Welcome to the National Conference 2014
Message from the President | Invitation to attend the `C The future? conference – September 5 and 6.
The National Federation of Australia Japan Societies and host,? the Australia Japan Society of Queensland, are pleased to invite you to our Biennial Conference.? The conference will be held in the beautiful and dynamic city of Brisbane on Friday 5 September and Saturday 6 September.? The conference is timely as it follows on from the successful visit by Prime Minister Abe and the completion of the (JAEPA) trade agreement between Australia and Japan.? We hope you agree that the conference content is filled with some new and exciting developments.
The conference is being held over two days with a Business day on Friday 5 September and our Communities day on Saturday 6 September.? The theme for the Business day is New and Emerging Opportunities between Australia and Japan. These new business sectors will be imperative for Australia in the future as the contribution from our traditional export markets mature.
Our keynote speaker from a Japanese company perspective is the CEO of Australia for Uniqlo. Uniqlo have 1,400 stores in 16 markets around the world and have recently opened stores in Melbourne and Sydney. The company plans to open more throughout Australia. The Uniqlo Global Brand Ambassadors include our own Adam Scott and Novak Djokovic.?? An Australian company making significant inroads in logistics in Japan is the Toll Group.? We will hear how they have approached the Japanese market and the importance of that market to their business.? Mr Murray Mclean a former Ambassador to Japan and now Chair of the Australia Japan Foundation will provide an overview on the new (JAEPA) trade agreement.? The panel of experts discussing these new business areas will include the Co-General Manager and Country Head of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Collaboration in the Health and Medical research areas is already occurring between Australia and Japan and is forecast to significantly increase in the years to come.? Professor Ryuki Kassai from Fukushima Medical University will address the conference about Primary Care in Japan, the ageing of Japan’s population and provide an overview of the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The conference will be opened by the Consul General of Japan and will be held at the Gallery of Modern Art on Day 1 and the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre on Day 2. Conference participants will have an opportunity to preview a new Japanese Art exhibition ? We Can Make Another Future ? Japanese Art after 1989.
Day 2 is our Communities day.? This is where we will discuss the strengthening of the Sister City relationships between Australia and Japan.? There will be some beautiful and exciting cultural interludes by the Sakura Dance Troupe as well as Iaido and jodo demonstrations.? We will hear about career opportunities from people who have lived and worked in Japan.? Also to be discussed are the educational developments between Australia and Japan. Completing this day will be a profile of our beloved Great Barrier Reef and one of the pioneers that helped to guide its protection.
This conference is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia Japan Foundation which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ross Humphreys
President | National Federation of Australia Japan Societies