#25 EDITION /OCT 2025
AustCham Macau AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MACAU • 澳門澳洲商會
NEWSLETTER
AUSSIE ARVO BBQ
THE AUSSIE BARBECUE THAT BROUGHT US HOME
AUSTCHAM NEWS AUSTCHAM MACAU: A Cultural Odyssey Through Art and Heritage & more
SIP & CONNECT Summer Networking Event
POWER HOUR 41 Successful Power Hour Featuring Prominent Australian Medical Professionals
AUSTCHAM INTERVIEW
An interview with Dr. Gabriel Li
Dr Max Caruso’s Inspiring Presentation on Bridging East and West
SPECIAL
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR BBQ UNFORGETTABLE!
AustCham Macau Leadership BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CONTENTS
Billy Chan
CHAIR
Liviano Laccia
VICE-CHAIRS
Vinni Leong
TREASURER
5 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Stephen Berry
SECRETARY
Eddie McDougall Denise Lau Timothy Bruce
DIRECTORS
AUSTCHAM MACAU: A Cultural Odyssey Through Art and Heritage AustCham Macau Trade and Cultural Visit to Hengqin The Aussie Barbecue That Brought Us Home AustCham NEWS
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Alan Yung Matt Helm
BOARD OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Summer Networking Event SIP & CONNECT
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Michael Keen
CHAIR
Sharon Warren Sean McCreery
VICE-CHAIRS
Stephen Berry
SECRETARY
Successful Power Hour Featuring Prominent Australian Medical Professionals POWER HOUR 41
21
SUPERVISORY BOARD
Luís Pinto
CHAIR
Nicholas Tam Patrick Liu
MEMBERS
AUSTCHAM INTERVIEW
25 Interview with Dr. Gabriel Li
NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL BOARD
on the Innovations and Global Reach of Chinese Medicine
Billy Chan Stephen Berry Alan Yung Nicholas Tam
WRITERS/ EDITORS
SECTION EDITOR
ARTWORK DIRECTOR COPYWRITER DESIGN & TYPESETTING
Denise Lau
Stephen Berry
Studio Novart
WEBSITE austcham.mo EMAIL secretary@austcham.mo FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM austchammacau
LINKEDIN AustCham Macau REGISTERED ASSOCIATION NUMBER 8762
COPYRIGHT BY AUSTCHAM MACAU
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Dear Members and Friends, A s I write this welcome message in the comfort of the Airport Lounge, preparing to board my flight to Europe, I can’t help but reflect on the successful few months our Australian Chamber has experienced. We have held several important events recently, including two oversubscribed Power Hour Series events and our popular barbecue event, both of which were met with overwhelming enthusiasm from our members, thanks to the fantastic line up of program we presented. I must also mention the recent mission to Hengqin for the GBA event on the 17th of September which was a tremendous success. Our visit to the Science and Technology Park of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the E-commerce Centre allowed us to engage with many of our new stakeholders in Hengqin. A sincere thank you to all our members and enterprises for your steadfast support of this mission. Besides, I would like to take a moment to congratulate our Prime Minister, The Hon
Anthony Albanese MP on his successful trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. His six-day visit received extensive coverage in our regional media and we are delighted at the fantastic outcomes achieved. China remains a vital trade partner for Australia and we commend the Prime Minister for such a meaningful visit. I also warmly welcome all our new members, whether you are an individual, SME or represent the corporate sector. Your support is invaluable and we cannot thank you enough. Please enjoy reading this issue of our newsletter which is filled with wonderful stories and images. I look forward to seeing you all when I return and am excited about our upcoming events.
Sincerely,
Dr Billy Chan Chairman of the Board - AustCham Macau
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AUSTCHAM MACAU NEWS
AUSTCHAM MACAU: A CULTURAL ODYSSEY THROUGH ART AND HERITAGE By Dr. BIlly Chan
wooden junks and colonial buildings of old Macau. The exhibition revealed how Macau was once a hub of cultural exchange, showcasing pieces like the restored digital representation of the façade of St Paul’s Cathedral which offered us a rare glimpse into the building’s past as an educational centre for theology. We also revelled in glimpses of the old Lisboa Hotel, the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the A-Ma Temple, all of which hark back to a distant time in the early 1500s when Macau had yet to transform from a sleepy village into the gaming and tourist metropolis that it is now. The exhibition narrated the city’s evolution from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, showcasing how these artworks evoked the majesty of these changing periods. Highlights included a magnificent dragon sculptured from green jade, along with priceless items from the Qing Dynasty, and even the Dragon Throne of the King was on display. Macau still retains its old-world charm and through this exhibition we can appreciate how rapidly times have changed while still embodying the best of China’s encounters with the international world through art, friendship and cultural exchange.
