Cockram Projects has taken out the top prize at this year’s Australia China Business Awards – an annual event showcasing the wide scope of Australian buisness interests in China.
Now running into its 18th year, the AustCham Westpac Australia-China Business Awards 2010 capped off yet another momentous year for Australian business in Greater China, with Australian construction and engineering firm Cockram Projects taking out the top award on the night.
The ACBA occurs anually and is supported by the Australian Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau and Beijing, and was this year hosted for the first time in Shanghai as the city capitalized from the success and momentum of its six-month World Expo.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE (LARGE) AWARD
Winner: Cockram Projects (Shanghai) Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd.
This award recognises an Australian business, with more than 100 employees that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.
*Pictured above: Greg Mithen, General Manager Cockram Projects with Ms Lyndall Sachs Commissioner General, Shanghai World Expo 2010.
Celebrating 150 years of operation next year, Cockram Projects General Manager for China, Greg Mithen is proud of the company’s history and expertise in offering niche construction and engineering services which have their founding in Australia and are now being applied to Greater China. Starting in Melbourne in 1861, the company has constructed such famous landmarks as the Windsor Hotel, the Princess Theatre and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Leveraging from expertise gained in Australia, the company constructs specialist research and development, pharmaceutical and food manufacturing facilities for companies such as CSL and Pfizer.
Cockram Projects expanded into Greater China in the early 1990s to construct and manage projects end-to-end for multinationals such as Pfizer, Dow Chemicals, and McCains.
In 2010 Cockram Projects have continued to expand their offices and operations to a China scale. With increasing demand for local research and development and world-class pharmaceutical, microelectronics, and food and beverage manufacturing facilities, Cockram Projects is able to multiply its Australian experiences. The company is a critical link in the process that allows production of life saving medicines that improve the lives of millions of Chinese and people around the world.
Cockram Projects recently secured a contract for the Novo Nordisk Filling Plant Project in Tianjin worth US$300 million. The facility will allow Novo Nordisk to meet the rapidly expanding demand for insulin products in China. The filling site will comprise formulation, filling, inspection and packaging of Penfills, FlexPen (pre-filled insulin pens) and vials. This project complements other projects for companies such as Baxter Healthcare who manufacture renal products and Fresenius Medical Care – a world leader in dialysis care.
Cockram Projects’ excellence in this category was demonstrated through the strong growth and expansion in China based on Australian expertise, a strong corporate culture that has translated to China through impressive staff retention rates and an exemplary safety record for projects that is up to three times the industry average. No mean feat in China.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE (SME) AWARD
Winner: David Laris Creates (DLC) Ltd.
This award recognises an Australian business, with fewer than 100 employees, that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.
From concept creation to design excellence to brand building, David Laris Creates has established an impressive, growing business focused on the food and beverage industry of Greater China. David Laris and his team have partnered with world-class companies looking to enter China and launch new businesses within the local market.
*Pictured above: David Laris Founder and CEO of DLC.
With Swire Group, DLC conceived all the dining venues in The Opposite House, the boutique luxury hotel in Beijing, as well as the new East Hotels in Hong Kong and Beijing. The consulting firm was a key player in Mattel’s House of Barbie flagship store launch in Shanghai, creating all elements of Barbie Café.
DLC has also expanded to be a consultant to European electronics giant Media Markt for their new café concept in the inaugural China store, the first of 580 stores worldwide serving food to customers.
Under its own The King’s Kitchen brand DLC has opened multiple locations of The Fat Olive, The Funky Chicken, Yucca, and The Pie Hole.
During the Shanghai Expo, DLC consulted for the Australian Pavilion to contribute a taste of Australian hospitality to the pavilion’s VIP business program, as well as helping the USA and New Zealand Pavilions set up their food and beverage operations. Recently the areas of operation have grown to include Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shantou.
Inspiring the multitude of Australians in the hospitality industry in China, David Laris Creates represents the best of Australian service and hospitality across China. DLC’s restaurants have significantly shaped the fine dining landscape of Greater China, and the team continues to seek opportunities to excite the palettes of local and foreign guests alike.
BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD
Winner: Shanghai Wagas Co. Ltd.
This award recognises an Australian business that has demonstrated entrepreneurial excellence in Greater China over the past year.
*Pictured right: Jackie Yun, General Manager of Shanghai Wagas.
Shanghai Wagas has grown significantly over the past year to become a multi-faceted business expanding from a well-known café chain in Shanghai to encompassing restaurants, a bistro, and a bakery chain. General Manager, Jackie Yun still drops in to the cafes to lead by example and encourages staff, often from provincial areas in China, to look after each other like “baby brother and baby sister”.
