5th Annual ANZACC National Conference

The Australian Festival, in association with the Australian New Zealand American Chamber of Commerce (ANZACC National Body), is delighted to announce that the 2005 ANZACC National Conference will be held on September 9, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

ANZACC is a national not for profit organization whose mission is to promote business, cultural, economic, educational and personal relations between Australia, New Zealand and America.

The ANZACC organization has chapters in 14 states—Washington State, Washington D.C., Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii, Texas, Minnesota, New York, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, & California. This years conference will continue to focus on the Australian-American Free Trade Agreement.

For Australian and New Zealand businesses now entering or expanding in the United States market, there is no better point of entry than Nashville, Tennessee. Fifty per cent (50%) of the United States' population is within a day's drive (or less) of Nashville. Three major US Interstate systems intersect within the city. With over 350 businesses relocating to Nashville in the last 12 months, it is clear that there is not a better strategic location to establish corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and product distribution for the Eastern and South Eastern United States.

* Key Business Events for Australia Week: - Festival Week/Conference Schedule - Conference Flyer

Tuesday September 6, 2005 - 5:30 p.m. – ASCAP Welcome Reception at Dan McGuiness Pub on Music Row – Australian Musicians who have arrived in town. 

Wednesday September 7, 2005 - 2:00 p.m. - Governor’s Press Conference at the Tennessee State Capitol – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announces Governor led Major Trade Mission to Australia in 2006 with Australian Deputy Chief of Mission Gary Quinlan and NZ Ambassador John Wood.
(Cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina - rescheduled for November 3, 2005)

Thursday September 8, 2005 - 11:30 a.m. - Nashville Area Chamber Of Commerce Australian/New Zealand Luncheon - Downtown Nashville at the Nashville Chamber with NZ Ambassador John Wood and Invest Australia's Robert Hunt.

Friday September 9, 2005 - Select Inn at Vanderbilt - ANZACC National Conference Agenda:
(click on name hyperlink below for BIO)

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast of Champions  – Centennial Ballroom
Session Moderator – Rod Grljusich , Sportscaster, Perth, Western Australia
Randall Upton – USAFL, Beloit, WI, Australian/American Sports Models
Adam Bishop – Belmont University, Nashville, TN - College Aussie Rules
Denis Ryan - USFootyKids, Baltimore, MD - Children's Aussie Rules
Q/A to speakers    

8:30 a.m. – “Official Welcome Ceremony”
Major Sponsors – BHP Billiton
Welcome – ANZACC National President, Greg Foley
Welcome – Department of Economic & Community Development – Matt Kisber
Welcome – Australian Deputy Chief Of Mission – Gary Quinlan
Welcome – New Zealand Ambassador – John Wood

9:00 a.m. – Session One – Health Care  - “Common Health Care Challenges”
Session Sponsor - Nashville Health Care Council
Session Moderator – Jeff Ockerman, Stites & Harbison, Nashville, TN
Matt Gallivan - President Nashville Healthcare Council - Health Care in Nashville
Ira Chilton - CFP Group, Nashville, TN - UK National Health Service
Bill Kampine, American Healthways, Nashville, TN - Disease Management/Intl
Q/A to speakers

10:00-10:15 a.m. - Morning Tea - by Unibic with ANZACC Cookies

10:15 a.m. – Session Two – Music – “Music Today"
Session Sponsor - OPEN
Session Moderator – John Lomax III, Roots Music Exporters, Nashville, TN
Robert K. Oerman - Nashville Music Historian, Nashville, TN, Music History
Fletcher Foster  - Capitol Records, Nashville, TN - Capitol/Urban Success Story
Barry Coburn - Ten Ten Music, New Zealand/Nashville, TN - NZ Success Story
Entertainment by Warren Fahey, Sydney, Australia - Australian Folklore Unit
Q/A to speakers

11:15 – 12:30 p.m. – ANZACC Luncheon
Sponsored by Santos
Introduction – ANZACC National President, Greg Foley, Houston, TX
Australian Deputy Chief of Mission – Gary Quinlan & New Zealand Ambassador – John Wood

12:45 p.m. – Session Three – "Advantage Down Under”
Sponsored by Invest Australia
Session Moderator – Donald McKenzie, Vice Chair of International Business
Robert Hunt - Invest Australia, San Francisco, CA - Investment Down Under
Beryl Blecher - US Chamber Commercial Officer, Sydney, Australia - Trade
Ian Levitt – Qualcast - Nashville, TN - A Tennessee Success Story
Q/A to speakers
                
1:45 pm. – Session Four – "Australian Products In The States"
Sponsored by Austrade
Session Moderator – Damian Molony, Stites-Harbison (Former Austrade Officer), Nashville, TN
Kylie Hargreaves, Austrade, Los Angeles, CA - Austrade Prospective in the United States
Amanda Hodges, Austrade, Atlanta, GA - Austrade vision in the South Eastern United States
John Taylor, Chocolate Graphics Company, Queensland, Australia - An Australian Success Story
Q/A to speakers

2:45 p.m. – ANZACC National Conference Closing Remarks- President Greg Foley

"2005 ANZACC National Conference - "Connecting Three Nations"