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Multinational Business Leaders Unite to Strengthen Australia's Productivity and Global Relevance

Abundium

Key Facts:

• Australia's first Multinational Business Council launches to represent 10,000 foreign-headquartered organisations employing over one million Australians
• The Council will serve as an advocacy forum connecting government, regulators and business leaders, guided by an Advisory Board of senior multinational CEOs from various industries
• Co-chairs Amber Matthews and Rich Hirst will lead the initiative, with Advisory Board members including major companies like Bayer, DHL, LEGO, and PepsiCo
• The Council's first project is a study on Australia's global relevance, examining business cases, investment decisions and international competitiveness
• The initiative aims to address concerns about Australia's falling productivity and declining competitiveness while strengthening the country's position in global markets

Abundium launches Multinational Business Council to share international insights and support national growth.

Sydney, November 26, 2026 – Australia’s first Multinational Business Council has been launched to unify the voice and strengthen the contribution of the 10,000 locally operating organisations headquartered offshore, employing more than one million Australians.

The Abundium Multinational Business Council will act as an advocacy and advisory forum – not a lobby group – connecting government, regulators and business leaders with the real-world insights of Australia’s international business community to help improve national productivity and global relevance.

The new Council is an initiative of Abundium, Australia’s only cross-industry network for local leaders of global companies. Abundium has worked with more than 200 multinational organisations since 2020 to strengthen the capability and connectedness of their Australian leadership teams.

The Council is a natural extension of this work, created to help ensure multinational leaders can operate and invest in a modern, resilient and globally competitive Australian economy.

Its direction will be guided by an Advisory Board of senior multinational CEOs across technology, healthcare, finance, FMCG, logistics, professional services, manufacturing and construction. These companies are headquartered in many of Australia’s major trading-partner nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Advisory Board organisations — including Bayer, DHL, HDI Global, Heidelberg Materials, LEGO, Lenovo, PepsiCo, Randstad and the Royal Bank of Canada — are among the world’s most influential global companies and significant contributors to the Australian economy.

Co-Chairing the new Council will be Amber Matthews and Rich Hirst. Amber is the former global General Counsel and Australian Managing Partner of DLA Piper, one of the world’s largest law firms.

“Australia has a long history of punching above its weight on the global stage in many domains, including business. I’m excited to be part of the new Multinational Business Council to further Australia’s influence internationally and to ensure our country more fully embraces the many benefits that global companies bring to this market,” said Matthews.

Hirst is the CEO and Co-founder of Abundium. Across his career he has worked with over 2,000 CEOs from close to 1,000 global companies.

“Beyond the significant economic value created by global companies in Australia, they enhance employment opportunities and conditions, consumer choice, competition, innovation, technology, talent, products, services, security, and trade connectivity,” said Hirst.

“And the benefits flow both ways. Australia has many great strengths to offer the world. We have strong governance and regulation, a highly skilled workforce, good infrastructure, population diversity and growth, private and sovereign wealth, finite and sustainable resources, plus global trade deals with most major markets. On top of all that, we are the western gateway to the fastest growing region in human history.”

Phil Schacht, CEO of Heidelberg Materials Australia and an Advisory Board member, said: "The Abundium Council allows us to collaboratively explore how global enterprise can drive innovation, create jobs, and bolster Australia's position in the global market."

Multinational leaders have expressed growing concern about Australia’s falling productivity, rising operational costs and declining competitiveness. Investment decisions are shifting to other markets globally.

At the same time, many leaders feel multinational organisations have lacked a meaningful voice in major policy and economic discussions, despite being among the first to see shifts in global competitiveness.

The Council’s first initiative will be a study on Australia’s global relevance, drawing on real-world business cases, investment decisions, successes and setbacks encountered when advocating for Australian operations with global headquarters.

Hirst shared: "Australia’s multinational leaders are uniquely placed to contribute. They see first-hand how Australia compares to other markets, which markets are winning when it comes to attracting global capital, talent, technology and trade, and what Australia can do to enhance its relevance going forward.”

“Given the broad-ranging benefits of global investment, the findings from this study will help local and multinational companies alike, not to mention government and regulators as they seek to promote the prosperity of all Australians.”

Matthews added: "Australia remains a safe haven in a sea of global uncertainty but one that must continue to evolve to retain that edge.”

“That’s why this Council is so important. It brings together leaders with a global view and a local stake, people that are passionate about ensuring Australia stays competitive, connected and confident on the world stage,” said Hirst.

About us:

The Abundium Multinational Business Council is an advisory and advocacy forum established to provide a sounding board to government, regulators and media on issues impacting global organisations operating in Australia, and to support local leaders of global companies with strategic decision-making and advocating for investment with their headquarters offshore in an increasingly competitive international marketplace. www.abundium.com/council

Contact details:

Randal Killip – 0425 714 159 | [email protected]