...Australia Mission Downunder a Big Success

GTMA Director, Bernadette Schell from UOIT also participated in the entire program. The program included two areas of focus: follow-up to the October 2005 Australian Waterfront Developers visit to the GTA and an introductory program focused on ICT companies in Australia. The program included meetings, presentations, site visits and events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The mission also included a reporter from the publication “ReNew Canada” who will be publishing several articles from interviews that he undertook on the trip. Additional local press coverage has covered Burlington and Oshawa’s participation in the mission. During the mission, several development firms expressed their intent to follow-up on the Toronto waterfront opportunities but also to seek other opportunities to invest in or expand existing operations in the GTA including opportunities in Oshawa, Burlington and elsewhere across the GTA. Two subgroups also participated in unique programs in Geelong and Wagga Wagga. GTMA staff will be preparing a detailed report over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here are some of the program highlights.

Sydney Program:

• The delegation met with the Canadian Consulate in Sydney and was hosted by the Consul General, Richard Kohler, and his staff at the Consulate and at his residence for an official reception.
• Delegation members met with National Trust of Australia, Mirvac, Macquarie Bank, Walker Corporation, Sydney Foreshore Authority, Darling Harbour, Sydney Aquarium, NSW Planning Department, Indigo Pacific, Deloitte, Lend Lease, Westfield, PTW Architects, Sydney City Council, Waterways Authority of NSW, Babcock and Brown, Meriton, and Sydney Olympic Park officials at individual meetings and site visits.
• Mayor MacIsaac (Burlington) and John Campbell (TWRC) gave several Power Point presentations at meetings hosted by Deloitte, Macquarie Bank, Babcock and Brown and Walker Corporation.
• A Waterfront Developers Roundtable was hosted by the Consulate at which John Jung (GTMA) and John Campbell (TWRC) gave introductory presentations.
• Site visits to Darling Harbour, Walsh Bay, Circular Quay, Cockle Bay and Finger Wharf.
• Evening receptions were hosted by Deloitte, Consulate General and Walker Corporation.
• Members of the delegation focused on ICT presented a seminar on the GTA as a North American Base for Investment Opportunities as well as held a networking luncheon with members of the Sydney ICT community. Speakers included Gerry Pisarzowski (GTMA), Bernadette Schell (UOIT), Lena Demarco (Bell) and Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby.
• Attended the CeBit Australia Conference including a speaking opportunity at the conference for Gerry Pisarzowski and Bob Onyschuk (Gowlings) from the delegation.
• Gerry Pisarzowski also met with three Australian ICT companies in Sydney interested in investing in the GTA

Melbourne Program:

• Two subgroups participated in programs in Geelong (Oshawa and UOIT focus) and Wagga Wagga (Burlington focus).
• The main developers delegation met with Lend Lease, Plenary Group (Deutsche Bank), Committee for Melbourne, ING Real Estate, Babcock and Brown, Eureka Towers, VicUrban and Long Reach Capital at individual meetings and site visits.
• The delegation was hosted to a reception, dinner and Aussie Rules Football game by Long Reach Capital.
• John Jung and John Campbell gave a Power-point presentation at the luncheon meeting hosted by the Plenary Group.
• Mayor MacIsaac and John Campbell provided an update presentation at VicUrban.
• Site visits to Melbourne Docklands, Digital Harbour, Waterfront City, Eureka Towers, Docklands Central City Studio, National Australia Bank and Spencer Street Station.
• Gerry Pisarzowski presented to the Australian Information Industries Association (AIIA).
• Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby made courtesy calls on Computershare and the Buchanan Group.
• Gerry Pisarzowski met with four Australian ICT companies in Melbourne interested in investing in the GTA.

