AA Insurance Brokers hook the Aussie Chamber

By Dr. Iain Corness

The Northern Thailand branch of AA Insurance Brokers has been organizing monthly networking events through its not-for-profit Networking One division.  October saw the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) make its way north from Bangkok to avail themselves of the opportunity and hold a Sundowners networking in Chiang Mai at the superb Shangri-La hotel in Changklan Road.

Before the event, AustCham’s hard working executive director Brett Gannaway indicated that the Chiang Mai Sundowners was a true AustCham Thailand Chiang Mai business networking function.  These are great opportunities for members of the Chiang Mai community to meet, network and exchange views in a social environment.  This format has been used to great success throughout Thailand, and AustCham were excited at the possibilities that were being presented by having a Chiang Mai Sundowners.

AustCham members and its Board from Bangkok, encouraged attendees to bring along colleagues, business associates and friends to the networking event to make it a great and enjoyable night.

With over 60 people attending, it filled the Shangri-La’s Silapathai Lounge and Bar, with its captain Mattana busy all through the event dispensing beer and red and white wines.

The AustCham executives, headed by president Andrew Durieux with executive director Brett Gannaway, and directors ML Laksasubha Kridakon and David Armstrong, mingled with the Chiang Mai crowd, of whom many were interested to know what the Australian Chamber could do for them, and when the chamber would go north again.

The Australian Embassy staff were also interested in how many Aussies would appear in Chiang Mai, and Michael Walther (Hon. Consul Chiang Mai), Jayne Bruce (Political and economic section) and Mark Wood (Austrade) all blended in with the networkers.

The participants showed the great diversity that exists in Chiang Mai trade, industry and business, with Catherine (“the Great”) Kostos waxing lyrical over the book business, while Bruce Bikerstaff spoke on his new book on business.  Look out for it when it is published shortly.  Another author (Dr. Iain), with his new book “Farang, The Sequel” also had some signed copies he had brought up for the evening.

Mention must be made of the venue, the Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai, a superb property which will be ready for the hoped-for influx of tourists later this year (all fingers and toes crossed).  James Hang, the director of sales welcomed everyone personally, while the F&B director Golden Whitehead reminisced on his times in Canberra, Australia’s seat of power, including making pasta for the (then) prime minister John Howard.  What a wonderful mix you can find in the north.

Other hoteliers, or in the hospitality business, included ML Laksasubha with her Baan Laksasubha in Hua Hin, Ian McDougall with the Ancient Lotus eco-friendly villa in Doi Saket and Sumalya Suriya with the Baan Montra Boutique Resort and Spa in Chang Mai.

Despite the economic woes, the Chiang Mai networkers were all fairly upbeat, with Richard Lusk very happy with the way his business (Quiver surfboard blanks) was floating along nicely and Martin Venzky-Stalling from CMU’s Technology Park Project Office was also right on the dot com.

The Chiang Mai Mail photographers were there in force, snapping away at the multitude, one of whom being Wyndham Hollis who is a photographer himself.  Chiang Mai local David Hardcastle enjoyed the evening, whilst propping up a corner of the bar.

Thai Visa dot com’s Barry Main also made the trip north, looking to expand the Thai Visa data base to incorporate more Chiang Mai coverage which will be good news for everyone in Chiang Mai, whilst AA Insurance Brokers’ GM in the north Richard Prouse was another happy networker, along with his right hand lady Khun Mam (complete with electronic name tag).

Andrew Durieux from AustCham mentioned the directions being taken by the Aussie chamber, and he was very pleased with the event.  The Publisher of the Chiang Mai Mail, Peter Malhotra exhorted everyone to pull together towards a more profitable future for everyone, and Networking One’s representative Peter Smith also spoke briefly, to explain a little of what Networking One was all about.  As an aside, the Australian Chamber has asked Networking One to look at an event in Udon Thani and has confirmed they will return to Chiang Mai within the next six months and it looks as if this will be combined with a golf tournament, very similar to the very popular one in Pattaya.

This event was an unqualified success, and when the word gets spread around the northern community, we can expect more, bigger and more frequently.  Well done everyone and thanks again to Networking One.