engage with customers.
4. 4 Australian Trade and Investment Commission
The Australian Government makes a significant
annual investment in science, research and
innovation, and last year A$9.7 billion was
allocated. Recent government initiatives have
aligned Australia’s tax system, business laws and
support for firms, to enhance Australia’s culture
of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Investment in Cyber Security
The Australian Government recently announced a A$230
million Cyber Security Strategy that contains 33 new
initiatives to boost the Government’s cyber security capacity
and capabilities. These initiatives include a national cyber
partnership between government, researchers and business.
This will include funding of A$38.8 million over four years for the
Australian Cyber Security Centre and for partnerships with the
private sector.
Tax system alignment
Australia’s alignment of the tax system and business laws with a
culture of entrepreneurship and innovation may provide new tax
breaks for early stage investors in innovative startups. Investors
may be eligible to receive a 20% non-refundable tax offset as
well as capital gains tax exemptions.
A range of visa options
Australia has a range of visa options to bring entrepreneurs,
businesses and other innovative people to Australia. This
includes Business, Innovation, Talent and Investment visas.
Greater research collaboration with
universities and businesses
There is an enhanced focus on greater collaboration between
universities and businesses. This includes streamlining and
refocussing a greater proportion of research block grant funding
toward collaboration, opening up Australian Research Council
Linkage Projects to continuous applications to fast track decisions
on collaborative research grants, and opening a new application
round for the Cooperative Research Centre programme.
INNOVATION BACKED BY GOVERNMENT
INVEST IN AUSTRALIA
The UK is Australia’s second-largest source and
destination of foreign investment, our second-largest
two-way services trading partner and our seventh-
largest two-way overall trading partner. For UK
companies providing ICT services and solutions,
Australia’s commercial focus and collaborative approach
make it an ideal business partner and attractive
destination for investment.
5. Australian Technology and Innovation Forum 5
4.30pm Arrival and registration of guests for panel session
4.45pm Welcome by David Crook – Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner UK Israel,
Australian Trade and Investment Commission
4:50pm Panel discussion:
The Australian start-up ecosystem – how it enables companies to succeed globally.
Moderator: Bryce Keane – Founder and Managing Partner, Albion Drive
Panellists:
Didier Elzinga – CEO, Culture Amp
Supun King – Jayawardana – Head of Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s London Innovation Lab
Gavin Rezos – Principal of Viaticus Capital
5:25pm Panel discussion:
The journey of international companies to Australia –
commonalities, differences and lessons learnt.
Moderator: Nic Fildes – Technology and Communications Editor of The Times
Panellists:
Jonathan Jeffries – Co-Founder One Stack
Alan Kenny – General Manager EMEA APAC, Mimecast
Barry Whyte – Chief Operating Officer, Decoded
6.00pm Networking and drink break
6:15pm Arrival and registration of guests for reception
6:30pm Welcome by Andrew Todd – The Australian Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
6:35pm Keynote Address: Nilan Peiris – VP Growth at TransferWise
6:55pm Wrap-up
7.00pm Networking drinks
8.30pm Event Close
AGENDA
6. 6 Australian Trade and Investment Commission
Didier Elizinga, CEO, Culture Amp
Didier Elzinga is the CEO and Founder
of Culture Amp – the world’s leading all-
in-one employee feedback and analytics
platform and one of Australia’s fastest
growing technology startups with offices
in Melbourne, San Francisco, New York
London. He is passionate about making the world a better place
to work, and is committed to keeping Culture Amp a culture-first
company. He presents widely on culture and creativity, speaking
at a number of high-profile conferences. He was previously the
CEO of Rising Sun Pictures (a prominent Hollywood visual effects
company), founder of Rising Sun Research (winner of a Technical
Academy Award) and Non-Executive Director at Tourism
Australia. He is currently a non-executive director at The Atlassian
Foundation and The Alfred Research Foundation.
Supun King – Jayawardana, Head of
Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s
London Innovation Lab
Supun King-Jayawardana is the Head
of Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s
London Innovation Lab. Before moving
to London, Supun was part of the team
that founded CommBank’s first Innovation Lab in Sydney
in 2014. He is experienced in embedding design and
innovation culture in large organisations, and driving
experiments in emerging technologies and new business
models. Prior to moving into innovation, Supun was a
management consultant in financial services strategy for
CommBank’s institutional business, and Oliver Wyman
Financial Services.
Gavin Rezos,
Principal of Viaticus Capital
Gavin Rezos is the Principal of Viaticus
Capital; LLC, a corporate advisory
company specializing in advisory, debt
and equity finance, investor relations,
IPOs, dual stock exchange listings,
reverse mergers, cross-border acquisitions and transaction
management work—mainly for micro to small cap companies in
the technology, resources and energy sectors.
Gavin Rezos has held chief executive positions and executive
directorships of companies in the technology and resources
areas in the UK, US and Singapore.
