Are the best days of the Australia-China business and trade relationship over? | WEBINAR
Do rising geopolitical risks and a slowing economy in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) mean that the best days of the Australia-PRC business and trade relationship are over? That the PRC’s growth is becoming less resources-intensive, and consumer confidence remains tepid has been well documented. That said, for the time being at least the overall trade numbers remain resilient. Some exports that were previously hit with restrictive trade measures, like wine, are now booming. And in the other direction, imported electric vehicles from the PRC, led by BYD, have become a common sight on Australian capital city roads.
Getting a read on the state of play is challenging. The Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI) will host a webinar with Ms Lauren Gilbert, Austrade Trade and Investment Commissioner in Guangzhou, Mr Vaughn Barber, Chair of AustCham China; and Mr Murray Davis, UTS:ACRI Adjunct Industry Fellow and Regional Manager - Greater China of Meat & Livestock Australia on a panel moderated by Professor James Laurenceson, UTS:ACRI Director, to provide an Australian, on-the-ground perspective on the business and trade risks and opportunities with the PRC, today and into the future.
Please note that there may be a slight delay in uploading the video, audio, and transcript of this event due to ongoing website maintenance by UTS IT. In the meantime, you can access the video and audio on our YouTube and SoundCloud pages.
Speakers
Ms Lauren Gilbert
Ms Lauren Gilbert is Austrade's Trade and Investment Commissioner, Guangzhou. She leads the seafood, consumer, horticulture and wine and beverage sectors in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In this role, Lauren and her team have been supporting affected Australian wine and live rock lobster exporters to re-establish commercial connections in China.
Before her current role, Ms Gilbert was in Shanghai where she oversaw Austrade's Landing Pad. This is a program dedicated to Australian technology scaleups.
She has extensive commercial experience. She has spent most of her career working in sales and business development roles. She has worked for reputable technology companies, including IBM, LinkedIn and Salesforce.com. Ms Gilbert has also worked for innovative e-commerce and SaaS startups.
She holds a Bachelor of International Studies from University of Sydney. Ms Gilbert has spent many years living, working, and studying in China. Because of this she is proficient in Mandarin Chinese. She is also conversational in Danish.
Mr Vaughn Barber
Mr Vaughn Barber is a seasoned leader with more than 28 years of experience in China and the Asia-Pacific region. During his extensive career at KPMG, he held several pivotal roles, including Global Chair of KPMG’s Global China Practice, Co-Head of Infrastructure for KPMG China, and Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Tax for Asia Pacific. He has been instrumental in advising Chinese state-owned and private companies on landmark outbound investments and major infrastructure projects, particularly those related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Fluent in Mandarin, Mr Barber has played a critical role in fostering business ties between China and the global market.
Since retiring from KPMG in 2022, he has continued to make significant contributions to the business community. As the Chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, he remains deeply engaged in bridging China with the international business community, offering strategic advice and insights across multiple industries. His expertise and leadership continue to influence the direction of projects and investments in the region.
Mr Murray Davis
Murray Davis is an Adjunct Industry Fellow at the Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI).
He is the Regional Manager - Greater China of Meat & Livestock Australia, based in Shanghai with and MLA team distributed across, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Prior to joining MLA in late 2023, Mr. Davis served in a range of trade and investment promotion roles in Greater China .
In October 2017, he was appointed as the Trade & Investment Commissioner for the state of New South Wales in Southern China, and represented NSW across Greater China until December 2023..
Before joining the New South Wales Government, Mr Davis served as the Queensland Government Trade & Investment Commissioner to Taiwan, based in Taipei from 2014 to 2017.
Murray also served as an Australian diplomat, having joined the Australian Trade Commission in 1993 and served as Trade Commissioner in the Australian Consulate General in Guangzhou and in the Australian Embassy in Beijing.
Mr Davis graduated with a Social Science degree from the University of Queensland. He learned Chinese in Taiwan in 1986 – 1987 and also in Beijing in 1988 – 1989. Since his first days as a student until the present day, Mr Davis has been at the forefront of promoting trade and investment between Australia and greater China economies.
Moderator
Professor James Laurenceson
Professor James Laurenceson is Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney. His research interests relate to the Chinese economy and the Australia-China economic and broader relationship.
