AACC NEWS AND EVENTS 

MARCH 2024

G'Day from AACC President, 

Jackie Yuen

Dear AACC Members and Friends,

As we head into Spring and sunshine, the AACC will be hosting a few events, so please join us. 

• Aussie Happy Hour, March 28th at 5:30pm at SHACK15 in the Ferry Building in San Franciso. Join us to meet with other members and to make some new friends. 

• April Coffee Meet up, April 19th at 10:00am at the Bluestone Lane location on 2nd Street, downtown. Mel, our Executive Director, will be hosting, so come and say hello. 

• ANZAC Day service, April 21st at 11:00am Join us in commemorating the 109th anniversary of ANZAC Day. The service will be held once again on the USS Hornet in Alameda. We'll have refreshments after the service and remember to factor in extra time to explore the Sea, Air and Space Museum and exhibits.

As always, thank you for your support of the AACC.

With much gratitude,

Jackie

AACC Director, Helen Fairclough

... from the Victoria Desk

It’s been a while since the last update, and can you believe it? Summer has come and gone, and Melbourne is slowly but surely sliding into Autumn. But there is some exciting stuff happening to keep our vibe alive!

First up, Formula 1 fever has taken over Melbourne as the four-day Australian Grand Prix event revs up. And let me tell you, it's set to be a record-breaker, all thanks to the Netflix sensation 'Drive to Survive.' As a die-hard petrol head, you'll find me trackside, cheering on Team Oscar Piastri! Go #OP81!

Now, let's talk shop. The economy's been ticking along,  and according to the latest ABS data, business turnover saw a 1 per cent rise in January, after a slight decline in December. The electricity, gas, and water sectors had a whopping 5.8 per cent increase, thanks to scorching summer temps driving up demand for electricity. Recent storm-induced power outages that crippled hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses highlighted the need to plan not only the journey to net zero emissions, but to ensure energy supply during the transition. See Victorian Chamber's initiative Achieving a Net-Zero Economy: Roadmap for Victorian Businesses. Retail trade is steady with around 1.9% annual growth, while Arts and Recreation services declined by 2.2%. 

In other news, Fair Work Commission president Adam Hatcher has made a significant announcement. He outlined the commencement of a process to vary modern awards to include a right to disconnect and emphasized that this new term would take effect on 26 August 2024 (26 August 2025 for small business employees). It's a significant change for Australian workplaces, and Justice Hatcher's statement provides further details on the proposed timetable here. And hot off the press, stamp duty on commercial and industrial property will be phased out in 2024 after the Victorian Government finalised the transition towards a property tax system. It was just announced in the Victorian Budget 2023-24

Now, onto some cool happenings in Melbourne! The LUME has something epic in store featuring work by Leonardo da Vinci, the immersive 500 Years of Genius. Prepare for some big belly laughs at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, for three and a half weeks of hilarious stand-up shows and more. And mark your calendars for The Rising, Melbourne's favourite winter festival in June with art exhibitions, live gigs, performances, and more.

That's a wrap on the latest updates from Melbourne and beyond.

Chat again soon.

Cheers Helen

UPCOMING AACC EVENTS

AUSSIE HAPPY HOUR

Join us for the first Aussie Happy Hour networking evening of the year at SHACK15. Open to AACC members and non-members, please register at the link below. 

Not a member? Check out our membership options.

📅 Thursday, March 28th 2024

🕚 5:30 - 7:30 pm

📍SHACK15, Ferry Building, 1, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94111

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

On behalf of the Australian and New Zealand communities in San Francisco, we invite you to attend the annual ANZAC Day service on Sunday, April 21st at the USS Hornet. The service will commence at 11:00 am, following the ceremony, food and refreshments will be available and guests are welcome to explore the Sea, Air & Space museum on the ship.

📅 Sunday, April 21st 2024

🕚 11:00 am Service, followed by refreshments

📍 USS Hornet, 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

LATEST NEWS FROM AACC MEMBERS

ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES IN VICTORIA

The Victorian Government have begun recruiting for a series of webinars and one day program in Melbourne in October around the All Energy Conference. These sessions will cover business opportunities across the supply chain, wind and solar energy generation, storage, and grid management.

AUSTRALIAN PENSIONS AND THE US - PROTECTING YOUR RETIREMENT

Many people come to California temporarily for work from outside the US and later decide to stay. For professionals bringing foreign pensions and retirement assets, the tax implications can be an unwelcome surprise. Click below to hear more from Marsha Laine Dungog, an AACC member and international tax and estate planning attorney at Withers, regarding this issue and steps to take to protect your retirement assets in the Golden State.

WOMEN IN TECH POWER BY BIRD & BIRD: AT THE FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 – Bird & Bird are delighted to launch our new Women in Tech series, where we will hear interesting stories from inspirational people leading the charge at the forefront of innovation. Our goal within Women in Tech powered by Bird & Bird is to celebrate and connect women and other underrepresented groups currently operating in the Tech & Comms space, and to encourage greater diversity within the sector by bringing a variety of voices together to share insights and facilitate discussion on hot tech sector topics.

VEUVE CLICQUOT AND THE ST. REGIS SAN FRANCISCO CELEBRATE WOMEN AND SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S BUILDING

Friday, March 29 | 6 to 9:30 PM 

Astra at the St. Regis San Francisco

This exquisite dinner will celebrate women's bold and bright visions with a champagne pairing dinner. The experience includes a delectable prix fixe menu paired with five different Veuve Clicquot expressions including La Grande Dame, and a women-inspired cocktail at The St. Regis Bar. A portion of the evening's ticket sales will support The Women's Building, a women-led community space that has served and celebrated women for over five decades from its San Francisco location.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

THANK YOU TO OUR WINTER RENEWING MEMBERS

Not a member yet? Join the AACC today.

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