July/August 2026 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE 

• Letter from the CEO
• Industry News - A combination of news articles specifically curated for news relevant to the Latin American region. 
• New Members - Get in contact with our new member companies to create new business opportunities. 
  
• Upcoming Events - See what's upcoming in your city 
• Past Events - View event photos, hear about the latest activities and initiatives 
• Featured Members - Find out which companies are being featured this month

Letter from the Chief Executive Officer

Dear Members, friends and associates of ALABC,

As we head into the final quarter of the year, partnerships remain at the heart of the Australia–Latin America Business Council’s work. Across business, government, academia and industry, strong relationships are essential to creating new opportunities, deepening engagement and turning shared interests into practical outcomes.

Our September calendar gets underway with the Brisbane Annual Dinner on 8 September, at Customs House, followed by the Melbourne Annual Dinner and Business Excellence Awards on 23 September at the RACV. These events are important fixtures in the ALABC calendar, providing an opportunity to recognise achievements, welcome new connections and bring together members and friends from across the Australia–Latin America business community. 

Both dinners reflect what partnerships mean in practice: creating spaces where people can meet, exchange ideas, celebrate successes and explore where collaboration can lead next. With ALABC’s network spanning sectors including resources, METS, education, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and professional services, there is enormous scope for these connections to translate into new commercial and strategic opportunities.

IMARC will provide another major focus in October. ALABC will once again bring together the Australia–Latin America mining and METS communities during the International Mining and Resources Conference, with various events taking place across the week. We are excited to announce this year we will be partnering with AusIMM for our Welcome Breakfast for visiting delegates, an event focusing on funding for Latin American mining assets, business matching and product showcases. Once again, the highlight of the week will be our Latin American Mining Dinner on 27 October at Doltone House, Darling Island in Sydney. The dinner will provide a dedicated opportunity for Latin American delegations, Australian businesses and industry leaders to connect and strengthen relationships around one of the most important sectors of Australia–Latin America engagement.

Our partnerships theme also extends beyond business. On 8 September, ALABC will participate in the University of Queensland’s 19th Annual Latin American Colloquium, themed “Shared Futures, Shared Solutions: Australia–Latin America Cooperation in an Era of Global Volatility.” The Colloquium will explore practical pathways towards a sustainable and equitable future, including cooperation in sustainability, energy transitions and systems resilience. 

As we look towards the close of 2026, the message is clear, partnerships create possibilities. By bringing people, ideas and institutions together, ALABC will continue to help build stronger and more enduring links between Australia and Latin America.

Kim Prior

Chief Executive Officer
ceo@alabc.com.au

UQ-Latin American Colloquium

The in-person Colloquium will explore practical pathways towards a sustainable and equitable future. Featuring speakers from Australia and Latin America, the program will highlight how universities and people-to-people connections can advance cooperation in sustainability, energy transitions, and systems resilience. Discussions and presentations will consider how social and cultural perspectives can inform thoughtful international engagement.

Queensland’s strengths in delivering practical, field-tested solutions for complex environments, such as remote mining operations, large-scale agricultural systems and energy integration, make Queensland a natural partner for Latin America. These capabilities, combined with our commitment to innovation, position Queensland to support the region’s evolving industries and economic ambitions.

As global supply chains diversify and sustainability becomes a focus, opportunities for trade, investment and partnerships are expanding

Latin America's biggest trade relationships

New data from Latinometrics shows intraregional trade across Latin America remains limited, accounting for roughly 15% of total exports, well below levels seen in Asia and Europe. Brazil anchors seven of the region's ten largest trade pairs, running a surplus in each, while Mexico and Chile direct the bulk of their exports to the US and China respectively. The Argentina–Brazil automotive trade remains the region's strongest bilateral pairing, with bilateral trade exceeding US$31 billion in 2025.

Modern Slavery Statements: Don’t miss your reporting window

Modern slavery compliance is no longer just for large corporations; it is fast becoming a standard expectation across organisations.Understand why Australian regulators, customers and investors increasingly expect businesses of all sizes to demonstrate how they identify and manage modern slavery risks in our latest article.

Paydirt Media Australia

Paydirt Media is a leading resources news media organisation, publishing two internationally circulating magazines and organising six resources conferences. Established in 1994, the company is well known for reaching board-level decision makers and investors across the exploration and mining sectors. Its flagship title, Australia's Paydirt, is published monthly, alongside the quarterly Gold Mining Journal. Paydirt is led by Executive Chairman Bill Repard, who brings more than 30 years' experience with News Limited across some of its most successful titles.