Brisbane and Gold Coast Program:

• The delegation was hosted by the Buchan Group for site visits throughout Brisbane’s waterfront including an in-depth presentation and tour of Brisbane’s Southbank area.
• The delegation was hosted by the Queensland government to networking luncheons in Brisbane and the Gold Coast with members of their business community interested in investing in the GTA and Canada. 
• Mayor MacIsaac and Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby paid a courtesy call on Mayor Ron Clark, Gold Coast City Mayor and former Olympian.
• Site visits to development sites in the Gold Coast included Mirvac’s Ephriam Island development, Gold Coast Tweed Development Institute, Walker Corporation’s Hope Island, and Q1. 
• Gerry Pisarzowski, Bob Onyschuk, Lena Demarco, Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby and Bernadette Schell gave presentations to interested businesses at forums organized in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
• Gerry Pisarzowski and Mayor MacIsaac met with an Australian ICT company in Brisbane interested in investing in the GTA
• The GTMA and Buchan Group hosted a farewell dinner in Brisbane. Testimonials at the dinner indicated that several delegates felt it was the best business development program that they had ever participated in.

A brief synopsis of comments from some of the delegation include:

“Interesting and most useful trip; especially the idea of organizing the mission with two groups…I didn't know what to expect, but I found it to be terrific. Well done!” (Matt Jaecklein, President, Mayrose Tycon Ltd.)

“I have attended many trips of this type around the world including those organized in relation to the Gorbachev Foundation and I must say this one is the best I have ever attended.” (Rudy Reimer, President and CEO, Reimer Construction)

“Kudos to the GTMA and Canadian Consulate in Sydney for organizing a great program…this trip had many benefits for the TWRC; especially the new contacts I made with my counterparts in Australia – they are at the end of the development cycle and we are at the beginning and we can learn from their mistakes and successes; it also gave me the opportunity to meet talented architects and creative developers along the way.” (John Campbell, President and CEO, TWRC)

“We have a successful program thanks to the vision of the GTMA and Gowlings, who have traveled multiple times across the Pacific to Australia, which shows commitment on their part. Australia has many reasons to follow-up including availability of massive pension funds seeking international locations in which to invest and some major opportunities coming on stream in the Toronto area.” (Richard Kohler, Consul General of Canada in Sydney)

“It was a whirlwind trip, but I appreciated the experience and I was most impressed with the variety and quality of the people on the mission. I am already seeing results from the trip.”  (City of Toronto Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby).

“Complements to the GTMA and Consulate and others who helped to make this unique adventure a success. It was an intense few days; often grueling, but in hind-sight, the right thing to do, especially given the distance to travel. I would go again with the GTMA, if asked.” (Robert McBride, President, BA Group)

“The GTMA created a comfort level in the trip that cannot be matched by going by yourself. If you plan to go elsewhere, such as China, I would go with you in a minute. It was so enriching.” (Luc Cornelli, President, High Peak Leasehold Limited)

“It was a great experience. The contacts were exceptional and the content was superb. We are already following up with them.” (Bob Blasevski, VP, Urban Development & Planning, Mintourban Communities Inc.)

“Great experience, great architects and developers in Australia, great coordination by GTMA and our friends at the Canadian Consulate in Sydney!” (Bob Onyschuk, Gowlings)

“They have a different approach to our developers in Canada, which seems to result in better communities. I was fascinated with what Geelong (near Melbourne) was able to accomplish. It was a great program.”  (Mayor John Gray)

“I was impressed with Digital Harbour in Melbourne and learned a great deal along the way. Thanks to the organizers of this incredible journey.” (Lena Demarco, Bell Canada)

“I have never been on anything like this trip before. It was entirely engaging and I expect the contacts to be ongoing. The Australians will be on my marketing list.“ (Bronwyn Krog, VP, Land Development and Planning, Wittington Properties Limited)

“UOIT is excited by the opportunities we saw in Geelong and we are following up with our contacts in Australia. Also, as a Board Director of the GTMA I was pleased to see first hand how well the GTMA was able to pull this together on behalf of the GTA.” (Dr. Bernadette Schell, Dean, UOIT)