AACC NEWS AND EVENTS 

DECEMBER 2025

AACC President

Dawn Lillington

Hello AACC Members and Friends,

What a year it has been for the AACC. As we look back, it’s incredible to see the momentum our community has created together. We’ve hosted a full calendar of well-attended events, each showcasing the strength, spirit, and connection of Australians in the Bay Area.

A true highlight was the Australian Gala, where we celebrated and toasted Joe Kaesshaefer for his many years of service to the NSW community and beyond. Our annual ANZAC Service aboard the USS Hornet was as moving as ever, chilly, yes, but a deeply meaningful moment of remembrance.

This year also marked the return of the Clash for the Ashes, delivered in partnership with the BABC, and the always-fun Holey Moley networking event. We proudly celebrated the women of the AACC at our International Women’s Day webinar and put the spotlight on our growing sports tech community during SF Tech Week.

Behind the scenes, the AACC welcomed a refreshed Board who have worked tirelessly to rewrite our strategy, strengthen our foundation, and set new standards for the exciting path ahead.

This month also brings mixed emotions as we farewell two extraordinary Australian champions in the Bay Area:

• Cathy Fredericksen (Austrade) is heading home after 17 remarkable years. If you didn’t know Cathy, you simply weren’t involved! She has been an incredible supporter, colleague, and friend, to me personally and to the Chamber. She will be greatly missed.

• Viki Forrest, Queensland Commissioner and a pillar of Australian innovation in the Bay Area for over 40 years, is retiring. Viki has championed countless Australian companies and played a pivotal role in bringing US investment into Queensland. Her influence across our ecosystem is immense, and her absence will be felt. Thank you, Viki, and I’m looking forward to sharing a Vikitini between your travels! (see interview with Viki below, thank you Hanna!)

On a personal note, it has been a big year. My son wrapped up his college soccer career at UC Davis, and my role at CSIRO has been a rollercoaster of challenge, energy, and exciting outcomes. I would like to thank my sensational colleagues Margaret and Megan for their support throughout the year.

To Mel, the Board, Austrade, State offices, and all our members, thank you for your dedication, partnership, and passion throughout the year. Being an Aussie in the Bay Area gives us so much to celebrate, and I’m proud to be part of this incredible community.

Safe travels, Merry Christmas! and don’t forget: Santa is selling Australian Gala tickets, so get in early!

Peace out 2025

P.S. The Australian and US Governments announced this week that Global Entry will be open to all Australians on December 15, 2025 – a lovely early Christmas gift.

Consul General Chris Ketter

Wrapping up 2025 with Momentum and Mateship

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a pleasure to reflect on a year where Australia’s presence across San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest has grown in depth, ambition and impact.

We saw several standout moments, including ministerial visits. In June, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Seattle, emphasising Australia’s determination to be “on the front foot of emerging technologies” and to ensure our nation actively shapes the future of AI, digital infrastructure and clean energy. His joint announcement with AWS of a $20 billion investment in Australian digital and renewable infrastructure set a powerful tone for the year ahead in bilateral cooperation. Earlier, in April, we welcomed new Austrade CEO Paul Grimes, on his first international visit. Later, Assistant Minister Dr Andrew Charlton’s visit to the Bay Area connected him with leading Australian and US AI and quantum innovators, in the lead up to the development of Australia’s National AI Plan, released this year.

On the trade and investment front there were too many achievements to mention but significant highlights included RSA activation and networking, two successful Landing Pad cohorts and quantum delegations.

Our calendar also featured the regular — yet deeply meaningful — events that anchor our community. We proudly raised the Australian flag over San Francisco City Hall in January to mark Australia Day, reaffirming the close ties between our nations. In April, we commemorated ANZAC Day with our traditional partners in a solemn and moving service. And once again, Australian Heritage Night at St Mary’s College showcased the remarkable basketball bridge between Australia and the West Coast, celebrating generations of Australian athletes who have called Moraga home.

