Ai Group - Australian Industry Group

09/13/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/12/2024 17:32

DBrief: Episode 7, September 2024

Latest episode

Big oceans and small pockets

The podcast provides businesspeople and policy junkies with timely and usable information with a business and industry view of the latest developments in Industry Policy in Australia. It looks at what's happening in the wider macro economy, and the likely impact on your business and industry.

In this episode, James and Louise discuss a range of current issues in Industry policy, including

  • Recent attempts to improve the ease-of-trading arrangements between Australian and New Zealand, and the role Ai Group is playing in facilitating improvements in common 'standards'
  • Louise' opening statement to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee on the proposals for Future Made in Australia (FMIA) and the improvement suggestions from Australian Industry Group. Read the full opening statement here. (currently attached to this email)
  • An update on AUKUS especially Pillar 2, the technology transfer aspect and the issues around international trade, an insight into the U.S. emerging computer chip industry… and an overall review of AUKUS and the Law of Unintended Consequences
  • And lastly, an update on recent changes to the R&D Tax Incentive and R&D Tax Concessions. Businesses need to know of the changes

Another fascinating conversation full of insights and thought-provoking opinions and observations. Well worth a listen.

Louise's Homework:

What are the impediments to the movement of goods between the Australian and New Zealand economies? Read our blog Isn't New Zealand meant to be easy?.

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James Scotland

After a long career in multiple aspects of supply chain management, corporate training and business advisory, James brings a business improvement mindset to his role as General Manager of Supply Chain Resilience for Ai Group. A skilled communicator and adviser, James has been involved with Oil & Gas, the Defence industry and supply chain across the board for over 40 years.

James has a Masters degree in International Management and a partially completed Doctor of Business Administration. He says he'll get around to finishing it when he retires.

Louise McGrath

In her role as Ai Group's Head of Industry Development and Policy Louise provides strategic leadership and guidance for Ai Group's policy agenda in building competitive industries through global integration, infrastructure development and innovation. She ensures that through policy leadership members have a voice at all levels of government, by representing and promoting their interests on current and emerging issues.

Louise represents Australian Industry in several multilateral forums, such as the B20 Taskforces, Global Business Coalition, and the East Asia Business Council working group on RCEP. She advocates for the interests of Ai Group members during Free Trade Negotiations and translates those agreements to support the strategic aims of members. She is a member of CSIRO's Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Think Tank and the Manufacturing Advisory Group, the NESP Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub and the Advisory Group of The Australian Consortium for 'In-Country' Indonesian Studies (ACICIS).

Louise has studied a Bachelor of Arts (Arabic Language and Culture) at Deakin University and an Advanced Diploma in International Trade at RMIT. She has also studied Arabic at universities in Jordan and Egypt.