On 30 August 2024, our inaugural Spring in Sydney: Australia-Japan Business Dinner, co-hosted with the Australia-Japan Society of NSW Inc. (AJS-NSW) was a tremendous success. Over 170 guests representing all facets of the Australia-Japan relationship gathered to celebrate and strengthen the enduring relationship between Australia and Japan here in NSW.
We were honoured to welcome distinguished leaders, including HE Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Australia, The Hon Prue Car, Deputy Premier of NSW, Councillor Robert Kok, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, and Mr. Yuichiro Nishida, Acting Consul-General of Japan in Sydney. Their presence underscored the significance of the bond between our two nations, highlighting the shared values and aspirations that drive the Australia-Japan relationship forward.
A special highlight of the evening was the well-deserved recognition of Debra Hazelton GAICD, Vice-Chair of AJBCC, and Wendy Holdenson, Executive Vice-President and Director of Mitsui & Co. (Australia), who were awarded a special commendation from the Foreign Minister of Japan. This honour acknowledges their exceptional contributions to advancing Australia-Japan relations. Their inspiring leadership continues to help shape the future of our bilateral ties.
The evening was made even more memorable by the beautiful ikebana flower arrangements that adorned each table, a captivating taiko drum performance, and the wonderful work of our event photographer, Mr. Yusuke Oba, who perfectly captured the essence of the night.
Thank you to our friends from the AJSNSW who were instrumental in creating this great event and everyone who attended and made the evening truly unforgettable. We can’t wait to build on this momentum and continue creating impactful opportunities for collaboration between our two great nations!