Ep 07: Transforming Australian Wine in Japan & Chairing the ANZCCJ with Sally Townsend
Featuring guest
Sally Townsend
We explore the critical importance of building robust ecosystems of collaboration and innovation in our post-pandemic world with Sally Townsend, who leads South Australia's trade and investment office to Japan and Korea. Through our conversation, we examine how partnerships between government and private sector, as well as between nations, have become more essential than ever. We discuss Sally's journey navigating Japan's business culture, from encountering the infamous 'No Wall' to building meaningful relationships on her own terms. We delve into the challenges of innovation in conservative markets, particularly in the wine industry, and explore different stages of acceptance for foreign professionals in Japan. Our discussion covers practical strategies for leveraging business networks like the ANZCCJ and concludes with insights on leading trade and investment initiatives in the post-COVID era.
Themes of Inquiry
- Cross-cultural business relationships
- Trade and investment partnerships
- Innovation in conservative markets
- Professional networking strategies
- Post-COVID collaboration
We explore the critical importance of building robust ecosystems of collaboration and innovation in our post-pandemic world with Sally Townsend, who leads South Australia's trade and investment office to Japan and Korea.
Episode Summary
We explore the critical importance of building robust ecosystems of collaboration and innovation in our post-pandemic world with Sally Townsend, who leads South Australia's trade and investment office to Japan and Korea. Through our conversation, we examine how partnerships between government and private sector, as well as between nations, have become more essential than ever. We discuss Sally's journey navigating Japan's business culture, from encountering the infamous 'No Wall' to building meaningful relationships on her own terms. We delve into the challenges of innovation in conservative markets, particularly in the wine industry, and explore different stages of acceptance for foreign professionals in Japan. Our discussion covers practical strategies for leveraging business networks like the ANZCCJ and concludes with insights on leading trade and investment initiatives in the post-COVID era.
The Guest Biography
Sally Townsend
Sally Townsend leads South Australia's trade and investment office to Japan and Korea, serving as a key bridge between Australian business interests and Asian markets. She currently chairs the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ), where she works to support and strengthen business communities from both countries operating in Japan. With extensive experience navigating Japanese business culture and building cross-cultural partnerships, Sally has developed expertise in overcoming cultural barriers and fostering international trade relationships. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for collaboration between government and private sector entities, particularly in industries like wine, while advocating for innovative approaches in traditionally conservative markets.
Continue the Dialogue
Ep 08: PWC Partner, Jason Hayes, on Doing Business with Japan & Talent of the Future.
We explored the critical importance of culture in modern business relationships between Japan and the global market with Jason Hayes, leader of PwC's Asia Pacific Japan Practice. Through his extensive research including 'Japan Rebooted' and 'Unlocking Japan's Potential' reports, we examined Japan's strategic long-term investment approach and 'Goodwill Capital' in Southeast Asia. We discussed the challenges of attracting talent in Japan's evolving business landscape and the complexities of implementing merit-based performance management systems. Our conversation covered successful strategies for creating bilateral relationships, different approaches to foreign investment, and the growing role of accelerators in Japan's business ecosystem. We concluded by addressing the need to develop enhanced business literacy levels in both Australia and Japan to strengthen these vital international partnerships.
Listen Now