The Australian pavilion will be home to many VIP events throughout Expo but many others will take place outside the Expo site itself. Compiled by Sophie Loras.
VICTORIA WEEK
17-23 May
Australian Pavilion, Shanghai
Victoria Week will promote trade and investment in a range of industry sectors – especially automotive and sustainable design and highlight the success of the Victoria-Jiangsu Sister State relationship. Victoria and Austrade will also host a Liveable/Sustainable Cities of the Future Forum – marking the first of a series of events across Expo aimed at highlighting an Australian perspective on urban development challenges.
For more information: www.diird.vic.gov.au/shanghai-expo
IMAGINEARCHITECTURE
22 May – 11 June
1949, Beijing
From May 22, AustCham Beijing, in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Architects, Austrade and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), will host a three-week photographic exhibition in Beijing showcasing Australian architectural excellence in China. Nine Australian architectural design firms have been invited to submit images for the exhibition which are either a public use or iconic in nature and represent the pinnacle of Australian design expertise in China.
The exhibition will coincide with the Australian Sustainable Design and Planning Week and Imagine Australia – The Year of Australian Culture in China 2010 – 2011.
For more information click here.
WORLD EXPO AUSTRALIA DAY
8 June
Shanghai
This is Australia’s designated national day during Expo and will showcase additional Australian performances in and around the Australian pavilion as well as a special concert in the Shanghai Expo Centre. Bangarra’s Stephen Page has created a special “Spirit Guide” just for the occasion with attendance from senior government officials.
IMAGINE AUSTRALIA – YEAR OF AUSTRALIAN CULTURE IN CHINA
10 June
National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing
The Year of Australian Culture in China will be launched in Beijing at a Gala event on June 10 at the city’s famous National Centre for Performing Arts and will include performances from various Australian musicians and the world-famous Bangarra Dance Theatre. The event will be preceded by the launch of the two Indigenous collections from the National Museum of Australia’s Papunya exhibition and the Balgo Hills exhibition – at the National Art Museum of China on June 9.
QUEENSLAND WEEK
20-26 June
Shanghai
Queensland Week will highlight the state’s innovation and education credentials, while underlining the maturity and mutual benefit of the 20 year Queensland-Shanghai Sister State relationship.
AUSTCHAM SHANGHAI GALA EVENT
24 June
Australian Pavilion, Shanghai
This VIP event will be open to a select number of AustCham Shanghai members.
For more information: www.austchamshanghai.com/expo.aspx
AUSTRALIA CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL TRADE MISSION
4 -10 June
The Australia China Business Council, in partnership with Qantas, will conduct a major trade mission to Shanghai focused on small-to-medium-sized enterprises. The trade mission program incorporates high-level networking opportunities, strategy sessions and briefings with the Australian Trade Commission and targeted business matching events.
The ACBC is also hosting a thought leadership symposium on July 19 at the Australian pavilion and an industry dialogue session on July 21 covering sectors including education, ICT, resources, renewable energy and services.
For more information: laurie.pearcey@acbc.com.au
AUSTRALIA CHINA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS
10 July
Le Meridien Hotel, Shanghai
More than 200,000 Chinese students have studied in Australia since the 1970s, and the Australia China Alumni Awards recognises some of their successes. Held for the first time in Shanghai, winners of this prestigious award will be announced at a gala dinner in Shanghai and include entertainment, free-flow Australian wine and beer, and networking opportunities with Chinese-Australian alumni. Nine Awards will be presented across a range of categories, from entrepreneurship, to research and innovation, to banking and finance, to ICT, New media and development.
2009 finalists included Dr Shi Zhengrong, Founder of Suntech Power Holdings; Xu Rongmao, Founder and Chairman of the Shimao Property Group; Colin Giles, President of Nokia, China; and Lu Xiaoping, the Deputy Director of International Cooperation at China’s National Ministry for Agriculture.
The 2010 finalists will be announced at a VIP, invitation-only reception at the Australian pavilion at Shanghai World Expo on May 25, 2010.
For more information: www.AustChinaAlumni.org/awards
NEW SOUTH WALES WEEK
12 – 18 July
Australian Pavilion, Shanghai
GREAT AUSTRALIAN BALL
11 September
Venue TBC, Shanghai.
Not to be missed, this is one event on the Shanghai calendar Australian expats take very seriously – especially their costumes! The event, hosted by AustCham Shanghai, attracts more than 700 guests every year with special guests from Australia, premium Australian wines and beers, auctions, great prizes, live bands and DJs. The theme for this year’s ball is still to be confirmed.
For more information visit: www.austchamshanghai.com
ASIAN CHAMPS
16 October
Time: 9am – 5pm
SRFC grounds, Pudong, Shanghai
Shanghai Footy teams from Beijing and Shanghai will come together to form the China Reds in this annual regional tournament attracting 12 teams from around Asia including teams from as far a field as Dubai in what has become the biggest Australian Rules football tournament outside of Australia. This is the first time the event has been hosted in Mainland China and will coincide with other AFL events being promoted throughout Expo.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact Brodie McDougall: brodiemcdougall@michaelpage.com.cn
MELBOURNE v BRISBANE
17 October
Time: 12 noon
Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai
A special AFL demonstration match between the Melbourne Football Club and the Brisbane Lions will be held in conjunction with World Expo. Kick off is at 12 noon and includes special invitation lunch, curtain raiser and half time activities. The event will be preceded by an invitation only AFL Dinner on Saturday, October 16 at the Australian pavilion. It is hoped the match will help to showcase Australian football and assist with ongoing strategies to develop the game in China which the AFL and Melbourne Football Club have had in place for several years.
AUSTRALIA CHINA BUSINESS AWARDS: 2010 – FINALISTS
19 October
Shanghai
Finalists for the annual Australia China Business Awards will be announced at a special VIP event at the Australian pavilion.
AUSTRALIA CHINA BUSINESS AWARDS: 2010
4 November
Shanghai, Venue TBC
First celebrated in 1993 in Hong Kong, the AustCham Australia China Business Awards recognizes the strength and success of Australian business in greater China. Held in Shanghai for the first time, this year’s event will bring together more than 200 members of the Australian business community from all regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau when winners will be announced at a gala dinner. The event is co-hosted by AustCham Shanghai, AustCham Hong Kong and Macau and AustCham Beijing. For more information on nominations and the awards night, visit: www.austchamchina.com
To learn more about Australia’s involvement in Expo, click here.
To get the heads up on Shanghai’s nightlife during expo, click here.
To read more about the Australian pavilion and its development, click here.