“foster the privileged relationship with France”

Can you introduce yourself and your background?

In France I had a very traditional career, with training in business school. I started working in Australia in the engineering sector, then the defense sector, I worked for a French company, Thalès, for more than 10 years. I then worked for Aurecon in Professional Services and traveled a lot in Asia, the Middle East and South Africa.

Meet Francoise Merit, Aurecon’s new Global Chief Financial Officer https://t.co/J1FwH5wGq9. pic.twitter.com/VfpM2Es8JJ

— Aurecon (@Aurecon) January 25, 2019

4 years ago, I joined Endeavor Energy, an electricity distributor. It is, for me, a very different sector and at the heart of political and economic considerations. The experience is very interesting, especially since the energy transition has become not only the body of economic policy, but also the body of infrastructure decisions.

“I think also the public sentiment to help with this ecological transition puts the weight on governments, whether in New South Wales or at the federal level.”

Why did you move to Australia rather than elsewhere?

I worked in Paris in an engineering company which was making an investment in Australia. I found the opportunity tempting and interesting, so I offered it and decided to stay there.

“I had just gotten married in France, my husband followed me. At the time it was quite unusual for a man to resign to follow his wife.”

He managed to find work relatively easily. The idea of ​​moving abroad wasn’t necessarily something that appealed to me from the start. On the other hand, before our marriage, my husband had worked in Germany, then in the United Kingdom. The return to Paris had been a little difficult for him, and the Australian adventure was therefore natural. It was truly an adventure, the end of the world, perhaps unconsciously a little personal challenge too, to see something completely different.

What are your reasons for staying in Australia?

What attracted me the most to this country were the career opportunities offered to me, an extremely dynamic and commercial environment.

“I think that the male-female relationship but also the meritocracy within the company appealed to me too.”

Then, one thing led to another, I had children, and I have been living in Australia for over 20 years. At the start it was a big adventure that was supposed to last two years, then four, then ten, and now twenty years.

What type of visa are you living on in Australia?

I arrived on a work visa sponsored by my first employer, and I still managed to obtain family attachment for my husband, so he could work.

“Australia is a country that attracts a lot of people but the immigration rules are quite strict.”

You have to go through a lot of stages: after the temporary visa you have to obtain permanent residence then finally citizenship – which I obtained in 2007 -.

Françoise Merit, her husband and her two children have had dual French and Australian nationality since 2007.

You are a foreign trade advisor, why this choice?

I was contacted by the Australian CCEF (French Foreign Trade Council) in 2018, so I joined the group, the Australia committee. I became the president in 2020. We are appointed by decree by the Prime Minister; it is a role recognized by the State, but our investment is made on a voluntary basis.

“In reality, the CCEs are very strongly present in my life. It has become a real passion for me; it’s a mission!”

Succeed in implementing our strategies and meeting our objectives when helping a company to set up, or working with embassy services to support a mission, or even assisting a ministerial visit: our efforts are rewarded.

Concretely, what is your CCE mission in Australia?

I lead the management of the Australia committee which allowed me to gradually reposition our committee’s strategy on several levels ; restore dynamism to our exchanges, strengthen diversity in all its facets, promote the sectors and opportunities representing the pillars of the bilateral roadmap, strengthen our links with the players of Team France; for example in terms of interaction with embassy services at the economic and cultural levels.

“Under the leadership of the new ambassador to Australia, Pierre-André Imbert, we are coordinating our forces much better between the chamber international trade, the CCE, Business France, French Tech, the economic services of the embassy.”

We are really trying to combine our talents and strengths, coordinate our actions, join forces and have a much greater impact. This results in relationships that are created at different levels.

According to what criteria does the Australian CCE recruit?

The Australia committee – like many committees around the world – was a little aging, a little dominated by men. There is no negativity about it, just an observation.

“In its recruitment process, the Australian committee ensures greater diversity, both in terms of gender parity and geographically.”

We are trying to develop the cities of Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. The country is so big, we can’t just focus on Sydney.

Sectoral diversity is also important: the Australian CCE ensures that it has a good representation of all services and all sectors of activity and production, which could of course help the mission of the CCEs. Because it’s not just about meeting every month, discussing Australia’s economic environment. We want to promote commercial relations between France and Australia. We must ensure that French companies are well positioned, are aware of the opportunities, and are also seasoned, of course, in legislative environments, legal and social environments, since, in fact, each country has its own little specificities.

