The Malinauskas Labor Government has appointed its Washington DC trade office director as South Australia positions itself as a leader in the AUKUS agreement and hydrogen investment.
John Elink-Schuurman will be the State’s trade and investment director in the United States-based role and tasked with growing South Australia’s reputation as the ‘defence state’.
Mr Elink-Schuurman already has well-established connections and relationships in Washington DC after being based there for his most recent role as trade and investment director defence/space/aerospace for Investment New South Wales.
Prior to this, he managed the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program – an award-winning export accelerator program for Virginia’s Economic Development’s International Trade Division.
Mr Elink-Schuurman will work from the South Australian Government’s newly established Washington DC trade office. Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion announced the new US office as part of this year’s State Budget, while on a trade mission to the capitol.
It is the fourth South Australian trade office to open in the US, joining offices in Houston, San Francisco, and New York City.
The United States is South Australia’s second largest export market, with goods exports up 6.9 per cent to $1.59 billion in the year ending to October 2023.
The nation is also the state’s single largest foreign investor in direct greenfield projects worth an estimated $7.6 billion since January 2003 according to recent figures.
The Washington DC office will provide for greater proximity to the US Defence Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as South Australia grows its advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Mr Elink-Schuurman will also work toward greater investment through South Australia’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan grows, capitalising on the Biden administration’s, Inflation Reduction Act, as the US works towards decarbonisation.
His role will complement former Prime Minister and Ambassador to the United States of America Kevin Rudd’s work and determine opportunities South Australia can seize upon as part of the AUKUS agreement.
Mr Elink-Schuurman’s appointment follows the announcement of Pallavi Mishra’s as the South Australian Government’s new representative in Germany.
South Australia currently has its largest ever overseas trade office footprint.
As put by Nick Champion
During my trade mission to the United States last year, it was apparent how many opportunities exist for our South Australian companies and the need to expand our presence within the market.
John’s appointment comes on the back of bolstering our European presence with the appointment of Pallavi Mishra in Germany. We have also added Martin Haese, Special Envoy for Singapore and Southeast Asia and, soon, we will welcome on board our new India-based role in Mumbai.
We now have more South Australian representation around the world than ever before, and all our representatives are ready to support South Australian companies to expand or establish themselves in new markets.
As put by John Elink-Schuurman
I look forward to promoting South Australia as a leading business location for AUKUS-related projects and supporting South Australian defence companies looking to enter the US market.
Initially, I will be working on South Australia’s mission to the US to participate in the 2024 Sea-Air- Space Conference and engaging with US Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) stakeholders in New England and Virginia.
This important work will focus on enhancing workforce cooperation, research collaboration and the seamless integration of the defence industrial base between our nations.
