EU - AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS FORUM
INSIGHTS, CONNECTIONS, RESOURCES AND MORE
SEE YOU ON 17TH SEPTEMBER AT
VISY DIOR HOTEL 1 COLUMBIA CT, NORWEST SYDNEY NSW 2153 AUSTRALIA
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
TIME
PROGRAM
PURPOSE / CONTENT
10:00 – 10:05
Opening
Paula Martin, Business NSW
Welcome, purpose of the Forum and what the audience should expect to take away.
10:05 – 10:10
Welcome to Country
Formal Welcome to Country
10:10 – 10:25
Setting the Context
How Did We Get Here?
Jason Collins – CEO, European Australian Business Council (EABC)
Australia-EU relationship, the FTA journey and why the timing matters now.
10:25 – 10:40
The FTA
What Changes and When?
Cathy Raper – Chief Negotiator, Australia-EU FTA, DFAT
Current status, expected timeframe, likely implications and what businesses should be preparing for now.
10:40 – 10:55
The European Opportunity
Andreas Battocchio – Director Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa, Austrade
Scale of the market, commercial potential,
priority sectors and why Australian SMEs should be paying attention.
10:55 – 11:15
Panel 1 – Opportunity Meets Reality
Jason Collins | Cathy Raper | Andreas Battocchio
Market opportunity, FTA implications, barriers and readiness.
11:15 – 11:40
Antipasto & Table Connections
Facilitated table conversations and networking
11:40 – 12:00
Practicality of the Free trade agreement for import
Sharni Knox – Head of Customs & Compliance, Mondiale VGL Brad Leonard – Manager Border & Biosecurity, IFCBAA
Customs, logistics, border, biosecurity and
compliance
12:00 – 12:10
Export Finance & Support for Australian
Businesses
Heath Woodbury – Export Finance Australia
Export finance, risk support and practical assistance for international expansion
12:10 – 12:50
Lunch & Table Connections
Networking and facilitated discussion
12:50 – 1:20
Panel 2 – From Opportunity to Market Entry
Andreas Battocchio | Jason Collins | Heath Woodbury | Sharni Knox | Brad Leonard
Practical journey from market selection and
research to finance, partnerships, logistics and compliance.
Importance of early engagement, requirements, labelling, bio security, origin, process of the free trade agreement risk assessment
1:15 – 1:25
What’s Next?
All six speakers – one practical action each
Paula invites each speaker to share one practical action businesses should take next
1:25 – 1:30
Closing & Thank You
Kerim El Gabaili Key takeaways,
acknowledgements, speakers, Chambers,
sponsors, partners and attendees.
1:30 – 2:00
Dessert, Coffee & Networking
Dedicated networking period and informal
access to speakers and participating Chambers.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
The EU-Australian Business Forum is a collaborative initiative led by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia (ICCIAUS) and OnePoint Growth Agency, bringing together government representatives, business leaders, exporters, investors and chamber networks from Australia and Europe. Designed as a practical business forum rather than a promotional event, it provides Australian businesses with the knowledge, connections and resources needed to explore opportunities arising from the Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement and strengthen long-term commercial relationships across Europe.
Why Now? The European Union is Australia’s second-largest trading partner, with more than A$110 billion in annual two-way trade. As negotiations on the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement continue, businesses prepare for improved market access. At the same time, Western Sydney is emerging as Australia’s newest international gateway through the Western Sydney International Airport, creating new opportunities for global trade, investment and innovation.
Whether you are an established SME or a growing business, you will leave with a clear understanding of the European opportunity, the status and timing of the FTA, and the technical and commercial barriers you need to plan for. More importantly, you will walk away knowing exactly what support is available and what practical steps to take next.
PANEL 1
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, THE EU OPPORTUNITY
PANEL 1 SPEAKERS
Jason Collins (EABC) • Cathy Raper (DFAT) • Andreas Battioccio (Austrade) • Sharni Knox (Mondiale VGL)
In this strategic opening panel, industry leaders and policymakers will paint a clear picture of the European landscape. You will hear about the scale of the market, the sectors with the strongest potential for Australian businesses, and the real-world implications of the FTA. But this is not just about the upside. The panel will also tackle the hard questions: What are the biggest misconceptions about doing business in Europe? What barriers should you anticipate? And how do you navigate 27 distinct markets rather than treating Europe as one homogeneous block? This session will give you a balanced, realistic view of the opportunity so you can start planning with confidence.
PANEL 2
FROM OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET ENTRY
SPEAKER ORDER
Jason Collins (EABC) –> Cathy Raper (DFAT) –> Andreas Battioccio (Austrade) –> Heath Woodbury (Export Finance Australia) –> Sharni Knox (Mondiale VGL) –> Brad Leonard (IFCBAA)
This is the flagship practical session of the day. Led by all six expert speakers, this panel walks you through the entire journey of an Australian SME entering Europe – step by step. Starting with a practical scenario, the discussion will guide you through market selection, research and validation, accessing government support and finance, and finding the right European partners. You will also hear about the operational realities of logistics, customs, and compliance. The session ends with an unmissable final question where each speaker shares one piece of actionable advice for your business. If you are serious about Europe, this panel will show you exactly how to get started.
SPONSORS