Do you have any advice for doing business in Australia for our lepetitjournal.com readers?

Australia is a country that is very complicated legally. It is not easy to create a company, nor to employ. You must be well aware of labor laws. Our role is really to promote this commercial exchange between France and Australia. We can also encourage an Australian company to invest in France, an Australian company to open an office in France, and not in the United Kingdom or Germany.

“One of the first missions of the CCEs – and almost ultimately the essential one – is to promote this privileged relationship between France and Australia.”

There are of course others, such as supporting VIEs, businesses, supporting the embassy and economic services, Business France, in their actions.

In the case of French companies who want to come to Australia, our role is to be able to help them in a very concrete way. The CCEs are rather field actors who provide very tangible information, given by entrepreneurs, senior executives who have lived in the country for several years, or expatriates, and who can have a perspective from another dimension. The CCEs are really very complementary to all the players in what we call Team France.

Is it easy to do business in Australia for a French person?

I think you have to know the country well, of course, and navigate the social, legal, legislative system.

“This is where the players in Team France can help, advise and provide very concrete information and exchange experiences.”

CCE entrepreneurs who set up their own businesses more than 20 years ago – some of them in Australia – can exchange and in a very natural and almost organic way, explain their situation and provide information and details that are not necessarily available, at least in more official brochures.

Are you attending the APAC forum in India from November 27-29, 2024? Why do you think such an event is essential for France?

I attended the last APAC forum organized in Vietnam in 2023. Moreover, Michel Barnier was invited there and gave a very nice speech on the Brexit negotiations since he had led. He was brilliant!

“This CCE APAC Forum meeting is a strong moment which allows a large number of CCEs around the world, particularly the Asia Pacific region, to come together and exchange ideas. I think this event is essential.”

This year, I unfortunately won’t be able to participate in the 2024 forum. It’s a little disappointing, but I couldn’t free myself from professional constraints.

Françoise Merit in front of the Taj Mahal, shortly before the APAC 2024 CCE forum, in India.

The forum in India will allow the new president, Sophie Sidos, to meet members of the Asia-Pacific region. The themes addressed, of course, remain critical at the moment: the ecological transition – Technologies and Innovations in Asia, City of the future, Defense Issues and French Interests and then all the strategic, geopolitical and economic issues of India. It is essential that this forum takes place in India because the country is a continent of 1.4 billion inhabitants which offers enormous development opportunities.

Traditionally, France turns to Europe, or the United States, or Asia, or China. I don’t think India has yet been seen as a major player in this economic development, and yet it is a major international power for the next few years.

Q: How does the CCE address the evolving needs and interests of its ‌diverse membership, particularly ‍in terms of cultural and professional development?

​ Ded questions that can lead to a deeper understanding of the theme being discussed. Here are some examples:

Q: Can you tell us more about ‌the role of the CCE (French⁤ Women’s Club) in promoting cultural exchange and business ‌relations between France and other ‍countries?

Q: How does the APAC forum contribute to strengthening the ⁣relations between France and the Asia-Pacific region?

Q: What are some of the ​key challenges facing France during its presidency ‌of the CCE, and how does the forum aim to address these⁣ issues?

Q: With India set to host the 2024 APAC forum, what has been the response from the⁢ Indian government and business community towards French companies and initiatives?

Q: In your opinion, what are some of the biggest opportunities for French⁢ businesses in India, and how⁤ can they best approach ​these markets?

Q: Can you share ⁤any particular‌ highlights from the 2023 APAC forum ⁤held in Vietnam, and what can we expect from the upcoming 2024 event in India?

Q: With climate change and environmental sustainability being key themes of the upcoming ⁢forum, how do you see France’s efforts in ‍these ⁢areas aligning ⁢with India’s goals and priorities?

Q: As the new president, what‌ are ‍your plans for the future of the CCE, and how ​do‍ you hope to expand ⁤its reach and impact?

Q: Aside from⁣ the official program of the⁢ forum, ‍what kind of networking opportunities and cultural⁤ activities can participants expect in India?