Christmas Corporate Lunch

The Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry Qld rounded off the 2010 year with a Christmas celebration luncheon for members and special guests.

The guests of honour were three pre-eminent Italo-Australians: The Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP, Federal Member for Brisbane, Ross Vasta MP, Federal Member for Bonner and Grace Grace MP, State Member for Brisbane Central.

The three dignitaries were interviewed during the lunch by the Chamber's President, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro. Guests and members were provided with an interesting perspective on the motivation and political beliefs of the three MPs.

The event underlined the continued re-emergence of the Chamber in its ambition to become the pre-eminent Australia-Italy business and cultural connection, fostering strong relations between the business and cultural communities in Queensland and Italy.

Other special guests attending the lunch included Tim Nicholls MP, State Member for Clayfield and Shadow Treasurer of Queensland, The Hon Gary Hardgrave, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, The Hon Con Sciacca AO, Dr. Francesco Capecchi, outgoing Consul of Italy in Brisbane, Serge Voloshenko, President Qld Ethnic Community Council, Antonio Colicchia, Vice-Consul of Italy in Brisbane, Dean Merlo, Nereo Brezzi, President of Co.as.it, Guiseppe Murtas, President of the Sardinian Association and Cav. Luigi Monforte.

The Chamber, strongly supported by a group of major corporate sponsors such as Ansaldo-STS, EuroMarque, Singapore Airlines, is planning a series of events throughout 2011, including Italy meets Australia, a day of fun planned for Australia Day 2011.

The Corporate Lunch with The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and Cr Campbell Newman as special guest speaker that will be held on the 16th February 2011.

Former Premier of Queensland, The Honourable Peter Beattie has agreed to be the special guest speaker at the March Corporate Lunch.

Also soon to be formally announced is an exciting Member to Member programme which will significantly enhance the value of Chamber membership for its sponsors and members alike.

The Chamber wishes to thank its major corporate sponsors, Ansaldo-STS, EuroMarque, Singapore Airlines and New Realm Media and the Chamber supporters, dell’Ugo Ristorante Italiano, Di Bella Coffee, Dolci Sapori, Gerbino’s , Gusto da Gianni and Italiquore Brands International.

For further information about the chamber and forthcoming events, go to http://www.icci.com.au/ or send an e-mail to info@icci.com.au

Here are the pictures of the event

 Paul Roati, Nelson Heck, Hon.Comm. Santo Santoro, Daryl Scott, Greg Skyring.

                    Nicolas Toth, Karen Bartlett, Elio Marzullo, Grace Grace MP

               Luigi Monforte, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

         Grace Grace MP, Francesco Capecchi

      Chris Smedley, Giuseppe Murtas, Anna Murtas

           Michael Walsh, Peter Costello

             Allan Pdgeon, Francesco Capecchi, Peter Costantini, Ross Vasta MP 

                 Bree-Anna Veling, Julie Darch, Marcellina Turrisi, Pamela Caulfield, 

                  Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro,  Maria Twin, Gloria Robertiello.

               David McAliece, Peter Costantini,Geoff Thomas, Phil Kesby, Elio Marzullo,

                    Hon.Con. Sciacca AO,Karen Bartlett, Nicolas Toth, Luke Gribon, David Sorban

          Maria di Francesco/Casa Italia, Rachel Bowes 

              Pamela Caulfield, Maria Twin, Catherine Michaels, Lora Calvisi, Dean Merlo,

              Matthew Sorbello, Alf Sorbello, Chris Smedley, David Lane, Paul Roati.

    Peter Costello

              Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

      Ross Vasta MP, Grace Grace MP, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

           Francesco Capecchi, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

     Francesco Capecchi

The Hon. Comm. Santo Santoro, Peter Costello

Jorma Oksanen, Ross Vasta MP, Michael Walsh

 Ross Vasta MP, Grace Grace MP, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

 Ross Vasta MP, Grace Grace MP, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

 Ross Vasta MP, Grace Grace MP, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

 Ross Vasta MP, Grace Grace MP, Hon. Teresa Gambaro, Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

Comm. The Hon. Santo Santoro

Francesco Capecchi, Comm.The Hon. Santo Santoro

Francesco Capecchi, Comm.The Hon. Santo Santoro

The Hon.Comm. Santo Santoro, Federica Odorisio, Peter Costello

A Message from the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce

During the past three months, the Board of the Italian Chamber of Commerce has focussed on putting in place an innovative plan to significantly enhance the benefits and services the Chamber offers, including the move toward embracing the electronic era and developing a paperless office. Improved services will be supported by an administrative structure enabling the Chamber to grow and develop as a commercially efficient and culturally significant organisation.