In true entrepreneurial style, Jackie herself started out as a hands on manager of the Nanjing Road store and revamped everything from interior design to food, logo, menus and service. Wagas was “Sydneyfied” and has since expanded to 25 establishments and seven brands.
In 2010 Wagas turned the quest for cost saving and better quality bread into a significant business opportunity. Bringing one of the world’s best bakers, New Zealander Dean Brettschneider, on board not only resulted in all the bread being baked “in-house” but also spurned a new bakery chain, Baker and Spice.
Wagas has demonstrated a mature flexibility to respond rapidly to new business opportunities while still retaining core competitive identity. Wagas’ first property development project at 195 Anfu Lu saw the birth of a new partnership with Australian chef Craig Willis, allowing him the opportunity to enter the entrepreneurial world with the company.
In its first year of operation Mr Willis restaurant was awarded 2010 New Restaurant of the Year. Through a happy coincidence Mi Thai restaurant formed when they could not find a suitable tenant to rent the remaining space second floor space at Anfu Lu. 195 Anfu Lu is a hub of Shanghai activity, from the inside or out, and visitors could be anywhere in the Sydney suburbs of Paddington or Darlinghurst.
Wagas has cleverly cross-marketed their multiple brands and concepts all inspired by the owners own passions. Wagas will expand into Greater China over the next two years with a target of 8-10 stores per year. November 15 will see the launch of yet another café concept – Cirka.
Baker and Spice, was this year voted Bakery of the Year and will see three more store openings before March 2011. Wagas’ “Sydney style” and entrepreneurial spirit is truly on show in China.
BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD
Winner: Cochlear Medical Device (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
This award recognises an Australian business whose significant innovation has resulted in the successful development of opportunities in Greater China over the past year.
An established global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear continues to spend upwards of 12 percent of its revenue on research and development to ensure every single product is better than the last. This constant innovation has ensured that across China, Cochlear has captured over 90 percent of the market for its devices.
*Pictured above: Brendan Mason, General Manager, Greater China, Cochlear Medical Device (Beijing) Co.,Ltd with China’s lead ballet dancer from the closing ceremony of the 2008 Paralympic Games in 2008 and a recipient of Cochlear.
Unlike hearing aids cochlear implants do the work of the damaged part of the inner ear and provide sound signals directly to the brain.
General Manager for Cochlear in Greater China Brendan Mason, is passionate about the Cochlear mission statement “Hear Now and Always” as he delivers on the company’s commitment to provide patients the best possible hearing performance from the implant and for the rest their lives.
Brendan says the company is selling ‘hearing and speaking’ as it continues to roll out tonal recognition training so those fitted with devices can also start speaking. Across China 7000 people have so far been given the gift of hearing and speaking and 53 clinical operation centres have been embedded within local hospitals and clinics. By the end of this year after sales service will be provided in all 31 provinces in China as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan but Brendan acknowledges there is a shortage of audiologists in China and Cochlear is funding training and skills development so the provinces are better served.
With an estimated 7600 children under four years of age experiencing hearing loss Cochlear is working to target screen and identify problems in 11,000 hospitals across China so implants can be fitted at a young age when the success of being able to hear and speak in a normal manner is maximized.
This year Cochlear has won a government contract through the “Saving the children in poverty or with disablement” fund to implant 1000 children with the device and continues to work with philanthropists and through the user pays system to ensure people in need have access to the technology.
It has a dedicated global team of 2,200 people delivering the gift of sound to the hearing impaired in more than 100 countries. The global headquarters and main manufacturing site is in Australia, and Cochlear’s business activities are present in every province in China.
AUSTRADE BUSINESS PROMOTION AWARD
Winner: Kakadu
This award recognises a local business in Greater China that has shown excellence in promoting or marketing an Australian product or service.
From conception to execution Kakadu presents Australia holistically. While Kakadu is an Australian restaurant in the purest sense, owner and manager James Sing has a passion and talent to educate people about Australia and Australian products and plans to expand this passion to Suzhou next year where the target market is wealthy Chinese.
As well as food and beverages, the restaurant promotes art and other Australian community events for organisations such as the Australian Women’s Social Group, AFL and cricket clubs and AustCham Shanghai.
*Pictured above: James Sing, Owner and Manager, Kakadu and Amy Sing.
As a restaurant, Kakadu does serve the staples in a modern Australian way, including Australian steak and lamb, barramundi and pavlova but it also goes the extra mile to also deliver emu and crocodile, bush spices, olive oil and any other uniquely Australian ingredients that can be tracked down to complement a theme or match Australian wines.