We were also pleased to work with the AACC in February in relation to the Australian Gala, which continues to shine a spotlight on our business, cultural and philanthropic community. In 2026, the Gala will mark its 50th anniversary in San Francisco—an extraordinary milestone.

Our Consulate continued to deliver high-quality services across passports and consular support, with the steady stream of appreciative messages attesting to the professionalism of our team. In May, our federal election voting services were coupled with the much-loved Democracy Sausage supported by volunteers from the Golden Gate Australian Football League — a proper slice of home.

Connectivity also took a major step forward with the launch of the seasonal direct San Francisco–Adelaide flight on 11 December, strengthening the commercial and family links that bind our regions.

Looking to 2026, momentum continues to build. The FIFA World Cup will bring the world’s attention to North America, with the Socceroos playing multiple West Coast matches — including a marquee Australia–USA fixture in Seattle on 19 June.

Thank you for your partnership and support throughout 2025. Here’s to a big, bold and opportunity-rich 2026 — powered by mateship, innovation and the shared optimism of our trans-Pacific community.

NEWS

INTERVIEW : VIKI FORREST

Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Americas,

Trade and Investment Queensland

Viki Forrest is an Australian business leader with more than 40 years of international experience across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the United States, with a strong focus on the technology sector. As she prepares to retire at the end of 2025, Viki sat down with Hanna Peltonen to reflect on her incredible career.

AUSSIE GREENBACKS 2ND EDITION

The second installment of the market review column from AACC Member Atlas Wealth Group is here.  James Ridley, Managing Director (APAC), will be in San Francisco in February, check out the details of an event he will be hosting below.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER COFFEE MEET UP

Join us for our final coffee meet up of the year and a special farewell to Cathy Fredericksen!

📅 Friday, December 12

🕔 10:00 am - 11:00 am

📍 Bluestone Lane, SOMA

50TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN GALA

📅 Saturday, February 21

🕔 6:00 pm - Midnight

📍 Westin St. Francis on Union Square, San Francisco

SUBMIT A NOMINATION FOR THE 2026 INNOVATION AWARDS

Award Categories

1️⃣ Australian Innovation Excellence - recognizing and Australian individual or company based in the Bay Area that demonstrates exceptional innovation and measurable market impact.

2️⃣ US-Australian Expansion - honoring an American individual or company based in the Bay Area that has successfully established or expanded their presence in Australia in the past 12 months, bringing new innovation to the Australian market.

3️⃣ Lifetime Achievement in Australian Innovation (New for 2026) - celebrating an Australian individual or company that has made an exceptional contribution to innovation over the last 50 years, fostering connections between the Bay Area and Australian innovation ecosystems.

Submissions will be assessed by a distinguished panel of judges:

🔸 Sharmaine Ramasamy President and Founder, Ramasamy Consulting LLC

🔸 Alan Watters Head of Innovation Banking, HSBC Australia and New Zealand

🔸 Julia French Partner, Galileo Ventures

🔸 Philip W. Braddock Head of Atlassian for Startups

🔸 Michael Brett Worldwide Go-To-Market Strategy Lead, Quantum Technologies, AWS

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

LATEST NEWS FROM AACC MEMBERS

US-AUSTRALIA TAX AND

ESTATE PLANNING SYMPOSIUM

You are invited to attend the US-Australia Tax and Estate Planning Symposium, a half day technical event at Withers’ San Fransisco office, including 3 panel discussions, guest speakers, lunch and networking. This unique program, first launched last year and designed for advisors of clients with Australian connections, will focus on the latest tips and best practices in US-Australia cross border tax and estate planning and spotlight strategies for globally mobile Australians and Americans. 

📆 Thursday, February 19 2026

🕠 10:30am - 2:30pm

📍 Withers San Francisco

ATLAS IS COMING TO TOWN!

ATLAS WEALTH MASTERCLASS: MANAGING WEALTH ACROSS BORDERS FOR AUSSIE EXPATS

Join us for the first-ever Australian Expat Masterclass in San Francisco, designed to help Aussies living abroad make confident, informed financial decisions.

