The Board of SACC:

TERESIA FORS MBA - PRESIDENT

Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Viking River Cruises Australia & New Zealand, Teresia Fors joined the SACC as Board Member in August 2011. With a degree in Language Studies from Stockholm University, Diploma in Business Communication from IHM Business School and a MBA from University of Technology Sydney, Fors was a founding member of the Advisory Group for the Promotion of Sweden in Australia in 2005. Fors serves as Board Member for the Swedish Church in Sweden as well as Secretary for International Cruise Council of Australasia. Native Swedish, born in Lapland, speaks several languages and spent 10 years in Stockholm working for Stockholm Visitors Board, The Foreign Ministry as well as in advertising. Since moving to Australia 9 years ago Fors lives in Sydney and has embraced Australian culture while still maintaining a strong bond to Sweden and European culture.

 MALCOLM BUSH - DIRECTOR

 

Malcolm Bush is an International Trade and Logistics Consultant to the Transport Logistics and Export Industry with 35 years experience in international freight forwarding logistics, import and export. He was co founder of Simpac Customs and Forwarding (Wilson Logistics Australia) and founding Executive Officer of Air Freight Council of NSW and Executive member of FALCONSW as well as Chairman of Australian Institute of Export NSW and currently consults to Gloria Jeans Coffees International.                              

Malcolm has served for 12 years as a director of SACC and is married with three adult children.  

ROGER LETHERBARROW - DIRECTOR 

 

Roger is a General Counsel for Clinch Long Letherbarrow lawyers

And Honorary Swedish Consulate General of New South Wales

IRMGARD GOETJES-PEDERSEN - DIRECTOR

 

With her formal education completed in Germany and an Advanced Diploma of Education achieved at the University of Muenster, Irmgard entered the tourism industry in 1980 as a Travel Manger in retail and corporate travel agencies.

1983-1985 British Airlines working in the Passenger Sales Services Division

1985-1995 Lufthansa German Airlines working within Passenger Sales Services

1996-2001 Scandinavian Airlines as the Passenger Sales Service Manager

2002-2007 Scandinavian Airlines as the Sales Manager

Irmgard has been the General Manager of SAS Australia and New Zealand from 2007 until the present.

 

AJIT SINGH BA CPA FIPA - DIRECTOR   

                                                                                                                   

Born and educated in Fiji, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Accounting and Economics from University of the South Pacific Fiji, Ajit immigrated to Australia in 1989. 

1989-2002 -  Worked as Financial Controller, Finance Director in a variety of businesses and industries, mostly in Brisbane, attaining a broad experience in the fields of Finance, Board Responsibilities, International Business, Government Grants and Assistance, Industrial Relations, Statutory Compliance and Project Management. 

2002 – CurrentVolvo Group in Australia Pty Ltd in Corporate Affairs.Responsible for Treasury, Taxation, Legal Risk Management incorporating a broad range including Corporate Tax, Indirect Taxes, Transfer Pricing, Corporate Re-Structure, Legal Matters, Intellectual Property matters, Insurance & Risk Management, Customs Duty Compliance, Treasury and Bank relations, Statutory Compliance.Volvo Treasury Australia Pty Ltd – Director.

 Ajit is married with two children, son 25, daughter 14

 

HELENA BERGSTRÖM - DIRECTOR

Helena is a corporate governance analyst working at Regnan Research and Engagement in Sydney. She arrived in Australia on an exchange between Wollongong University, Australia, and Uppsala University, Sweden. After completing her Swedish Masters of Law, she worked in legal, sustainability and corporate governance roles in Australia whilst completing her Australian law degree.  Helena speaks fluent German after having studied and work in Austria for a few years and was the chairman of the International Committee at Uppsala University.

 CHAMBER STRUCTURE:

 The Chamber's Council consists of 7 elected and honorary members. They meet on a regular basis and are supported by a sub-committee in Victoria. A close relationship exists between the Chamber, the Swedish Consulates, the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Trade Council. The Swedish Australia Chamber of Commerce is also part of the European Australian Business Council (EABC), which consists of representatives from many European Chambers based in Australia. Events are regularly organised with other European Chambers.

The SACC is further presented with the help of our newsletter, Swedelink, which reached approximately 800 recipients, as well as of the website, www.swedelink.com.au.

 

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The Young Professionals is the young section of the chamber that caters for members under 35 who wish to be involved in the Swedish community in Australia through social and corporate events.