The Board has initiated a number of initiatives including;

The Organisation of Major Networking Functions

Details of the first two major networking functions are enclosed below. You are cordially invited to attend the lunch and the cocktail party with the Italian Ambassador. This event forms part of the ‘Sistema Italia’ project, which see’s the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland host the Ambassador of Italy, the Italian Trade Commissioner, Consuls from each state, the Presidents and Secretary Generals for all of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia and the Italian Institute of Culture.

We expect a large attendance at both of the functions, which I am sure will be good networking opportunities and very enjoyable.

Two other major networking functions are being organised before Christmas and details will soon be provided.

The Redevelopment of the ICCI Website

The Board, in conjunction with the Administration team, are presently working on developing a fully functional electronic commerce strategy and web site, which will allow members to join the Chamber and interact with the website to manage their own profiles. This new platform will form the cornerstone for expansion into streamlined operations and state of the art management of data with the highest level of security.

To get to the interim website, go to http://www.icci.com.au/

The Provision of Consulting Services to Business

The amount of consulting services provided by the Chamber to members and other businesses is steadily increasing and beginning to generate as we expand the network to incorporate Italian and Australian Universities, Trade Queensland, and many other major organisations and institutions.

The Appointment of a New Secretary General and Trade Officer

The new Board is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General – Cav. Alessandro Sorbello, Producer of the Official ‘Italian Week’ , an Initiative of the Italian Consulate, joined the Italian Chamber on the 6th of July. Miss Federica Odorisio joined the Chamber as the new Trade Officer. Alessandro and Federica are already proving their very substantial worth. The Chamber has recruited the best talent to secure re-emergence as the pre-eminent organisation of its type in Australia.

The Promotion of Visits by Italian Business Delegates to Australia and Queensland

Both the Treasurer of the Chamber and I have recently travelled to Italy and whilst there have had very useful meetings with senior representatives of Italian-based Chambers of Commerce and other relevant authorities, encouraging them to put together trade delegation visits to our country.

The response to these direct approaches (and to very regular contact with Italian companies and authorities by our Chamber officers) has been very encouraging. We expect visits to Australia to eventuate.

Collaboration with the Australian Italian Chambers of Commerce

The above trade/businesses development work is being complimented by the development of closer ties between the ICCI (Qld) and the other Italian Chambers of Commerce in Australia. We are promoting Australia as a multiple destination for incoming trade missions and we are pleased with the greater goodwill that is developing between all of the Chambers of Commerce in Australia.

Other Initiatives

Much more is being worked upon, including the development of a significant membership drive, sponsorship packages and specific service offerings to our members. More on these and other initiatives in the near future. Stay tuned for the Member2Member program currently under development, which will see a significant value proposition for all existing and new members of the Chamber.

In the meantime, please join the Board and the Administration team along with the Ambassador of Italy and the ‘Sistema Italia’ network for the Ambassadors lunch and cocktail, hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland.

Italian Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Sistema Italia to Brisbane

Italian Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Sistema Italia to Brisbane


The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia (Qld) will host ‘Sistema Italia’ at their first corporate business lunch next week.

Sistema Italia is comprised of the Ambassador of Italy, the Consul General’s of New South Wales and Victoria and the Consul’s of Queensland and Northern Territory, and Western Australia, the Presidents and Secretary Generals of all of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Australia, the Italian Film Festival and Palace Cinema Director, and the Directors of the Italian Institutes of Culture of Sydney and Melbourne.

All of these individuals and other senior Italian business leaders, such as the CEO of Ansaldo STS, Managing Director of Ferrero Australia, Managing Director of Ghella, Director and Managing Director of Savino del Bene and the President of Veneto Innovazione, will be attending the meeting of Sistema Italia in Brisbane on Monday 4th October.

Of special note is the attendance of the Economic Assessor for the Region of Tuscany, who is travelling to Brisbane from Italy especially for the Meeting and Luncheon.

Also attending will be the Australian Consul in Milan and Trade Commissioner Designate, Simone Desmarchelier.

Coinciding with this important occasion, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qld has organised a business networking lunch with the Ambassador and the ‘Sistema Italia’ network as special guests. This unique lunch will be held at Gusto da Gianni Portside at 12 noon on Monday, 4th of October.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Queensland views the staging of this important meeting as a strong sign of support by the Italian Ambassador and the Italian authorities for the Chamber and its future.

A growing number of Italian and Australian organisations have expressed strong interest in developing international trade and bilateral cultural exchanges between the two countries.

For further information, please contact Alessandro Sorbello, Secretary General at the Italian Chamber of Commerce (Qld) on (07) 3392 2499 or Santo Santoro, President, on (07) 3262 4266