G'Day USA 2014 Announces Multi-City Program Of Events

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- G'Day USA, the annual program that fosters business opportunities for Australia and US companies and underscores the depth of the economic relationship with the United States, today announced its full 2014 program.  For the first time since the program began in 2004, in addition to the traditional schedule of events in January, the platform will include events year-round in different cities across the United States. The G'Day USA 2014 program includes 17 events in 10 cities with more to come.

G'Day USA is designed to demonstrate Australian strengths in business, innovation, tourism, culture and public policy and realize new business opportunities. Over 500 Australian companies have been showcased over the last decade, with participation by 3,000 US companies and attendance exceeding 100,000 at various events. G'Day USA is produced by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Qantas Airways, Tourism Australia and Austrade.   

The Hon. Kim Beazley AC, Australian Ambassador to the United States said, "This is Australia's foremost program of public diplomacy.  It provides us with our best opportunity to showcase in the United States Australian capability.  It just gets better from year to year."

Ms Karen Lanyon, Consul General LA and G'Day USA Chair, added, "We're excited to announce that, due to demand by our participants and sponsors, we will now produce events year-round. Additional events in 2014 will focus on key priorities for Australia, such as promotion of film exports, investment in infrastructure development, high-tech industries, innovation, international trade, visual arts, food and wine exports and tourism."

The January G'Day USA 2014 program kicks off in Los Angeles with a two-day Tourism Summit (January 9-10) which will bring together industry leaders to discuss growing Australia  business opportunities for US tourism companies and promote Australia as a premium destination. 

The highly-anticipated annual G'Day USA Los Angeles Black Tie Gala will take place on January 11 at the JW Marriott at LA Live and honor Geoffrey Rush, Jacki Weaver and Curtis Stone with Awards for Excellence.

Two public policy programs with senior business, government and academic participants round-out the events in Los Angeles.  The US-Australian Dialogue on Water, presented by DFAT in partnership with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on January 13 will be followed by, the US-Australian Dialogue: Partners in the Asia-Pacific, presented by DFAT in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) on January 14.

"Each year G'Day USA tackles topical issues important to both the US and Australia," added Karen Lanyon. "2014 events focus on the need for the US to 'Look West for Opportunity'. The Asia-Pacific region has experienced a period of immense economic growth and Australia is a natural gateway for the US to these booming markets."

San Francisco will be the location on January 15 for an Innovation and Digital Economy Evening, which includes a discussion about investment opportunities in the Asia-Pacific's digital economy with senior executives from Telstra and Commonwealth Bank as well as the presentation of the 4th annual G'Day USA Global Innovation Award to Tan Le, Founder and CEO of Emotiv Life Sciences by Australian Ambassador Kim Beazley.

The G'Day 2014 program then heads east where the Australian Embassy in Washington DC will host a reception and one day Bilateral Policy Dialogue in partnership with the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and the Center for Strategic and Security Studies (CSIS) on January 22-23. The event will discuss the US-Australian alliance in Asia.

New York will be the location for two G'Day USA 2014 events.  The Australian Economic Outlook Luncheon on January 22 features a presentation by a senior Australian Cabinet Minister on the strength of the Australian economy and opportunities for investment.  The New York Black Tie Gala on January 24, at Cipriani Wall Street, will include the presentation of a G'Day USA award to News Corp's Robert Thompson.

Chicago will host a Black Tie Dinner on January 25. This is the largest public diplomacy and business networking event held by the Australian Consulate-General Chicago, featuring Australian food, wine and entertainment.

The January program ends in Houston with the 6th Annual Australian American Chamber of Commerce Energy Conference, attended by energy companies from US and Australia, such as Chevron, BHP Billiton and Apache, on January 30-31. This is the leading conference on the Australian energy scene held outside Australia and is followed by a Black Tie Gala on February 1.

To date, five additional G'Day USA 2014 brand extension events are confirmed for the remainder of the year, including participation in the Newport Beach Film Festival (April) and the Palm Springs International Shortfest Film Festival (June), a San Diego Dialogue on Defense Industries (May), Australia Rocks the Pier in Santa Monica (August), and a policy forum on The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) in Los Angeles in conjunction with the Pacific Council and UCLA (October).

For further information on all G'Day USA 2014 events, including location and ticketing details, plus a complete list of partners, sponsors and participants, visit www.australia-week.com.

SOURCE G'Day USA