To close off ‘40 Years, 40 Stories’, we are proud to celebrate what is without a doubt, the most essential part of the Australian Office and the Australia-Taiwan relationship - our staff. First established in 1981 as the Australian Commerce and Industry Office, the Australian Office, and more broadly the Australia-Taiwan relationship, would not be where it is today if it were not for the invaluable contribution of our talented and dedicated colleagues.
ACIO first opened in 1981 with only four staff – today the Australian Office has over 50 members! From our longest serving staff member of 32 years, to our most recent new starter of under six months, the combined total service of Australian Office staff amounts to some 450 years. Of that, eight members of staff have been with us for more than 20 years!
Today, you will also find Trade Investment Queensland, Tourism and Event Queensland, NSW Trade and Investment, as well as the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (ANZCHAM), co-located within our office. It is truly a ‘Team Australia’ effort!
Australian Office staff have worked tirelessly to strengthen Australia-Taiwan relations across the range of our engagement. When ACIO first opened in 1981, Australia’s total two-way goods trade with Taiwan was less than $1 billion - this now stands at more than $40 billion. Our people-to-people links have also continued to deepen, with students, tourists, community and business travellers to and from Australia and Taiwan increasing significantly.
When asked, our colleagues point to many highlights – from business missions, energy forums, study expos and premium food events, to arts, culture and Indigenous exchanges. But even more important are the close partnerships and friendships, and the invaluable support that our colleagues have provided both within our Office, and to all Australian and Taiwanese partners. For this, we are deeply grateful.
Our staff also regularly go above and beyond in their duties. For example, our colleagues have regularly joined the Australian Office team in the annual Sun-Moon Lake swim. Although not a confident swimmer at the time, one colleague gave it their best shot and managed to finish with a little help from some flotation devices!
For everything you have done for the Australian Office and for the Australia-Taiwan relationship and friendship, we say a big ‘Thank you’.