On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the American Australian Association hosted its much-anticipated Australia Benefit Dinner at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) in the vibrant Darling Harbour. The event marked a triumphant return to the city, gathering business leaders, government officials, scholars, alumni and influential members of the community to celebrate the enduring relationship between Australia and the United States. The purpose of the evening was not only to strengthen the US-Australia partnership but also to raise vital support for the Association and our scholarship programs, which have awarded almost US$18 million in funding to more than 1,100 scholars since 2002.
Celebrating Our Guest Speakers and Honorees
This year, we had the privilege of honoring Mark Vassella, Managing Director & Chief Executive of BlueScope, for his exceptional contributions to business relations between Australia and North America. Amb. John Berry, who himself was surprised with the inaugural ‘Great Mate Award’ in recognition of his service ahead of his retirement, presented Mark with the 2024 Honoree award. Mark graciously accepted on behalf of BlueScope’s 16,000+ employees across 15 countries, sharing the company’s ongoing commitment to North American operations. With BlueScope continuing to expand, including a $700 million investment in its North Star, Ohio plant, Mark’s leadership exemplifies the innovative spirit of Australian businesses operating internationally.
In a moving part of the evening, Australia Chair Leila Smith introduced Dr. Shom Goel, who expressed his gratitude for the Association’s support of his PhD at Harvard, which allowed him to advance groundbreaking therapies for breast cancer. This year Shom was the first Australian to be awarded the Eras of Hope Scholarship by the US Department of Defence, receiving a $3million grant to support the work in his research lab in Australia. Additionally, we were inspired by 2022 Indigenous Education Scholar, Lacey Trujillo, who is pursuing her MBA in Adelaide. As a Navajo woman, Lacey’s words, “If you can dream it, you can be it,” resonated deeply with the audience.
Minister for Trade & Tourism, and Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon. Don Farrell also addressed the audience, reassuring Lacey that she had chosen the best city in Australia to complete her studies, which in turn created great debate throughout the crowd. He went on to deliver a lively speech, stressing the importance of the trade relationship between our two countries and the infinite opportunity available for those that work across the Pacific in business, government and education.
A special thanks to the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Erika Olson and The Hon. Ambassador Joe Hockey (Ret.), Founding Partner & Global President of Bondi Partners, for presenting the Great Mate Award. Your involvement helped make the night one to remember – thanks for conspiring with us to keep the surprise award a secret from John!
A Night of Entertainment and Celebration
Dharawal Elder, Uncle Lloyd Walker provided a moving Welcome to Country on behalf of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community. The evening’s festivities were expertly guided by our host, Helen Dalley, whose dynamic energy kept the event running smoothly. We were treated to a heartfelt performance by 2019 Indigenous Arts Alumni, Mi-kaisha, who returned home to Sydney after graduating from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. Her original track, Lean on Me, filled the room with emotion and in awe of her incredible talent. The night concluded on a high note with a show-stopping performance from Australian music icon Daryl Braithwaite, bringing everyone to their feet and dancing the night away to The Horses.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Special thanks go to our Presenting Partners BlueScope and Visy, and our Global Partners, News Corp and Qantas along with our Clincial Exchange Fellowship partners, St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. Attendees did not go home empty handed thanks to our gift bag partners Coffee MIO, Showzer Pty Ltd, Aesop, Brand USA, and Cobram Estate, who ensured guests left with products representing the best of Australian and US businesses.
We are incredibly grateful to all those who attended and supported this unforgettable evening. We look forward to continuing our mission of fostering greater collaboration and understanding between Australia and the United States. With your support, we can continue to empower the next generation of leaders through our scholarships and grants.
If you would like to get further involved with our programming in Australia, please reach out to [email protected].
See you next year!
