Invitation Design: Dean Storchenegger

Extracts of Speeches Given at 2007 AGM
 

The Year In Review

SACCI Members, Distinguished Guests

This is our opportunity to look back at the year and for SACCI it was an eventful year indeed.

The major milestones included - a move from our Edgecliff premises of 15 years to a central city location; the establishment of a satellite office in Victoria; and the biggest increase of net membership levels of close to 60.

Primarily in NSW, SACCI as a percentage of membership grew by over 20%. At the same time we invested into Victoria by establishing an office and a part time position. The aim of this move was to be able to better service the needs of our members in our second largest state and to capitalise on the potential of growing the network.

It was due to this expansion phase that SACCI has incurred its first loss in 5 years. It is envisioned by the Board that this investment will reap long-term benefits to the chamber and coincides with the Swiss Governments decision to close its Consulate in Melbourne.

As you know, SACCI has a two-pronged objective. On one side it has the mandate of providing trade promotion services on behalf of the Swiss government. On the other side we are a professional member-networking organisation.

As an organisation of two staff (formerly 1.5), this is quite a task to live up to. On a trade promotion front we continue to provide a service of assisting businesses in finding a footing in both Australia and Switzerland. The bulk of the assistance provided is a referral service, nevertheless we assist over 600 enquiries per annum. There are of course more specific projects, such as the recent successful Location Switzerland investment seminar.

On a professional member-networking front, what better network to have than one that is growing? The fact that more companies have joined in 2006 attests that we must be doing something right. In fact we had over 20 events last year with over 50% free of charge for our members.

I know from experience, that business connections are being made, products and services are sold, career-enhancing contacts established and information learnt. And at the end of the day we may also have some fun. Last year this culminated at our enjoyable end of year function for over 140 guests at the Sydney Aquarium.

I am pleased to announce that this momentum continues into 2007 where we have achieved a record attendance at tonight’s AGM Dinner with 140 attendees.

SACCI continues to represent Switzerland in a professional and able manner. Whilst our resources are limited, the chamber promotes a country-which is the 6th largest investor in Australia.

I would like to close by thanking our outgoing President Beat Knoblauch for his support, time and energy he has brought to the role. Special mention also to our Treasurer Martin Scarpino and Norbert Schweizer our Secretary.

I look forward to working with the newly formed board and would like to close by acknowledging the hard work and support of my new Assistant Narelle Ingram – thank you. And last but by no means least, you the members of the chamber. For without our members and Corporate Sponsors SACCI would not exist.

Dean Storchenegger
General Manager
SACCI
Sydney
7 May 2007
www.sacci.com.au

Thankyou Beat Knoblauch - Outgoing National President

One of the few honors that the Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry can confer on its members is Honorary Membership of the Chamber. The Chamber’s Constitution provides that persons who have “rendered outstanding service” to the Chamber and are elected at a General Meeting shall be entitled to become Honorary Members of the Chamber. It is my great pleasure to propose that this AGM elect our outgoing National President, Beat Knoblauch, an Honorary Member of SACCI.

As many of you know, Beat has been an eminent member of the Swiss community in Australia for many years. He has taken an active and responsible role in a variety Swiss community organisations and in promoting the Swiss community in this country. He is trustee of the Swiss Community Care Society and is a past president of the Swiss University Graduates. Beat has also been a prominent and respected member of the Swiss business community in Sydney since arriving in the country in 1977 while, at the same time, maintaining and promoting his passionate interest in Australian art.

This evening, however, I would like to concentrate on Beat’s role in our Chamber. Firstly, a few salient dates. Beat became a member of the Chamber over 20 years ago in December 1986. He became a director of the Chamber in August 1992 and was elected Vice President in March 1996. Five years ago in April 2002, he was elected President of the Chamber to succeed David Sandoe. After five dedicated years in that role, Beat has now become our Immediate Past President.

So what have been the highlights of Beat’s activities in the Chamber? They include the Swiss Banking Forum held in Sydney and Melbourne in 1995, participation in six Olympic Business Briefings in conjunction with Location Switzerland and the European Australian Business Council during the 2000 Olympics as well as the Chamber’s active involvement in the 2000 Paralympics. They also include SACCI’s record participation at National Manufacturing Week until recently, and introducing the Pilatus C-12 Turbo Prop aircraft into Australia.

Perhaps we should also look particularly at Beat’s achievements in his five years as National President of the Chamber. A quick list includes the transition from long-time General Manager, Anne Held to our current dedicated General Manager, Dean Storchenegger and his team, re-location of the Chamber from Edgecliff to the Sydney CBD and increased co-operation with Swiss government representatives, particularly the Embassy in Canberra and the Consulate General in Sydney. A highlight of this co-operative partnership is the annual Ambassador’s dinner in Canberra for the Chamber’s corporate sponsors as well as the valuable participation by the Consul General’s office in our board meetings and other activities. Another example was the execution of a Co-operation Agreement between the Embassy of Switzerland and SACCI on the one hand, and OSEC and SACCI on the other in 2002. Beat was intimately involved in all these achievements.

Highlights also include the establishment and growth of our Melbourne office and secretariat with Victoria’s increasing role in the Chamber being reflected in two key Chamber members based in Melbourne now being elected to the national board. As well we can all appreciate the Chamber’s enhanced reputation for high quality events and functions, amply demonstrated by the wonderful surroundings of the Swissôtel tonight and the record attendance of over 140 people at this evening’s AGM dinner. During Beat’s tenure, the Chamber’s membership has also grown from less than 250 to over 330 members; this at a time when it has not been easy for many voluntary associations to maintain, let alone increase their membership and support. Again, Beat’s involvement has been a key feature of these milestones.

Many of the Chamber’s annual events have now also become ingrained in the Swiss-Australian business calendar. They include the Chamber’s innovative end of year functions and high quality speakers at its AGM. The Chamber has also enjoyed a number of exceptional successes over the last five years, largely due to Beat’s input. The most recent of these, of course, was the memorable Location Switzerland seminar held at the premises of Zurich Financial Services in March this year. Beat has devoted countless hours and tireless energy to his role as National President.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will agree that Beat has rendered truly outstanding service to the Chamber as a member, as a director and as the Chamber’s President for the last five years. I am also sure that, even though he is not seeking re-election to the board, knowing Beat, his involvement and support will not stop after this AGM.

In the circumstances, I am delighted to move that Beat Knoblauch be elected an Honorary Member for life of the Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Norbert Schweizer