MODERATOR: Bryce Keane, Founder and Managing Partner, Albion Drive
Bryce Keane is the Founder and Managing Partner of Albion Drive, a data-driven communications agency
underpinned by creative, that helps remarkable businesses through the challenges of growth. Bryce is an
international communications professional with experience managing a wide variety of global campaigns
throughout the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. Esquire Magazine has called him “winningly conscientious”
and in 2013 Bryce was listed as the 30 under 30 to watch by PR Week. In 2014, Bryce received the
Connector Award at the Tech City News International Hall of Fame Awards.
Bryce works with a range of fast growth technology companies and their investors including unicorns like Klarna and Twilio, rising
stars like Improbable and HiBob, and VCs including Lakestar, Draper Esprit, Karma Ventures, Mosaic Ventures and Atomico. Prior to
joining Albion he worked for international WPP flagship agency Cohn Wolfe. Bryce has a deep fascination with London’s booming
start-up culture and is known within the scene as one of the of 3beards, a start-up events company that runs a number of regular and
iconic start-up events including the weekly Silicon Drinkabout in 20 cities around the world.
Participant biographies
PANEL ONE: THE AUSTRALIAN START-UP ECOSYSTEM –
HOW IT ENABLES COMPANIES TO SUCCEED GLOBALLY
7. Australian Technology and Innovation Forum 7
Jonathan Jeffries,
Co-Founder of One Stack
Jonathan (JJ) co-founded Onestack
as he thrives on working closely
with founders, business leaders and
ecosystems across the globe to help
solve problems through connectivity,
content and partnerships.
JJ has over 15 years experience creating high performing teams
including talent and people strategies for some of the most well
recognised startups in the world including Envato, Red Bubble,
Tiger Pistol, Stripe, Dropbox, Etsy and many others.
Alan Kenny, General Manager
EMEA APAC, Mimecast
Alan joined Mimecast in 2008 as Sales
Director, before taking on the role of
General Manager for the UK, Europe
and Middle East. He has played a vital
role in shaping and overseeing the
go-to-market and customer experience strategies that have
underpinned Mimecast’s rapid growth. Alan is responsible
for driving business and revenue performance across the
rapidly expanding global organization. In particular, his focus
is on enabling greater cohesion between regional teams and
more effective global execution of go-to-market and customer
experience strategies.
Barry Whyte,
Chief Operating Officer, Decoded
Barry Whyte is the Chief Operating
Officer at Decoded; a London-based
tech startup driven by a mission to
transform businesses from all industries
into technology companies through
accelerated learning programmes in code, cybersecurity and
innovation. Having spearheaded expansion to New York and
Sydney, Barry is leading further growth into new geographies
as part of his strategic role. He also leads a number of client
relationships, the business planning process and is continually
developing the scalability of Decoded’s delivery model.
RECEPTION KEYNOTE: TRANSFERWISE
Nilan Peiris, VP Growth at
TransferWise, the international money
transfer platform
TransferWise is the low cost and fair way
of transferring money internationally. Using
peer-to-peer technology and without any
hidden fees, it makes sending money
abroad up to ten times cheaper compared to using a bank.
TransferWise customers send £500m every month using the
platform, and it’s attracted $117m from investors such as world’s
largest VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, Sir Richard Branson, Peter
Thiel and Max Levchin, the co-founders of PayPal.
Prior to TransferWise Nilan was VP Growth at HouseTrip, in charge
of scaling the company’s growth in the European market. He’s
also worked as Chief Marketing Technology Officer at Holiday
Extras, where he was responsible for all areas of technology,
marketing and customer acquisition. Nilan also advises a number
of early stage startups on growth and getting to traction.
Social: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilanpeiris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nilanp
PANEL TWO: THE JOURNEY OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES TO AUSTRALIA –
COMMONALITIES, DIFFERENCES AND LESSONS LEARNT
MODERATOR: Nic Fildes, Technology and Communications Editor, The Times
Nic Fildes is Technology Communications Editor of The Times. He has previously worked at The
Independent and Dow Jones Newswires, as well as other publications, and has covered the Technology,
Media and Telecommunications sector for a decade. In 2010 he was awarded a techMARK Awards,
Technology Journalist of the Year Award. He is originally from Australia and attended the University of
Melbourne.
8. 8 Australian Trade and Investment Commission
PARTNERS
NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT
International Trade and Investment (ITI) is
a branch within the Department of Premier
and Cabinet. Its purpose is to promote
export trade and to attract Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) into New South Wales (NSW).
ITI’s Trade and Export Development Services team works with
NSW businesses to develop their export capabilities and ITI’s
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) team work with international
businesses to promote and attract investment into NSW.
In pursuit of this work the NSW Government have 11 Trade
Commissioners and Directors based in NSW’s 10 priority
markets.
Local Contact: Keirra Smith, Director NSW International Trade
Investment
E: keirra.smith@austrade.gov.au T: +44 (0) 20 7632 0005
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
QUEENSLAND
As the Government’s global business agency, Trade and
Investment Queensland (TIQ) promotes Queensland as an
international supplier of choice and a preferred investment
destination.
TIQ assists exporters to break into emerging and established
markets, and promoting Queensland as the preferred place
for an Asia-Pacific headquarters or to partner with existing
businesses.
TIQ works with partner agencies, industry organisations and
international allies to promote better access to overseas markets,
to identify investment opportunities and to encourage decision
makers to pursue a relationship with Queensland companies.
TIQ supports Queensland innovation, working with Universities to
promote collaborative RD opportunities through initiatives such
as the Advance Queensland suite of programmes.
Across the globe, you’ll find Trade and Investment Queensland’s
representatives in 13 locations, and across the state, you’ll find
our Trade and Investment Advisers in major regional centres.
Local Contact: Warren Bartlett, Deputy Trade and Investment
Commissioner
E: warren.bartlett@tiq.qld.gov.au T: +44 (0) 20 7420 8776
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Office of the Agent General for South
Australia is the London based European
representative office of the South Australian
Government.
The role of the office is to promote the
interests of the State in Europe with the primary responsibility
of working with companies which are considering setting up
a subsidiary office in Australia. Full time staff are available to
discuss all aspects of investment projects from legal and HR
issues to finance and property availability. In addition, all kinds
of partnerships are available with South Australian companies
and institutions to help penetrate the Australian and Asian
markets and advice is available by phone, e-mail or face to
face depending on the stage of the project. The office also
promotes the State’s Clean and Green Food and Wine in
Europe and advises on migration and education issues as well
as organising inbound and outbound export missions to and
from South Australia.
Local Contact: John Rees, Trade and Investment Director,
Office of the Agent General
E: john.rees@south-aus.eu T: +44 (0) 20 7520 9102
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT
Victoria is one of Australia’s largest state economies and its
capital Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing and most
liveable city. Melbourne is Australia’s technology hub and
is home to more than half of Australia’s top 20 technology
companies including Australia’s largest carrier Telstra.
Melbourne has the country’s largest pipeline of ICT talent
producing more tech graduates than any other city and our
tech industry generates A$24 billion in revenue annually with
annual exports of A$2.5 billion.
In the last 24 months, Melbourne’s tech ecosystem has
attracted a range of leading tech companies to establish their
national and regional head offices in Melbourne including Stripe,
Slack, Zendesk, GoPro, Deliveroo and Eventbrite. To further
support international and local companies, the Victorian State
Government recently established the A$60 million Launch Vic
body which will accelerate the startup and tech ecosystem in
Victoria and Melbourne.
The Victorian State Government maintains an Invest Victoria
office in London. Invest Victoria is a world-class investment
promotion agency providing free confidential services and
professional advice to international investors considering
9. Australian Technology and Innovation Forum 9
establishing operations in Australia via a base in Melbourne.
We offer companies support to build their market-entry
business case and ensure a warm welcome to Australia.
If you’re considering setting up a business or HQ in the region
then consider Melbourne for its leading tech scene and skills
base, enviable lifestyle and government support.
Local contact: Catherine Woo, Investment Director,
Invest Victoria – London
E: catherine.woo@invest.vic.gov.au W: www.invest.vic.gov.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The State of Western Australia is a world-
leading resources, energy and agricultural
economy. In the same time zone as 60%
of the world’s population, it has a strategic
advantage for those seeking a gateway to
the high growth Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean markets.
Western Australia’s resources industries, for example are
among the most efficient in the world, driven off the back of
world-leading research and innovation, including the use of
big data analytics to improve productivity. This has been made
possible by effective relationship-building between government,
industry and academia and is taking place across other
industry disciplines, particularly technology-based industries.
The sheer size and scale of WA and its economic development
has presented a specific set of challenges resulting in a unique
set of scientific, technological and innovative solutions.
Western Australia’s European office, based in London works to:
›› promote Western Australia as an attractive and dynamic
destination for: inbound trade and investment; business and
industry; science, research and innovative technology;
›› provide assistance to Western Australian companies
seeking to develop outbound business opportunities and
promote trade and exports;
›› promote Western Australia as a competitive business
environment for investment and trade and as a base to
service Asia Pacific; and
›› promote the capital city Perth, a global science and
innovation research and knowledge hub and a natural
resources hub with a growing mining equipment and
technology services industry.
Local Contact: Wendy Yorke, Trade and Investment Manager
E: wendy@wago.co.uk T: + 44 (0) 20 7395 0566
Twitter: @wagoEU
10. 10 Australian Trade and Investment Commission
NOTES
12. Australian Trade and
Investment Commission
Australian High Commission, Australia House
Strand, London, WC2B 4LA United Kingdom
Andy Thompson
T: +44 (0) 20 7632 0002
E: andy.thompson@austrade.gov.au
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission – Austrade – is the Australian Government’s trade, investment
and education promotion agency.
Through a network of global offices, Austrade assists Australian companies to grow their international business, attract productive
foreign direct investment into Australia and promotes Australia’s education sector internationally.
Austrade helps companies around the world to identify and take up investment opportunities in Australia as well as to source
Australian goods and services.
www.austrade.gov.au
