Australian Consulate-General
New York CG, United States of America
Consulate-General address: 150 East 42nd Street, 34th Floor, New York - Telephone: 212 351 6500 - Fax: 212 351 6501

Financial Services Lunch -
Venture into Australia: A Powerhouse for your Capital


The G’Day USA Financial Services lunch held on January 24 at the Waldorf Astoria was another sellout event attended by US investors, media and business executives, and featured the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Stephen Smith.

The lunch highlighted Australia’s emergence as the world’s most resilient economy and the sophistication of the Australian market and opportunities for investment in one of the fastest growing economic climates in the world.

Moderated by former Managing Director, UBS Investment Bank, Shane Finemore, the lunch featured prominent American and Australian executives such as David Hale, Global Economic Adviser to Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Tim Lyons, Global Head of Strategy, Lehman Brothers; John O’Connell, Executive Direcotr US & European Equities, Macquarie Bank and Rick Sawers, Deputy CEO, National Australia Bank.

All the panellists concurred that Australia’s financial markets were likely to continue to grow and remain competitive, in particular the super funds and hedge funds markets.

Australia’s strategic importance in the Asia Pacific region’s continued growth was also expressed by several of the panellists. In particular, Dave Hale believed that Australia’s trade relationships with awakening giants, China and India are very important for the future of the country’s economy, in light of the possible US recession.



Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith highlighted Australia's
stengths in the Financial Services sector to the business audience
at the Waldorf Astoria.



The Financial Services lunch was attended by American and Australian
 financial services executives.

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