Upcoming Delegation

This is the 2019 trade mission to China hosted by China Australia Trade and Investment Council to enable senior Australian business women to gain experience and insights into one of the world’s fastest growing and most influential trade zones while building relationships and connections to supercharge career progression and personal growth goals.

“When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all.” Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General 2015.  

Our program was initially devised by Alice Tay and Donna Hardman who have been working for over a decade to increase the number of women in senior leadership roles in Australia.

They observed a global awakening to the value of gender equality feeling that the momentum for change is building.  However, increasingly complex social and organisational structures mean that in order to make the difference – new thinking and courage – is required when women get there.

The philosophy of the mission is designed to ‘unleash the power’ of our delegates.  We offer an educative, supportive and safe environment for all to ‘have a go’ whenever you feel compelled to do so. Welcome addresses and messages of thanks, daily debriefing facilitation, media exposure and 1:1 cross-cultural, multi-language conversations will be on offer.  Opportunities to get involved begin as soon as you are offered a place.

When delegates return home insights can be leverage to improve our delegates thought-leadership positioning and new relationships may become referents and connectors to assist with future opportunities.

Gain knowledge, insight and ideas
Play a leadership role in strategic conversations and decisions

To be a senior business leader in Australia without a deep understanding of China is a significant knowledge gap. That is why the first goal of this mission to provide knowledge, insight and ideas that delegates can employ immediately to enrich strategic conversations, drive better decisions and spark ideas.

Gain empathy for the Chinese people
Build stronger, more productive relationships  

Understanding another’s perspective is a key leadership skill.  You don’t have to agree on every point but recognising different perspectives in conversations enables us to hear and react to things very differently.  This is why understanding what is important to China and the Chinese people is a key goal of this mission. An added benefit is the chance to build relationships with others on the mission with you.

Deal with difference
Be future ready

This mission aims to help you work out your own beliefs, values and personal biases. It might be confronting at times causing reflection about how you approach and understand difference. In today’s VUCA world (volatile, unclear, complex, ambiguous) breakthrough ideas are discovered by diverse teams. Broad perspectives, experience and problem-solving methods are needed. A key goal therefore is to open you up to new possibilities and experiences encouraging a more open mind when it comes to who you include and how you approach things. 

Listen – Learn – Connect 

Our vision is to create a trade mission with a difference.  We encourage you not to begin with a product pitch but instead to Listen, Learn and Connect.

Listen – Rather than talk. The aim is to inform – perhaps change – your current thinking, perspectives and bias.

Learn – Don’t teach. The aim is to return home with breakthrough insights and ideas.

Connect – More than observe.  This is experiential learning not rote. It is as much about how you feel as what you see.

     Program cost: $8,500

1. The full price of the program is payable on or before 14 July 2019. Discount of $500 if referred by previous delegate.  

2. Numbers on this trade mission is limited.  Registering your interest does not guarantee a place.

3. Successful delegates will be notified no later than 5 July 2019.  Together with the notification, you will receive an invoice for the full price.  The invoice will contain directions on how to claim the delegate referral discount.

4. The listed program is a guide only and subject to change. 

5. The price includes the following: airport transfers on arrival and all internal travel (including the flight from Beijing to Shenzhen) accommodation in 4-5 star hotels, entry fees, and meals as listed.

6. The price excludes the following: visa and passport costs, your flight to and from China, meals and attractions not listed, personal expenses and travel insurance.

7. Travel insurance is compulsory and should cover at a minimum medical emergency including repatriation.  The insurance should also cover personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

8. Additional nights’ accommodation can be requested before the full payment received; additional accommodation costs will be added to the itinerary cost.

9. The itinerary cannot be reduced or broken into individual elements.

10. No refunds for any components of the program unless application for visa is refused.