The wine list is so extensive Kakadu was awarded the Wine Australia Restaurant Award for demonstrating leadership in the promotion and education of Australian wine. With over 180 wines on the list, the restaurant also offers an education in the wine regions of Australia.
Hosting a series of regular events such as the “The Great Australia Flight” featuring Australian regions, Wine Dinners, War of the World wine tasting, Winery of the Month, Beer and Barbie nights, and specialist wine tastings James’ secret is always staying in the limelight.
AUSTRALIA POST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Winner: The ANKEN GROUP
This award recognises the successful implementation of sustainable development programs and processes by an Australian company in Greater China.
The ANKEN GROUP is an innovative real estate company using sustainable practices and design to build and manage unique properties in China.
*Pictured right: Alexandra Chu and David San Roman Directors, The Anken Group.
Partner and founder Alexandra Chu’s sustainable philosophy is that everyone can make a positive contribution to the environment, no matter how small. That said, The ANKEN GROUP is doing big things for the environment and the community in which it lives.
The company focuses on the renovation and transformation of existing buildings for mixed use, commercial and retail use. It has combined all aspects of sustainable development into living examples of what can be done with some grit and determination. The group started out by taking on an abandoned warehouse located on former industrial land in Shanghai’s notoriously polluted Suzhou Creek area.
The group has been determined to seek and develop its own sustainable solutions that work for small business owners such as themselves.
The group’s showcase ANKEN GREEN warehouse is fitted out with reused and local materials. All rainwater is captured and 70 percent is used to water the rooftop garden and the remaining 30 percent to flush the toilets. The rooftop garden supplies the café that has been built to ensure tenants have an affordable and pleasant place to work on collaborative projects. The café has a partnership arrangement with charity “The Renewal Centre” that trains and places staff from rural migrant homeless backgrounds so they can return to the workforce with some skills.
There are energy monitors on all floors, solar and motion sensor lighting to minimize energy use and a myriad of other effective environmentally friendly features. The group is heavily involved in promoting grass roots sustainability to others through organizing Pecha Kucha, hosting the Eco Design Fair and running seminars and lectures on sustainable development. Next on the list of practical actions is installing an onsite solar powered recharging station for tenants with electric bicycles.
The Group’s other properties include warehouses, industrial and historical buildings throughout Shanghai which apply the same raison d’être in seeking to apply practical sustainable solutions into everything they do.
JUDGE’S AWARD
Winner: SOOZAR
Soozar produces designer retail displays, mannequins and accessories in China for installation in some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, department stores, retail outlets and hospitality environments. Soozar’s clients include: Marni, Joseph, Alberta Ferretti, Moncler, Philosophy, Stefanel and Fitflop.
*Pictured right: Susan Heffernan, founder and managing director of SOOZAR.
Owner and General Manager, Susan Heffernan says the company came from humble beginnings but has managed to navigate around the convoluted processes in China to deliver precise, reliable and high-end products to the global stage by advocating for creative authenticity.
Soozar has formed strategic alliances with Chinese factories to protect intellectual property and commence ISO accreditation to build the trust of international clients that China can deliver high quality affordable products and while at the same time protecting concepts, designs and creations.
Susan places great emphasis on empowering staff with a “can do” attitude and refers to a trusted group of mentors and colleagues for advice. The judges sought to reward SOOZAR for the company’s courage, vision and unrelenting determination to forge through the China manufacturing supply chain trying to improve every step of the way.
“I believe that I represent the best-of-the best of what Australia and Australian’s epitomize and I believe that the “Soozar story” is an inspiration for all other Australian’s wanting to succeed in this very convoluted and new emerging global empire, China,” says Susan. ■
AustCham Westpac Australia-China Business Awards 2010 Finalists
Business Excellence (Large)
· BlueScope Butler China
· Cockram Projects (Shanghai) Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd.
· M Restaurant Group
· Macquarie Group
· Mitchells Equipment (Hebei) Co., Ltd.
· Telstra China
Business Excellence (SME)
· David Laris Creates (DLC) Ltd.
· Roc Oil (Bohai) Company
· SOOZAR
Business Entrepreneurial
· AusKing Cleaning (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
· Mailman Group
· Shanghai Wagas Co. Ltd.
Business Innovation
· Cochlear Medical Device (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
· Micromine
· The University of Sydney
Austrade Business Promotion
· Just Beer (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
· Kakadu
· Jurlique
Australia Post Sustainable Development
· BlueScope Butler China
· CRC CARE Pty. Ltd.
· The ANKEN GROUP
