As we welcome a new Senior Trade Commissioner to Seoul, we would like to extend our thanks to the outgoing Senior Trade Commissioner, Rodney Commerford.

Rod commenced his role as Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Korea and Mongolia in September 2018. His role focused on attracting Korean investors to Australia and growing Australia’s goods and services trade to Korea and Mongolia.

Having joined AustCham Korea’s Board of Directors as an Ex-officio advisor in late 2018, Rod has been a strong supporter of the Chamber and has made tremendous contribution to numerous events, sub-committee initiatives and member engagements.

We would like to thank him for all his hard work and ongoing support – the Chamber has really grown in the last few years thanks to Rod’s involvement and we wish him all the best in his new posting in Indonesia.

Reflecting on his time in Korea, Rod shared the following thoughts:
“AustCham plays an integral role in elevating the business relationship between Australia and Korea and this role is more important than ever during the current COVID19 global pandemic. In my role heading the Austrade team, it was such an asset to have a strong, well-functioning chamber that could compliment the work Austrade and the Australian Embassy undertake to grow trade and investment.

What is more important is the networks that AustCham gave me access to – the diversity of people and organisations that represent the membership, many whom I may not have met with the countless events and forums the chamber put on. Finally, the spirit of the chamber – a can do attitude, embracing diversity, support to the Korean community, is truly representative of Australian values.”