We were thrilled to host U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Doug Sonnek for a Roundtable in Townsville attended by Charters Towers Regional Council and some of our Bronze and above members.
Click the video above to hear U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Doug Sonnek's views on the Townsville North Queensland region, with Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith
Mr Sonnek was in Townsville for the conclusion of the 2021 Talisman Sabre bilateral military training exercise that’s taken place across our region over the past few weeks. The term 'Chargé d’Affaires' is the title given for an ambassador's deputy.
The meeting provided a unique opportunity for our members to directly engage with Canberra's USA Embassy and hear the U.S. perspective on its special economic relationship with Australia. Mr Sonnek provided an invaluable overview of the key focuses for the Biden administration's trade policy agenda and discussed North Queensland growth opportunities, and overcoming challenges, in trade and export, particularly the critical minerals supply chain.
The Chargé d’Affaires wrapped up the meeting acknowledging Townsville Enterprise's efforts in bringing the region's business leaders together to discuss how we can all work closer with the U.S. Mr Sonnek's advice was to "keep doing what you're doing" in raising awareness of the strategic and geographically important role North Queensland plays in the $1.5 trillion longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
This meeting was an opportunity offered to our Bronze and Above Members - if you would like to be a strategic level Member of Townsville Enterprise, please call our membership team on (07) 4726 2757 or email tel@tel.com.au.
