13 Sept 2007

Filipino-Australian Appointed to New South Wales - Asia Business Council

SYDNEY - The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney reported that a Filipino-Australian has been appointed as one of the members of a state government council that aims to provide advice for firms doing business in the Asian region.

Philippine Consul General to Sydney Maria Theresa Lazaro congratulated Ms. Millie Telan for her recent appointment to the twenty-one (21) member state advisory council which is composed of persons from a broad range of industry sectors as well as those from the key Asian trade and investment nations for the State of New South Wales. Consul General Lazaro has remarked: “The appointment of Millie Telan to the NSW-Asia Business Council is very much welcomed. This is a very clear indication of the growing significance of economic ties between the Philippines and Australia, particularly the State of New South Wales. But beyond that, her appointment is an apt recognition of how Filipino-Australians are now making a mark in mainstream Australian society. It proves that the Filipino, to quote Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is indeed a ‘true global citizen’.”

Ms. Telan is the first woman and Filipino-Australian ever to be elected as the National President of the Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC), the major association of Australian businessmen and professionals with interests in the Philippines founded in 1975. She is a solicitor working as a partner for the Australian law firm Cutler, Hughes and Harris and specializes in taxation and business law, being a qualified accountant herself.

The NSW-Asia Business Council will play an advisory role to the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, which is the principal economic and business development agency in NSW, on effective strategies and actions for promoting NSW export capabilities and investment opportunities in Asia and promoting emerging market opportunities in Asia to NSW companies. It will also assist the NSW government in identifying trade and investment opportunities for NSW with Asia.

The Council is chaired by the Hon Henry Tsang MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and assisting the Treasurer on Trade and Investment. The appointments to the Council will run until June 2010. Aside from the Philippines, the other Asian countries represented in the Council including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea and those part of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Council reports to the Minister for State Development, the Hon Ian Macdonald MLC. END