(July 30, 2023) CBSI Director Dr. Xiaohua Yang was among the California business and education leaders joining a Bay Area Council-United Airlines Australia Research and Trade Delegation led by California Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, Council Chair and Hanson Bridgett Managing Partner Kristina Lawson, and Council CEO Jim Wunderman. The July 23-29 trade mission highlighted the strong economic connections between California and Australia, and enabled twenty-eight California business and civic leaders to examine firsthand Australian government policies and industry practices in sustainable economic and business development. Among the field sites visited were projects focusing on advanced technologies for water desalination and renewable energy. The delegation also met with leaders in clean tech from the EV charging company Tritium; sustainable building from Lendlease; AI and robotics R&D at the University of Technology Sydney; and sustainable aviation fuels at CSIRO, the Australian government’s national research agency.
A luncheon panel discussion hosted by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner along with the Brisbane region’s Council of Mayors (SEQ) focused on Queensland’s climate disaster management capabilities and how Brisbane will deliver “climate-positive” 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In Sydney, the delegation was briefed by the Committee for Sydney and the American Consulate on the region’s energy, construction, transportation and labor challenges. Key economic, trade and demographic data was shared with the delegation. A roundtable on climate change was hosted by The Honorable Anoulack Chanthivong, Minister for Industry & Trade at The Mint.
Dr. Yang was pleased to represent USF and CBSI at the trade mission and thanks BAC for inviting her to join this prestigious delegation.