Past Events

The Friends of the Botanic Gardens hosted a fascinating talk by Anna Reich on the internationally renowned United States Botanic Garden including a virtual tour of the Conservatory, National Garden and Bartholdi Park.

North American family and friends gathered at The Brooklyn and the King St Brewhouse for the annual Super Bowl watch party! Both venues featured the game on big screen TVs, American food and beer and fun specials for this traditional event.

American comedian Michael Kosta, a regular on The Tonight Show and Comedy Central, performed a special 10 shows only at The Comic's Lounge in Melbourne.

AAA Members celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with a festive gathering at the U.S. Consul General's residence in Sydney.

A mix of corporate and individual members and their guests sampled cocktails and canapés whilst enjoying a lovely Sydney evening on the terrace.

The AAA hosted its annual Thanksgiving feast on 24 November at Postales Restaurant in the GPO Sydney.

Members and their guests enjoyed a traditional American Thanksgiving buffet of carved turkey and roast beef + all the trimmings, stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash purée and pumpkin and pecan pies!

The Harvard Club of Australia celebrated its 50th anniversary at the QVB Tea Room with an evening of entertainment and special appearances including an address by Ambassador Jeffrey L. Bleich, US Ambassador to Australia.

Roy Neel, visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne presented a public lecture entitled "Would the world have been different under US President Al Gore?"

Neel is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University and the current Chief of Staff for former Vice President Al Gore, overseeing his climate change advocacy programs, national and international political relationships and liaison with his clean energy business interests.

The annual Crave Sydney International Food Festival kicked-off with the World Chef Showcase on the weekend of 1-2 October.

Hundreds of extraordinary food events including Night Noodle Markets and Barbecue Madness brought Sydney to life for a month!

MLB and Sony Pictures hosted a private screening of Moneyball in celebration of the upcoming 2011 World Series and the Australian Baseball League season. 200 VIPs enjoyed American treats, games and networking.

David Raleigh and Nathan Leigh Jones - the best of New York piano-soul and Sydney piano-pop - performed at Notes in Newtown on 2 October. For upcoming performances, visit their websites:

David Raleigh
Nathan Leigh Jones

The Alumni Clubs of Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Harvard hosted a HELLO SPRING! celebration of sun, flowers and outdoor dining at Bungalow 8 on the King Street Wharf.

More than 1200 people gathered at an interfaith memorial service at St Mary’s Cathedral to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

The ceremony began with the stirring sounds of a didgeridoo played by Aboriginal film-maker William Barton. Father Paul Hilder introduced US Consul General Niels Marquardt who commented on the Australian way of remembering significant past events citing the oft-used “Lest We forget”.

Bells tolled as the names of the ten Australian victims were read and a candle was lit in their names. David Campbell followed with a moving “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.

The service concluded with thoughts from His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Sheikh Dr Mohammed Anas and Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence.

The event was proudly supported by the AAA Ltd.

The MWF presented over 400 writers from around the world in a programme of talks, debates, literary banquets, film screenings, gigs and workshops.

Two special US connections included Alice Pung's memoir "Her Father's Daughter" launch and a "Middle East; Spring or Fall" panel discussion with Professor Mona Eltahawy and author Joseph Braud.

The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery joined forces with CarriageWorks in Sydney to create an exhibition featuring contemporary artists from each metropolis.

For more information on the 2011 exhibition, visit carriageworks.com.au.

The US Studies Centre in partnership with The Wheeler Centre hosted A Dialogue with Thomas Friedman on the World Today at Melbourne Town Hall and the Sydney Opera House.

Thomas Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize recipient for The New York Times and one of the world's most well-known and influential journalists discussed the rise of China and emerging Asia, the Middle East and the Arab Spring and his upcoming book That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World We Invented and How We Can Come Back.

The Stanford Alumni Association hosted an evening of Art and Wine at the Roslyn Oxley Gallery in Paddington. Guests enjoyed a pairing of star contemporary Australian artists with an alluring array of Vasse Felix wines. Artists Del Kathryn Barton (painter) and Marley Dawson (sculptor) spoke about their work.

Work by Del Kathryn Barton

Global consulting firm Simon-Kucher & Partners hosted its first Pricing Strategy Forum in Sydney. Participants learned best practices in the field including how to tackle today’s pricing challenges in Australia. Company founder and internationally esteemed bestseller author Hermann Simon presented the secrets of success for Hidden Champions, unknown world market leaders, and explained what large corporations can learn from them.

The American Women's Auxiliary to the Royal Children's Hospital celebrated their 80th anniversary with an American Independence Day Ball at the Sofitel in Melbourne. The black tie affair featured dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions.

AAA in partnership with Fragomen, a global immigration services provider and Australia’s largest immigration law firm, hosted a free immigration breakfast session on Global Mobility - moving employees between Australia and the US.

Experts discussed the options, pathways and processes involved for sponsoring companies who wish to employ foreign nationals to Australia or to the US for short-term or long-term work opportunities.

The US Studies Centre held the second of its 'Conversations with the Prime Ministers' series, this time with The Hon RJ Hawke AC and The Australian's editor-at-large and esteemed political commentator Paul Kelly.

Mr Hawke discussed his relationship with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush and the impact of the alliance on Australian domestic politics including the more independent line that Australia took from the US on key foreign policy issues during those years. Mr Hawke spoke candidly of the challenges facing the present Chinese leadership and the implications of the rise of China for Asia-Pacific and Australia's relationship with America.

AAA commemorated the 69th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea (4-8 May 1942) with its annual Cenotaph Service in Martin Square.

Official guests included AAA Deputy Chairman Michael Baume AO, US Consul General Niels Marquardt and NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, amongst other distinguished guests.

AAA in partnership with Sullivan & Cromwell hosted a roundtable breakfast with the esteemed Dr Ziggy Switkowski on the impact of the Fukushima disaster.

According to Dr Switkowski, Australia's best-known nuclear power expert, the impact of any meltdown in Japanese nuclear reactors damaged by the recent earthquake will be small compared to the devastation caused to them by the quake itself and the subsequent tsunami. Public perception and the politics associated with the question of nuclear power are the major hurdles to be overcome if nuclear power is to become a major source of energy in Australia.

The United States Studies Centre hosted an evening at the Customs House with Former Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard reflected on his decade's experience with Australia's most important international ally, the United States. Joining the conversation was Australia's preeminent print journalist Paul Kelly.

AAA and Genworth Financial hosted an exclusive discussion luncheon at The American Club on the future of securitisation featuring key industry leaders:

Chris Dalton, CEO, Australian Securitisation Forum
Tom Deutsch, Executive Director, American Securitization Forum
Greg Medcraft, Commissioner, Australian Securities & Investment Commission