ATEC News

The Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium Roadshow attracted some great media coverage when it hit the road in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton earlier this month.

Roadshow Facilitator Janette Clonan, and one of the six presenters, Harleigh Luscombe from Uniquest provided some great insights into the purpose and outcomes of the Roadshow.

Check out the Channel Seven Local News coverage in Townsville: ATEC Roadshow – Channel 7 Local News Townsville

Linking local professionals with international projects proved an instant success at the Tropical Expertise – Business Matching for Global Opportunities Expo held recently at The Reef Hotel Casino.

Within 48 hours of the well-attended event, a Cairns business registered with the Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium (ATEC) was invited to join a tender team on an international project. And, of the four Australian Managing Contractors (AMCs) in attendance at the expo, two have already referred companies they met at the event onto organisations matching their specialist capabilities. One AMC has also provided an opportunity for a health project, while all of the AMCs who presented at the event have been receiving CVs and capability statements from Tropical Expertise firms to hold on file for future relevant projects.

In addition to the relationships established at the expo, five new registrations were received from local business wanting to join the Consortium in order to share their unique and valuable expertise.

Held by Advance Cairns, with support from the Queensland Department Tourism, Regional Development and Industry (DTRDI), the expo brought representatives from AusAID, SMEC, QUT, UniQuest and JTA International to Cairns to identify the types of capabilities they are looking for when sourcing sub-contractors to carry out work on international development projects in tropical countries.

More than 70 local professionals from a range of industries, most of which are registered as leaders in tropical expertise with ATEC, attended the event and were given the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the AMCs to discuss their CV’s and their business’s capabilities in order to identify the potential for future projects with them.

Each of the AMCs commented that the expo was a very useful exercise as they met some worthwhile leads for consideration of future projects and tenders. Those who attended the expo should be encouraged to continue to follow-up on an individual basis and build upon relationships facilitated by the Tropical Expertise – Business Matching for Global Opportunities Expo. The consultant contracted by DTRDI to assist members of ATEC in winning contracts, Graham Poon is also available to assist consultants in refining the presentation of their capabilities to the AMCs. Graham can be contacted on 4040 7100 or graham@kleinhardt.com.au, and services provided are free of charge.

For further information about ATEC or to inquire about registering with the Consortium, please visit www.australiantropicalexpertise.com.au

With Graham Poon

Newsletter No. 3, September 08

Hello Everyone,

Tropical Expertise Website

At the last seminar on Sept 11, Advance Cairns announced the launch of the vastly upgraded and interactive Tropical Expertise website at http://www.australiantropicalexpertise.com.au

This will be a major support to this DTRDI-funded project to help you source and win opportunities in the four major areas of Tropical Health, Environment, Agribusiness and Tropical Living. Through this website, you will be able to:

• Source business opportunities relevant to your organisation in “Opportunities and Tenders”
• Allow project proponents or potential project partners to find you
• Update your database listing
• Contribute relevant information to the “Media Centre” to publicise your activities
• Communicate with other participants in the Australian Tropical Expertise Consortium

 Please promote this website to your colleagues. The creation of networks and the building of critical mass to bid for projects will be facilitated through active participation via the website with benefits for all!

 Don’t Miss This Event:

Tropical Expertise – Business Matching for Global Opportunities Expo, Nov 7th, 08

 Many overseas projects or whole programmes are handled by the large firms called “Australian Managing Contractors” (AMC’s) or other organisations who look for sub-contractors. Advance Cairns, with support from the Dept. of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, will be holding an event on Nov 7th to introduce you to firms who may be interested in utilising YOUR services in projects. These firms will talk about the types of capabilities they are looking for and give you practical hints about getting involved in projects. Then you will be able to meet one-on-one with them to discuss your CV or your business’s capabilities for future projects with them.

 Just remember, they are always looking for project partners or sub-contractors so they will be keen to talk to you. This event will save you a lot time in searching for the “right person to talk to” and may give you a great short-cut to potential project opportunities.

To register your interest for this event, contact Dianne Vogel at Advance Cairns on (07) 4031 3999 or e-mail info@australiantropicalexpertise.com

Mentors Program (Win-Win!) 

Very often, individuals would like to be engaged with aid/development projects. However a CV with past project experience is usually necessary. We are developing a formal database of people who would like to offer their services to bidding firms to be engaged with projects on a “work experience” mentoring basis. This will allow the development of your CV with high-level international work. If you would like to be involved by either offering your services or would be interested in using these services, please contact Graham Poon at graham@kleinhardt.com.au or phone (07) 4040-7100.

 Upcoming Seminars and Events: 

• Business Matching Event: Cairns, November 7th 2008, organised by Advance Cairns. The larger contractors will be invited to Cairns to meet with those who are interested in working on projects with them. Set appointment times will be arranged beforehand. The perfect opportunity for you or your organisation to highlight your capabilities face to face!
• Trade Mission to Asian Development Bank, Manila, proposed April 2009. Seminars by ADB officers and appointments with project officers will be made. Arrangements will be made in conjunction with Austrade Manila. The cost of this event may be a qualifying expenditure under Austrade’s Export Market Development Grant scheme.
• Planned Trade Mission to AusAID, ACIAR, Australian Managing Contractors in Brisbane/Canberra, projected timing Feb-March 2009 (further details available soon)

 The One-minute Class:

Can I still get involved in a project even if I was not chosen for the shortlist after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI)?

The short answer is a possible “Yes!” How do I do that?

Contact the short-listed firms for possible inclusion in their project. Often the firms chosen are selected for their project management ability and not necessarily because they put forward their final team yet. After being short-listed, they will then be asked for team members for their final tender. You can make an approach at this stage! Short-listings are often made public e.g for ADB, have a look at:

http://www.adb.org/Documents/ADBBO/ta-current.asp

Speak to the project officer. Sometimes they may suggest firms that may be looking for your abilities.