Trade Organic Export Masterclass – Vietnam

Najib Lawand has 25 years’ experience leading Australian food-export businesses and agri-food industry development teams.

He is well known for his capabilities in opening up new export markets and has worked extensively in the Middle East, North and South-East Asia. Since 2010, Najib has worked for NSW Trade and Investment, advising businesses and government on growth strategies for the agrifood industry. In his most recent role as General Manager Market Development with Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL), Najib collaborated with individual businesses, governments and industry groups to deliver projects that have resulted in new export market opportunities.

In June 2017, Najib founded Export Connect, which uses the skills, connections and expertise he has acquired over the past 25 years to help companies select the right markets, connect with the right buyers, and grow. Since June 2017, Najib and the Export Connect team have delivered over 140 market reports and assessments, covering more than 20 export markets for clients including Chobani, Masterfoods, Woolworths, Robert Timms and Birch & Waite.

Catherine Mudford is Director, Capability Development at Asialink Business, Australia’s National Centre for Asia Capability. Asialink Business helps individuals and organisations develop essential knowledge of Asian markets, business environments, cultures and political landscapes to engage more effectively with Asia.

Catherine is an experienced general manager with 20+ years’ experience in international business, gained across developed and emerging markets. She has lived in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore and worked extensively across the Asia region from these bases.

Until recently, Catherine was based in Singapore where she worked with the Singapore government to support the development of global leaders with a strong understanding of leading in Asia. She is passionate about helping leaders build the awareness and insight to help them be successful as they work across borders.

Chau is the Executive Director, Legal Transaction for SC Capital Partners Group, a funds manager managing RECAP opportunistic funds investing in real estate. She leads (legally) all transactions for SC Capital Pan Asia including Australia and Vietnam. Chau is highly experienced in real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international corporate/commercial law. Chau has been living and working from Vietnam for 14 years and is highly regarded for her real estate insights and knowledge within Vietnam and is appointed on the Panel of Judges for the Vietnam Property Awards, with 2020 being the fifth year. Chau launched the first annual AusCham – Vietnam Real Estate Symposium in 2012; this is now its 8th year running.

Chau has served as a Board Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (Auscham Vietnam) between 2012 -2021. She was the Chairwoman for Auscham Vietnam in 2017 and 2018. Chau is a Foundation Member of Australian Chamber of Commerce Asea (AustCham ASEAN), and served as its Vice Chair in 2019. She has been serving as Chair in 2020 and for this current year 2021. Besides sitting on the Australia Vietnam Leadership Dialogue Advisory Board, Chau also sits on the Corporate Advisory Board for UNICEF Vietnam, the Asean-Australia Education Dialogue Advisory Committee; and RMIT School of Business Management Industry Advisory Committee.

Chau is Australian raised, bread-fed educated lawyer, holding a Bachelor of Arts /Bachelor of Laws (Honors) and Masters of International Law (Honors) from the University of Sydney. She is married to a Vietnamese husband with 3 children.

Josefine Pettersson has a Masters of Organic Agriculture coupled with industry experience, at management level, in both cropping and livestock. Having worked in the EU and Australia, she brings a new perspective of Organic Agriculture and insight to advancing opportunities of Australian producers. As part of her new Technical Officer role at AOL, she is focused on standards development and market access to further advance the Organic industry.