About Us
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Our Vision
To be a trusted partner, enabler and accelerator of sustainable business relations between Australia and Germany.
Our Mission
To create value for our members, customers and government stakeholders by increasing bilateral business opportunities and developing growth initiatives in the strategic overlap of both countries
Values
1. We are committed to bringing German & Australian businesses closer together to shape a better future.
2. We care about our people and our customers.
3. We strive to enable, build trust, and deliver expertise.
4. We achieve this by being professional, accountable, and reliable.
If you want to be a successful player in a foreign market, you need to understand the market and the numerous issues that you may face. The German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, has over 40 years of experience and a competent team of experts and partners who can deal with all facets of the Australian market. We cooperate with potential partners and develop your market-entry strategies in order to establish your market position. You will benefit from our expertise.
The AHK Network
Official Representation of German Companies
AHKs are the key players of German foreign business development on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany. They represent German business interests in their countries and they inform about and promote Germany as a business location.
A Membership Organisation
AHKs are member organisations for companies that are actively involved in bilateral business relations. These members give them the authority needed when interacting with politics, business and administration in terms of promoting the bilateral business relations.
Service Providers to Companies
Our bilingual consulting team members draw from extensive experience to address the challenges and barriers present in both markets and have the knowledge to act as a reliable initial contact. The German-Australian Chamber can help you solve problems on the spot, acting as your local export assistant and business representative.
AHKs are closely connected to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in Germany. Together, they support German Companies with building up and extending their business relations to foreign countries. The umbrella organisation of the IHKs is the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), which also coordinates and supports the AHKs. Furthermore, the cooperation with various German trade associations strengthens the link from AHKs to business and markets. The AHKs are partially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action on the basis of a decision of the German Bundestag.
The History of the Chamber
1970s
| Feb. 1976 | First preparation for the foundation by opening a contact agency of the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHT) in Sydney | |
| 27/01/1977 | The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce is founded in Sydney at 388 George Street, with seven permanent staff and Executive Director Dr. Lando Lotter. | |
| 15/06/1977 | First newsletter edition of German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Australia | |
| 19/07/1977 | First general meeting of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the Wentworth Hotel, with Sydney election of R. Gordon Jackson as the chamber's first president | |
| 20/07/1977 | Official opening of the chamber by the German Minister of Trade and Economics Dr. Hans Friderichs and the President of the DIHT Otto Wolff von Amerongen | |
| 01/11/1978 | The chamber opens its Melbourne office at Hoechst House, St. Kilda Road with Gert Adomeit as the Director. |
1980s
| Dec. 1981 | The chamber reaches more than 500 members. | |
| 08/07/1982 | The name is changed to the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to emphasise its bilateral character. | |
| 01/07/1983 | Relocation of office to 47 York Street, Sydney | |
| 14/11/1989 | Relocation of office to 464 Kent Street, Sydney |
1990s
| 25 – 28/02/1990 | The chamber hosts the 3rd German Asia-Pacific Conference in Sydney. | |
| April 1991 | Heinrich E. Zimmermann is appointed new Executive Director. | |
| Sept. 1992 | The first issue of the German-Australian Business Journal is published. | |
| 01/09/1993 | Knut Feddersen becomes Director of the Melbourne office. | |
| 31/03/1993 | Business luncheon in Sydney with guest speaker Dr. Klaus Finkel, German Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| 06/05/1994 | Former President Hugh Morgan AO is made an Honorary Member; John T. Ralph AO is elected new President of the Chamber. | |
| 01/07/1996 | The German National Tourist Office becomes part of the chamber. | |
| Sept. 1996 | The German ambassador in Australia, Dr. Klaus Zeller, agrees to be Patron of the Chamber. | |
| 5 & 07/02/1997 | 20th Anniversary celebrations in presence of the German Minister of Economics, Dr. Günter Rexrodt in Melbourne and Sydney | |
| 08/02/1999 | Relocation of Melbourne office to 14 Queens Road |
2000s
| 13/09/2000 | The Chamber hosts the Olympic Reception on the MS Deutschland, Official Guest Ship of the National Olympic Committee for Germany. | |
