G’Day USA celebrates 10 years with event smorgasbord

G’Day USA has returned with a vengeance in 2013, with more than 25 events set to showcase Australian business capabilities, marking the 10^th anniversary of the promotion vehicle of all things Australian.

The objective of G’Day USA Australia Week – produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Qantas, Tourism Australia and Austrade – is to demonstrate Australia as an innovative, high-growth, sophisticated economy with leading-edge research and technology.

It also aims to showcase Australian trade and investment, innovation and culture.

According to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the ties that bind Australia and the United States are “enduring and deep”.

“For example, the United States is the biggest foreign investor in Australia,” Gillard said in a statement.

“G’day USA is… a great opportunity for Australian and American leaders from government, business, tourism, academia and the arts to gather, make new friendships and renew old ones.

This year’s program, held from January 9-22, will see more than 25 events spread across eight US cities.

This includes an innovation evening, to be held in San Francisco on January 15, which will highlight opportunities in the Asia-Pacific, and discuss Australia’s role within the region.

There will be a special focus on Australia’s role being central for investors to engage in the “enormous potential” of the region.

Panelists and speakers include Kim Beazley, Australian ambassador to the United States, Dan’l Lewin from Microsoft and John Scull from Southern Cross Venture Partners.

The federal government, in partnership with Stanford University’s Precourt Energy Efficiency Center and the United States Studies Centre, will also host two conferences in San Francisco.

The conferences will explore opportunities for collaboration between the US and Australia regarding green energy and water.

The first event will bring together Australian and US experts to explore the relationship between energy consumption and water use.

The second event will bring together Australian and US leaders across government, industry and academia to explore partnerships in energy production and delivery.

Policymakers and leading industry experts will discuss the role of government and business in increasing investment in renewable and energy-efficient technologies.

Meanwhile, a two-day summit on Australian tourism, which wrapped up today, brought together experts from the tourism, luxury marketing and media industries to share their insights.

They also discussed opportunities to market and sell Australia more effectively.