AACC NEWS AND EVENTS 

MAY 2025

AACC President

Dawn Lillington

Hello AACC Members and Friends,

It’s that time of year again graduation caps are flying, the summer holiday buzz is in the air, and for many of us, it’s a chance to head home. I’m counting down the days until I get to see my family in Australia!

We’ve had a fantastic month at the AACC, with highlights including our Happy Hour at Withers San Francisco (thank you to our fabulous host, Marsha!), our always-moving ANZAC Service—a personal favourite, especially seeing the Aussie kids in the space, and our first in-person Board meeting in five years! We also kept up the momentum with our regular coffee meet ups, always a great way to connect with members.

Looking ahead, the Board is now diving into the 2025/26 strategy and filling spots on our committees. If you’re keen to be part of the Events and Membership, or our very special 2026 Australian Gala Committee (we’re turning 50!), now’s your moment. Keep an eye out for a short member survey coming your way—it’ll help us shape the future of the AACC, and your voice is essential.

And finally, congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese on securing a second term. We’re watching with interest to see how the U.S./Australia relationship evolves under this U.S. administration.

Cheers,

Dawn

On behalf of the AACC Board

UPCOMING EVENTS

The coffee meet ups are coming to San Mateo, join us!

📅 Friday, May 23

🕔 9:30 am - 11:00 am

📍 Foreigner Cafe, 3rd Ave, San Mateo

Join us for a 45-minute webinar tailored for Australians living in San Francisco, with Richie Ragel and Michael Cleary from Milk Chocolate.

📅 Tuesday, May 27

🕔 5:00 pm

📍 Zoom

Just two weeks to go until the 13th Annual International Golf Scramble, at the picturesque Crystal Springs Golf Course on June 5th.

• Gather your colleagues or clients and take on the course in a shotgun format.
• Vie for bragging rights in on-course games - putting comp, longest drive, and closest to the pin.
• Sink a hole-in-one and take home a cash prize. 
• Network with the international community at the awards dinner.

Don't miss you!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND EVENT PARTNERS

RECENT EVENTS

NZ AND AUSTRALIA EXPAT TAX SEMINAR AND HAPPY HOUR

Withers San Francisco - April 24, 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the New Zealand and Australia immigration, tax, and investment seminar and happy hour.

A special thank you to our guest speaker Roger Thompson, founder and director of the tax and accounting firm Bentleys New Zealand, and to our host, Marsha Laine Dungog of Withers. 

Following the seminar, guests enjoyed wine courtesy of Old Bridge Cellars, Credaro Wines, and Penfolds, with beer from Coopers Brewery. 

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

USS Hornet - April 27, 2025

We gathered aboard the historic USS Hornet to honor the brave servicemen and women of Australia and New Zealand. It was a privilege to welcome distinguished veterans, active military personnel, and the Consuls General of both Australia and New Zealand to mark this solemn commemoration. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

LATEST NEWS FROM AACC MEMBERS

PART ONE: AUSTRALIAN EXPATS AND US RETIREMENT PLANNING

Retirement planning can be complex — especially after relocating to a new country.

In part one of our three-part series, we break down the key differences between 401(k) and Roth accounts, explore the benefits of contributing to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA, and highlight the important tax implications of 401(k) withdrawals.

Whether you're new to the U.S. or adjusting your financial strategy, understanding these options is essential to making informed decisions about your retirement future.

BUDGET REVIEW

As a special 30th year celebration of the SMATS Group of companies, we invite you to watch our 21st Annual Australian Budget Review, presented by Steve Douglas, to gain insight into:

• Key insights into the Federal Budget Announcement
• Analysis of the economic responses and new initiatives
• Review the revenue and expenditure priorities
• Evaluate how the budget may shape the economy and property markets
• The budget impact on Australians, expats, intended migrants and investors
• Review of the ongoing impact of Trump's Tariffs.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Enjoy 40% off your South Australia Wine Tasting experience with code  'SouthAustraliaTasting'

'MATES RATES' OFFERS FOR AACC MEMBERS

One of the perks of being an AACC member is having access to special offers. Log in to the member portal to access the full Mates Rates offering. 

💱 Enjoy Family & Friends pricing from OFX when you sign up at this link.

🌐 Take advantage of a special member offer from SMATS Group.

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