Young Professionals has a  committee  currently consisting of  four members:

THERESA GUSTAFSSON                                                                                                                                                                                   PRESIDENT

                                                                                                                                                                                       

• Erik Sodergren
•  Andrew Shirbiz
•  Lovisa Nellevad 

  a little history..                                                                           

 Bobbing gently at anchor in Sydney’s Darling Harbour the transatlantic Swedish steamship ‘Indianic’ had the honour of hosting the inaugural meeting of The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Australia, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, the date was 13 March, 1911. Barely 10 years after our fledgling nation had been formed and following a scant four years behind the formation of the Swedish Chambers of Commerce in New York and London it imbues our Chamber with the prestigious title of being the third oldest in the world.                                                                                                                                                                                                             Commercial enterprise in our waters was not a recent occurrence in 1911, ships from Sweden and other far flung nations had been plying their trade here since the late 1800’s. The convict settlement established here by Great Britain was a great attraction for the commercially minded Swedish sailing ships and the 1901 Federation merely strengthened these commercial ties.                         

 Europe in 1911 was in turmoil and the political situation curtailed the Swedish trade with its European neighbors. As the state of affairs plummeted into the First World War in Europe Sweden looked with renewed interest across the Atlantic to Australia for trade. Despite great odds goods and merchandise still found their way across the war zone, frequently through British links to Australia and more often than not, with the blessing and assistance of the Chamber.

The end of WWI saw a significant number of Swedish business men and women living in Australia often as representatives of Swedish companies and manufacturers. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Australia, New Zealand and South Sea Islands Inc., was active in promoting the commercial interests of this sector facilitating the expansion of the Swedish business interests in the Southern Hemisphere. One early director of the Chamber, Mr Nelson of Nelson and Company, the indent merchant and manufacturer’s agent, represented 9 Swedish suppliers. Another Swedish backed company Sonnerdale, imported Swedish machines and parts, which were incorporated into the finished product manufactured in Sydney and sold locally.

Swedish trade with Australia has historically favoured Sweden, a trend that has strengthened over the years. We as a primary producer have always created an attractive destination for Swedish manufactured parts and goods. This was certainly the case in 1930 where the two way trade was two to one in favour of Sweden but the commercial arrangement was soon to be threatened once more by world affairs as WWII erupted and threatened the possible cessation of exports from Sweden reaching Australia. The foreign policy of neutrality adopted by Sweden during the war, coupled by its geographical position compounded the problem. As Scandinavian neighbours and Russia either fell to the German Reich or formed an allegiance with the aggressor, Sweden was virtually locked in. Australia however was not capitulating quietly, Captain Lundgren, a strong president of the Chamber for 20 years, supported by fellow directors actively pursued avenues to keep the trade going to survive this commercial glitch. The Chamber, with headquarters in Sydney, regularly produced bulletins and publications for members closely monitoring changes in the Australian economy and opportunities across the sea. It took on the role as a trade facilitator between Sweden and Australia keeping the lines of communication open by mail and cables. New Guinea added to the Southern Hemisphere’s attraction offering opportunities for planters and traders to settle in the area. One of the early Swedish Directors of the Chamber, in fact, lived in New Guinea and with numerous agencies for Swedish suppliers/ exporters to New Guinea and the neighboring South Seas islands

The completion of WWII heralded a significant strengthening of bi-lateral trade between our two nations. Exports from Sweden to Australia rose markedly and several Swedish companies recognized the business opportunities on offer in the Asia Pacific region by establishing their own offices with Swedish staff on our shores. Wool jumped to a record price in the late 50’s early 60’s and Australia, with a merino sheep population exceeding 100 million, was literally “riding on the sheep’s back.
Today the good work of the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce lives on, the astute foresight of one hundred years of hardworking directors sees us observing a centenary celebration this year. We now look forward to another hundred years of assisting and encouraging bi-lateral relations between Sweden and Australia in a volatile and exciting global setting.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE SWEDISH AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

Below are some of the reasons for joining the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce:

• Excellent networking opportunities
• Great opportunities for customer events related to Swedish traditions e.g. Christmas, Yabby and Swedish National Day parties
• Interesting company visits and seminars
• Sponsorship opportunities for companies wishing to target the Swedish Australian business community. For example, Swedelink reached all the Swedish agents and subsiduaries in Australia. Have a look at our Events page for an up-to-date list of coming functions. Invitations are sent out via email to all our members.
• We welcome all new members, companies, individuals, young professionals and students. Please see the Membership page for more information.