WEBINAR


Australia – United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

11:00AM – 12:00PM CET

Location: Zoom

Chamber Members – Complimentary

Non-Members – £10

ABIE Members – Complimentary (email abie.france@gmail.com for promo code)

As we say goodbye to a 2020 that changed the world, get a grip on what to expect as the dust settles in 2021, with our expert panel’s insights on the economic, political and public sentiment outlook for 2021.

2020 has been marked by COVID-19, Brexit and rising geopolitical and economic pressures, making the operating environment for businesses tougher than ever. Yet with promising vaccine news, a growing free trade pipeline for the UK and the promise of greater international cooperation following the recent US election, there are reasons to be hopeful, particularly for those that remain agile and informed. 2021 will also be the year in which we begin to realise the long-term changes from the pandemic including for how business and government operates.

Our experts will share their insights and forward outlook on the economy, policy and sentiment in a discussion on the big changes of 2020 and their long-term effects for business, government and the bilateral community in 2021.

With Speakers:

The Honourable Alexander Downer AC, Chairman, Policy Exchange

Sian Hansen, Chief Operating Officer, C|T Group

Ian Stewart, Partner and Chief Economist, Deloitte

About our speakers:

The Honourable Alexander Downer AC, Chairman, Policy Exchange

Mr Downer is Executive Chair of the International School for Government at King’s College London. 

From 2014 to 2018, Mr Downer was Australian High Commissioner to the UK. Prior to that, he was Australia’s longest-serving Minister for Foreign Affairs, a role he held from 1996 to 2007.

Mr Downer also served as Opposition Leader and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1994 to 1995 and was Member of the Australian Parliament for Mayo for over 20 years. 

In addition to a range of other political and diplomatic roles, he was Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus, in which he worked on peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. 

He is currently Chairman of the UK think tank Policy Exchange, the Chairman of the Royal Overseas League and is a trustee of the International Crisis Group. He is a non-executive director of Yellowcake PLC.

Sian Hansen, Chief Operating Officer, C|T Group

Sian Hansen was appointed Chief Operating Officer of C|T Group in November 2019. Over a 35-year career, she has held senior positions in global finance and policy development companies and institutions.

From 2013-2016, Sian was Executive Director of the Legatum Institute, a global public policy think tank dedicated to promoting prosperity through individual liberty, free enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Previously, she spent seven years as Managing Director of the UK think tank Policy Exchange, an educational charity promoting research and discourse on public policy. She also has a number of director level and advisory roles including as a Non-Executive Director of JP Morgan Multi-Asset Trust PLC, a Non-Executive Director of Pacific Assets Trust and a Trustee of the Almeida Theatre.

Sian sits on the Advisory Board for Cerno Capital PLC and EBF International (Shanghai) Ltd. Early in her career, Sian was a Director and Co-Head of Sales for Asian Equities at Société Générale and before that was an equity analyst with Enskilda Securities in Europe.

Ian Stewart, Partner and Chief Economist, Deloitte

Ian Stewart is a Partner and Chief Economist at Deloitte where he advises Boards and companies on macroeconomics. Ian devised the Deloitte Survey of Chief Financial Officers and writes a popular weekly economics blog, the Monday Briefing, in addition to hosting the fortnightly COVID-19 webinar: health, economics and business.

His previous roles include Chief Economist for Europe at Merrill Lynch, Head of Economics in the Conservative Research Department and Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Ian was educated at the London School of Economics.

Register HERE (email abie.france@gmail.com for promo code)