| 14/09/2000 | German-Australian Business Dialogue in Sydney with guest speakers such as Dr. Heinrich von Pierer, CEO of Siemens, Mark Vaile, Australian Minister for Trade and Prof. Dr. Eckart Rohkamm, Chairman of the Executive Board of Thyssen Industries AG | |
| 05/05/2001 | Germany's President, Johannes Rau, speaks before the chamber in Sydney on his visit to Australia. | |
| 01/08/2001 | Klaus Volker Schuurman is appointed new Executive Director. | |
| 05/11/2001 | Relocation of office to 39-41 York Street, Sydney | |
| 26/02/2002 | 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Ball in Sydney, in presence of German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Dr Axel Gerlach and The Hon. Mark Vaile, Minister for Trade | |
| 23/05/2002 | Chamber AGM and 25th Anniversary Dinner in Melbourne, in presence of The Hon. John Brumby MP, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development and Innovation, State of Victoria | |
| 27/08/2002 | Luncheon to introduce the newly appointed German Ambassador to Australia H.E. Dr. Klaus-Peter Klaiber | |
| 13/07/2005 | Luncheon with the Australian German Association in honour of Prof. Dr. Eckhard Rohkamm, Chairman of the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV) | |
| 06 - 08/09/2005 | German-Australian Business Conference – Perspectives of regional Cooperation with the Handelskammer Hamburg, the Australian German Association and the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV) | |
| 14/03/2006 | Cocktail Reception with Australian Business in Europe (NSW) to introduce Mr Bruno Julien, the new Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand | |
| 21/03/2006 | Luncheon with the Australian German Association in honour of Dr. Herwig Schlögl, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD | |
| 01/04/2007 | Tina Thoms takes over from Knut Feddersen as Manager of the Melbourne Office. | |
| 01/07/2007 | Markus Gilbert becomes the new Executive Director. | |
| 06/05/2008 | 30 Year Jubilee Dinner at the Grand Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, in presence of the Hon. Theo Theophanous, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Information and Communication Technology and Minister of Major Projects in the State of Victoria. | |
| 19/05/2008 | Melbourne office moves to new premises in 443 Little Collins Street. | |
| 21/10/2008 | Gala Dinner 'Golden Past – Sustainable Future' at the Westin, Sydney. | |
| 22/10/2008 | Australia-Germany Business Conference 'Prosperity and Energy: Towards a Sustainable Future' in Sydney with the Australian German Association and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business. | |
| 24/11/2008 | Solar and Bio Energy Industry Conference opened by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Minister for Commerce, announcing a feed-in-tariff for NSW. | |
| 16/07/2009 | The Hon. Simon Crean, Federal Minister for Trade addresses German and Australian senior business representatives during a lunch hosted by Lindsay Fox, AC, President of the AHK. | |
| 22/07/2009 | Business Luncheon with The Hon. Martin Pakula, Minister for Industry and Trade, Melbourne |
2010s
| 01/12/2011 | Kristian Wolf becomes the new Executive Director. | |
| 31/05/2013 | Reception with our new President MS Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO | |
| 31/10/2013 | Australia-Germany Business Conference in Melbourne | |
| 23/02/2014 | Reception in honour of Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, German Federal Minister of Finance visiting Sydney | |
| 24/03/2014 | Energy Efficiency and Renewable in Buildings Conference | |
| 15/09/2014 | Sustainable Technologies in the Mining Sector conference in Brisbane | |
| 01/10/2014 | 1st Ambassador's Gala Dinner in Canberra | |
| 20/10/2014 | Industry Conference 'Smart Mining Concepts' in Western Australia | |
| 05/11/2014 | Relocation of the Melbourne Office to the International Chamber House (Level 5, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne) | |
| 17/11/2014 | German-Australian Business Reception with H.E. Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor oft the Federal Republic of Germany | |
| Feb. 2015 | Foundation of Competence Centre for Mining & Mineral Resources | |
| July 2015 | President's Delegation with Ms Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO to Germany | |
| 10/09/2015 | Australian German Business Conference and 3rd Annual Gala Dinner in Melbourne | |
| 21/10/2015 | Visit of Prof. Dr Maria Boehmer, Minister of State | |
| 29/10/2015 | Establishment of the Chamber's Queensland Chapter | |
| 01/01/2016 | New position at the Chamber: Director of Policy (Dr. Michael Zettinig) | |
| Feb. 2016 | New Year's Receptions in Sydney and Melbourne | |
| 14/04/2016 | New website for our German Consulting Services (www.germany-australia.com.au) | |
| 03/11/2017 - 05/11/2017 | Largest conference in the history of the Chamber is held in Perth, Western Australia - the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference | |
| 01/04/2018 | Our website is updated and becomes mobile friendly | |
| 01/05/2018 | Alexandra Voss becomes the new Executive Director | |
| 21/09/2018 | The Chamber holds the Australia-Germany Business Summit and Gala Dinner in Melbourne |
2020s
01/05/2020 | Christoph von Spesshardt becomes the new Executive Director | |
01/07/2022 | Dr Gabriele Rose becomes the new Executive Director |
Our founding members include:
