Dear Members and Friends,
As we move into December, attention will be focused on preparing for the Holidays and for the year's end. It's also a time to reflect, and importantly, to acknowledge the support the AACC has received over the past year.
Our Australian Consul General, Nick Nichles and his team at the Australian Consulate has provided continuous support to the Chamber. Nick has regularly attended our key events and provided official welcomes, so I extend my warmest thanks to Nick for the time that he devotes to the Chamber.
Our AACC members are the reason we are thriving today and many of you have been long time supporters and for that I'm grateful. Our corporate members and their financial generosity enable us to facilitate all of our events and activities and trust that we in turn, deliver value to them. My gratitude to all of you is immense.
And as you'll see below, our events calendar was a busy one and Dawn Lillington, our Executive Director, was her usual tireless self, ensuring all of our events were enjoyed by all. Along with the Board of Directors ~ Gordon Stirling, Russ Mansky, Cameron Briggs, Catherine Bishop, Helen Fairclough, Scott McIntyre, and Tyler Dixon ~ Dawn and I are privileged to collaborate with a wonderful group of people who volunteer their time to ensure the AACC is an organization that is valued and enjoyed by its members. To Dawn and all the Board, you have my warmest thanks and deepest appreciation for all the work that you do to keep us active.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
EVENTS
Our events year began in February with the Australian Gala held at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. A smaller gathering than past years, however it was still a great party to celebrate friends reconnecting after a long pandemic-induced separation, and to celebrate all things Australian.
The 2nd annual Australian Retreat at Skywalker Ranch in April was our first business gathering for the year. The group was welcomed via video by Australian Ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, then participated in a series of roundtables that promoted interesting discussions. Many new connections were also created over the weekend.
The 10th Annual International Golf Scramble was held at the Presidio Golf Course, and we partnered with the British and the German business councils to bring players together for this entertaining tournament. It's not often you can step up to the tee and be offered a tasting of 3 Penfolds wines!
Anzac Day was commemorated in April and we convened in Heroes Grove in Golden Gate Park. After a moving service and stirring national anthems, the group moved to an adjoining area for picnics and play, a typical way to end our Anzac Service.
In June, Paul Roos was our guest speaker at an Aussie Club event hosted by Withers Worldwide. As a former AFL player and legendary coach, Paul has a lot of leadership experience and insights on how culture affects us all. He provided some practical advice for both the individual as well as how it applies to teams.
Our Sundowner Drinks events were hosted at the St Regis Hotel, SF and the Bluestone Cafe on Folsom St. Both events attracted current members and first timers and there was plenty of active networking taking place.
On October 28, the inaugural United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Brisbane left SFO and United hosted a reception in their Polaris Lounge as well as at the Departure Gate. Passengers were treated to Tim Tams and Lamingtons so they were thrilled for the added trimmings before boarding.
In early November, we hosted a Penfolds Master Class Winetasting event at Withers Worldwide. Penfolds' Gillian Balance, MW, presided over the class that featured 6 core wines, and served a few gems that appeared at the end. The enthusiasm of the group was wonderful and I believe some new fans were gained.
AACC EXPANSION
In July we officially welcomed the Pacific Northwest chapter of the AACC, joining SF and Houston. The team in Seattle have been active and discussing ways to join resources to enable wider reach. Expect to see more in 2023!
SAVE THE DATE - AUSTRALIAN GALA 2023
We're looking forward to the Australian Gala 2023 in February and we're returning to the Fairmont Hotel, so look out for more details in the coming days.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous Holiday season!
Enjoy the time with family and friends and look forward to seeing you in the new year!
With gratitude,
Jackie Yuen
AACC President