BiFox

Lagos Maclean Abogados

PAX Migration Australia

PAX Migration Australia provides clear, strategic and accurate migration advice for individuals, families and businesses navigating Australian visa pathways. For employers, the team offers practical guidance that balances visa requirements with commercial considerations, supporting workforce planning, compliance and long-term business outcomes when sponsoring overseas workers. PAX Migration's approach goes beyond meeting requirements and completing forms, focusing on strategy, timing and the bigger picture to determine the pathway best suited to each client.

AMIUS

Amius is a specialist provider of risk management, hedging and brokerage solutions, with a sole focus on commodity price and foreign exchange risk. Its expertise spans foreign currency, softs, grains, metals and energy, underpinned by deep experience in structured OTC strategies, with offices in London, Chicago, Miami and Singapore.

Amius has an established presence across Latin America, with active relationships in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Uruguay. The firm's exclusive focus on a small global client base allows it to build a deep understanding of each client's risk profile, offering a relationship-led alternative to the transactional service common among larger providers. 

Schlam Payload

Schlam Payload is a leading global supplier of mining truck beds and excavator buckets that make load and haul equipment more productive. Its Hercules Mining Truck Beds and Barracuda Loading Attachments are customised to boost mine productivity, cut downtime and carbon emissions, and reduce maintenance, with nearly 3,000 Hercules beds now operating across 100+ sites worldwide. Established in 2016, Schlam Payload employs over 300 people across Australia, the Americas and China, and was acquired by USCO ITR, a multinational leader in aftermarket machinery parts, in September 2025.

Latin Temple Beauty

Through its Pathways to Strength program, Latin Temple Beauty (LTB), led by Angelica Fernandez-McKay, is positioning itself as a bridge between skilled migrant women and meaningful career opportunities in Australia. Starting with women from Latin American backgrounds, LTB helps participants identify transferable skills, build confidence and cultural readiness, and connect with training, industry networks and employers. LTB's vision is to transform untapped migrant talent into sustainable employment and long-term career pathways, with an initial focus on Australia's METS (Mining Equipment, Technology and Services) sector.

ALABC Brisbane Annual Dinner 2026

Join us for the ALABC Brisbane Annual Dinner, bringing together business leaders, senior government representatives, diplomats and academics for an evening of high-level networking and dialogue on the Australia–Latin America relationship. Whether representing a large corporation or a growing small business, this is a valuable opportunity to build partnerships and profile your organisation within Queensland's international business community. Seats are limited.

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm EAST
Venue: Customs House, 399 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000

ALABC Melbourne Annual Dinner 2026 & Business Excellence Awards

Join us for the ALABC Melbourne Annual Dinner & Business Excellence Awards 2026, celebrating leadership, innovation and excellence in Australia–Latin America trade and investment. Proudly supported by Global Victoria, the evening brings together senior executives, government representatives, diplomats and industry leaders for networking, fine dining and recognition of outstanding achievement. This year introduces a new Social Enterprise Award alongside refreshed award categories. 

Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm EAST
Venue: Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Melbourne, VIC

Peruvian Festival, Brisbane

ALABC joined celebrations at the Peruvian Festival in Brisbane, marking the vibrant contribution of the Peruvian community to Queensland's multicultural and economic landscape. The event was attended alongside His Excellency Vitaliano Gallardo, Ambassador of Peru to Australia, Stefano Marrama, Honorary Consul of Peru in Queensland, Justin McGowan, CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), and Sebastian Toro, ALABC Director. A vibrant showcase of Peruvian culture, gastronomy and tradition, the festival highlighted the strong and growing ties between Peru and Australia, spanning trade, investment and people-to-people connections.

Latin Kids Fiesta 2026 Celebrates Queensland's Latin American Community

Latinoz Queensland's flagship Latin Kids Fiesta drew more than 4,000 attendees to Brisbane in 2026, reflecting the continued growth and vibrancy of the state's Latin American community. The family-focused celebration featured culture, music, entertainment and activities for children, and welcomed representatives across all levels of government, including Charis Mullen MP (Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs), Councillor Seal Chong Wah, and Councillor Andrew Wines representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane. The turnout underscores the event's role in strengthening ties between community and government.

Please view the information below and consider joining the Australia-Latin America Business Council using the online form. 

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