Hosted by industry experts, this free event will cover key topics including:

• Tax strategies for Australian expats

• Financial planning and investment options

• Navigating overseas and Australian mortgages

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A and connect with fellow expats over drinks and canapés.

Whether you’ve recently moved or have been abroad for years, this session will equip you with practical tools to manage your cross-border finances more effectively.

📆 Tuesday, February 24 2026

🕠 5:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 Bluestone Lane Avery Cafe

🎟️ Free | Drinks and canapés provided.

Spaces are limited – reserve your spot today!

SUPER PITFALLS: US TAX TREATMENT OF AUSTRALIAN SUPERANNUATION

Arete Wealth Strategists Australia invites you to join us on Tuesday, Dec 16th at 8:30pm ET / 7:30pm CT / 6:30pm MT / 5:30pm PT, which will be Wednesday, Dec 17th at 12:30pm in Sydney/Melbourne and 11:30 AM in Brisbane, for a Zoom Webinar entitled Super Pitfalls: US Tax Treatment of Australian Superannuation. Please read our blog post published yesterday on the topic.

Australians in the U.S. or Americans in Australia who have a Superannuation account need to be very careful about the U.S. tax treatment of a Superannuation account. Such accounts are not deemed to be tax qualified U.S. retirement accounts and as such, complex and potentially costly tax treatment results. This insightful webinar will provide a comprehensive guide to help you avoid costly tax traps when it comes to your Australian retirement savings.

Key topics covered include:

• How the U.S. taxes Australian superannuation accounts
• Strategies to minimize or eliminate U.S. taxes on superannuation fund growth and distributions
• When does a Superannuation Account become a Foreign Grantor Trust
• How Self Managed Super Funds are treated by the IRS

Whether you are a U.S. citizen residing in Australia, an Australian resident with U.S. permanent residency, or have U.S. assets in your superannuation portfolio, this webinar is a must-attend to ensure you don't pay more than your fair share to the IRS on your hard-earned retirement nest egg.

I hope you can join us!

Be sure to register to be notified once the recording is available. You can find all our past webinars on our YouTube channel here.

CONNECTING WITH INVESTORS

PRE AND POST LISTING TACTICS

For US companies eyeing a London IPO, success hinges on a strong Public and Investor Relations (PIR) strategy. Pre-listing, focus on crafting a compelling equity story, engaging cornerstone investors, and aligning messaging with UK market norms. Post-listing, maintain transparency, deliver consistent updates, and build analyst coverage to stand out among 1,500+ listed firms. Differences in governance and disclosure between US and UK markets demand tailored approaches. Partnering with an experienced PIR agency ensures credibility, visibility, and long-term investor confidence.

FREE 30-MINUTE EXPAT TAX DIAGNOSTIC SCAN BY ODIN MORTGAGE & TAX

Odin Mortgage & Tax, a specialist in Australian expat mortgages and tax advisory, is offering a complimentary 30-minute Australian Expat Tax Diagnostic Scan to help Australians living in the USA identify tax risks before they escalate into ATO issues.

The session provides you with a clear assessment across five key areas:

• Tax Residency
• Compliance Gaps
• Australian Income
• Property & Rental Issues
• Capital Gains Tax

This diagnostic scan is designed for Australians living overseas who may be unsure about residency, have foreign income, own property in Australia, or want to avoid double-tax traps. 

LAST CHANCE TO STEP INTO THE ST. REGIS HOLIDAY SALON

Continue the festive journey in The St. Regis Holiday Salon, featuring curated gifts and thoughtful indulgences. Enjoy a glass of Moët & Chandon while discovering offerings from Petite Plume, Ladurée, ElizabethW, Sothys, and more!

December 11 and 12 |. 3 - 5 PM. | . The St. Regis San Francisco

AT THE ST. REGIS SAN FRANCISCO, THE BELOVED AFTERNOON TEA RITUAL TAKES ON A FRENCH FLAIR WITH LADURÉE, THE ICONIC PARISIAN PATISSERIE!

Available daily now until December 31   |.   2 - 4 PM

RAPAMYCIN: MIRACLE DRUG?

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