Dr. Iain Corness
The AustCham August networking evening got off to a very
wet start at the D2 baraquda as the heavens had opened and the rooftop venue
was more like a swimming pool than a place for a meeting. Some frenetic
reorganizing saw the AustCham members and guests meeting in a cozy little
nook on the second floor, to be joined much later by the Automotive Focus
Group (AFG), who had the start of their meeting delayed by 45 minutes, with
yet another rain affected wicket.
(L to R) Tony Hanscomb; Jurairat Jammanee, AusCham
director; and Neil Farrell, Business Development Manager for Elastomer
Products (Thailand) Ltd.
One sponsor was the D2, represented by Michael Ganster
(now called hotel manager and not the somewhat pretentious title of ‘guru’).
His apologies were accepted by the networkers, as after a few bottle of
Broken Hills Aussie red and white, anything short of homicide was excusable.
The principal sponsor was Thana Burin Asia Pacific which
covers PR consultancy, TV and video productions and several staff training
programs. It was represented by its Managing Director, Dr. Valerie McKenzie
and Public Affairs director (Tai) Kasemsri Kaewthammachai. For once, Dr.
Valerie (host of the ‘Morning Talk’ show) was on the wrong side of the
microphone and was subjected to a ‘grilling’ by the Jock and Doc show for
Pattaya Mail TV. This mainly consisted of everyone rolling about
laughing, and I can assure you that nothing of great value was uncovered,
but Dr. Valerie does have a nice new hairstyle.
(L to R) Rick McMorran, business development manager for
Grant Thornton International Ltd.; Kasemsri K Eufemio, public affairs
director for Thanan Burin Asia Pacific Ltd.; and Gregory Hoole, managing
director of Precision Springs (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Most of the usual suspects were there, assisting in
emptying bottles of wine for the management. Mark Bowling (Colliers
International) and Peter Smith (AA Insurance Brokers) were seen discussing
the advantages of being involved in motor sport as a promotional exercise,
while Jeffrey Burrows just enjoyed himself as usual, accompanied by his
lovely wife.
Michael Ganster, hotel manager for Dusit d2 baraquda Pattaya, addresses
the gathering.
As always, lovely ladies were surrounded by AustCham
members (randy lot the Australians), including Nancy and Natt from the
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Chutima Konfai, director of sales at the Holiday
Inn Pattaya, Jurairat Jammanee in business development with the Hassell
company and a director of AustCham and the always so cool Renita Bromley.
The AFG members were also happy to come in from the
rain-affected pitch with Shaun Burke (Cromwell Industrial Supplies) and Sid
Stone (InS Thai) enjoying the event.
So despite the fact there was no sun to go down for the
AustCham Sundowners networking event, it was still a good event to be seen
at, and to exchange business cards.
The Pattaya Mail will advise the next date and venue.
L to R)
Keith Wilson, managing director of Beautiful Vill;
Mark Bowling, sales manager for Colliers International;
and Alan Verstein, managing director of Siam Gazette.
(L to
R) Peter Scott from Coverage and David Bell from Ra-Kahna Associates chat
with Janya Rattanaliam and Nattamon Puangkaew from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
(L to R) Elena Borms from Dusit International; Dr. Valerie McKenzie from
Morning Talk; John Anderson from Meinhardt; Michael Ganster from Dusit d2
baraquda Pattaya; and Sirawat Chongnetivisit from Dusit International.
(L to R) Sirawat Chongnetivisit, Elena Borms, Michael
Ganster, Andrew Durieux,
Dr. Valerie McKenzie, Serm Phenjati, and Kasemsri K Eufemio pose for a group
shot.
(L to R) Dennis Rose, AAM Thailand; David Morrison, G4S Security
Services; Taddow Boonruang, G4S Security Services; and Rewadee Rose, AAM
Thailand.
(L to R) Rick McMorran,
business development manager for Grant Thornton International Ltd.; Peter
Smith, director of AA Insurance Brokers; Nam; and Gregory Pit, managing
director of Mackenzie Smith Law.
On Saturday September 25, at least half of Australia shuts
down. This is not for the Melbourne Cup, this is the Australian Rules Football
Grand Final which will attract around 100,000 spectators at the ground and a few
million in front of television sets.
Amongst those few million are Australians overseas, and
AustCham have organized an event at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel in Bangkok,
with multiple TV screens and raffle prizes drawn on the day including two free
tickets to Australia flying V Australia.
The event commences at 9 a.m. and a single adult ticket is
2,500 baht, while the family ticket is 5,000 baht covering two adults and two
children. With children under 12, for an extra 500 baht Nanny gets in as well
(though you might have to teach her the intricacies of the game).
For bookings and information: www.austchamthailand.com,
telephone 02 210 0216 or
email [email protected].
