Simon Birmingham has served as a Liberal Party Senator for South Australia since May 2007 and in August 2018 he was appointed as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment as well as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Simon grew up near Gawler in Adelaide’s north on his family’s small horse agistment property and was educated at local schools before going on to study at the University of Adelaide where he completed a Masters of Business Administration. Prior to entering the Senate, Simon worked for a number of industry bodies, establishing particular experience in the wine, tourism and hospitality sectors – industries that are critical to South Australia’s prosperity. After less than three years in the Senate Simon was appointed to the Shadow Ministry, serving as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray-Darling Basin and the Environment until the 2013 election. Following the change of government in 2013 Simon served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, with responsibility for water policy, including the Murray-Darling Basin, National Parks and the Bureau of Meteorology. In 2014 Simon was appointed to serve as the Assistant Minister for Education and Training in the Abbott Ministry, with specific responsibility for vocational education, apprenticeships, training and skills. In September 2015 he was appointed to position of Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government. In February 2018 he was appointed Manager of Government Business in the Senate. He is married to Courtney and has two young daughters, Matilda and Amelia. Simon is an active supporter of the Parliamentary Association for UNICEF and a proud Adelaide Crows fan.

Andrew Gee was first elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Calare, New South Wales, in 2016. In January 2019 he was appointed Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and in February 2020 was appointed Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment. Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Andrew held the STATE seat of Orange, New South Wales for The Nationals from 2011 until 2016. He has a strong economic and legal background and was a practising barrister in Orange for many years in the fields of civil litigation and family law. Andrew is a strong voice for the communities of his Central West electorate, where he lives with his wife Christina and their four children.

Michael Byrne was appointed International Freight Co-ordinator General for the International Freight Assistance Mechanism, which responds to the collapse of international airfreight capacity in as a result of COVID-19. This includes providing exporters of agricultural and fisheries products with increased airfreight capacity and support to reduce the increase in air freight costs to international markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael’s appointment follows a distinguished 30 year career in executive positions both in Australia and internationally in the logistics, supply chain, retail and property sectors. Previous roles include Managing Director of Toll Group, Chief Executive Officer of Coates Hire, Linfox and Westgate Holdings, as well as Non-Executive Director of Australia Post.

Sally has 20 years of professional experience dealing with Japan in both corporate and government roles and has spent over 12 years living in a number of Japan’s major cities and regions. Since joining Austrade in 2005, Sally has held the roles of Consul and Trade Commissioner based in Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and finally in Tokyo, where she was Trade Commissioner at the Australian Embassy. Sally has also held the role of Austrade State Director for Queensland and the Northern Territory and is currently the Manager of the FTA program.

Angus Mackenzie is the incoming head of the Competitiveness and Business Engagement Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Angus is a senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His most recent roles in DFAT have involved coordinating the department’s bushfire response and COVID-19 scenario planning. He was Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Paris from 2017-2019. His previous roles in Canberra include Assistant Secretary, Consular Policy Branch from 2014-2016, and Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch in 2010. He has had previous overseas postings to Rome (2003-2006), Paris (1995-1998), Noumea (1988-1991) and Wellington (1987). Angus has a BA (Hons) from Sydney University and a Masters in Applied Linguistics (Translation Studies) from the University of Newcastle. He speaks French and Italian.

Dom is the AGM of Client Programs, who deliver programs including the Export Market Development Grants program (EMDG). Dom has worked at Austrade for 8 years and has a legal background in private practice, the Legal Aid Office and ASIC. Dom enjoys playing football and tennis, swimming at the beach and walking his two Kelpies. He lives in Sydney with his wife and son.

As the Director for Export Finance Australia’s Business Development team in South Australia and Northern Territory, Andrew is responsible for providing finance to companies who are exporting directly, involved in export supply chains or looking to invest offshore. Through this role, Andrew works with some of Australia’s best companies who are not only competing but excelling on the world stage. Prior to joining Export Finance Australia, Andrew spent three years working for Invest in South Australia, the South Australian Government’s investment attraction team. Andrew promoted the State and major projects to strategic and institutional investors. Before that Andrew spent nine years working for the Commonwealth Bank, predominately as a Relationship Executive in the bank’s corporate banking division, covering a range of different sectors.