M acau was once China’s gateway to Europe and the Grand Lisboa Palace Art Gallery beautifully showcases the remarkable story of this city. Macau stands as a beacon of the East and West, a testament to its legacy of cultural exchange. The Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau led a significant delegation on a private visit and we are forever thankful to the Grand Lisboa Palace team for organising the tour, graciously conducted by the Director of Marketing of SJM Resorts. The “Lisboa, Stories of Macau” exhibition provided a fantastic introduction to the city’s rich heritage. My colleague, AustCham Secretary Stephen Berry and I were utterly mesmerised by a rare painting by George Chinnery, the famous watercolour artist that depicted a bustling harbour complete with
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AUSTCHAM MACAU NEWS
AUSTCHAM MACAU NEWS
AUSTCHAM MACAU TRADE AND CULTURAL VISIT TO HENGQIN O n Wednesday 17th September 2025 a delegation from AustCham Macau was invited to meet a number of officials and By Stephen Berry, Secretary, AustCham Macau
youth and entrepreneurs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Our delegates were highly impressed with the flexible, co-working office facilities on offer. Our next stop was the Hengqin Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park (TCM). Launched in 2011, it serves as an international platform for TCM development, fostering enterprises and research in TCM, healthcare, and biomedicine. The park comprises various features, including research facilities, an incubation center for start-ups and advanced technology and robotics designed to industrialise TCM. Within this science park is the unique Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology and Creativity Museum that promotes the global expansion of TCM. This large-scale, immersive experience museum was designed and produced by New Zealander, Sir Richard Taylor, a five-time Oscar-winning master of visual effects for film and television. His production
executives from the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. The group toured and held meetings with representatives from the state-owned development firm Da Heng Qin, the Huafa Cross-Border E-Commerce Park and the Hengqin Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park experiencing first- hand the rate of progress within these facilities and the industries located within them. Delegates from Macau included Dr Billy Chan, Chair of AustCham Macau, Dr Stephen Berry, Secretary of AustCham Macau and other AustCham Macau directors and representatives. We were honoured to also welcome Ms Serena Fong, Trade Officer at the Australian Consulate- General in Guangzhou, and Ms Tanya Dillon, Director of the Queensland State Government Trade Commission in Hong Kong. We were warmly welcomed at the Da Heng Qin business park by Liang Ying, Deputy General Manager. The facility, which was opened in 2019, is located across the water from Macau in the ICC Hengqin International Business Center. This “Superstar” park in Hengqin, is a mixed- use facility supporting industrial investment, industrial attraction, industrial park operations and industrial services. With a total area of 5,000 square meters and over 900 workstations, the project is a joint venture between Bee Technology (operating as BeePlus) and Hengqin Group and serves as a cross-border office hub for Macau
company was responsible for the visual effects for blockbusters including The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. The entire building is designed with intelligent and creative technology invoking vivid scenes and imagery to showcase authentic Chinese medicinal herbs, TCM skills and techniques. Our final stop was the Hengqin Huafa Cross- Border E-commerce Industrial Park where we were warmly welcomed by the Deputy General of the Investment and Development Department. The park serves as a key hub for Macau-invested businesses and has already attracted companies like Shein and Kuaishou and leverages the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to promote cross-border e-commerce and other cross-border financial activities for regional economic growth. Again, our team was highly impressed with the facilities on offer and the kinds of businesses that have taken up residence. We saw many small enterprises leveraging the high-end production and live-streaming broadcast facilities to promote their products and services in real time to viewers all over the world. Without a doubt, the entire delegation left
Hengqin having been highly impressed with the rate of development in the Hengqin Cooperation Zone and the increasing adoption of advanced technologies including AI, super-computing and robotics in key industries but above all, it was the graciousness and warmth of the officials and executives that hosted us on the day that will stay with us all for a long time to come highlighting the importance and possibilities in people-to-people exchanges such as afforded by this trip.
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AUSTCHAM MACAU NEWS
THE AUSSIE BARBECUE THAT BROUGHT US HOME
I t was a completely sold-out barbecue event and we couldn’t have picked a better day. With a sparkling swimming pool in the background, the atmosphere was vibrant and filled with camaraderie as friends came together to celebrate in true Aussie barbecue style. Children enjoyed creative face painting while the delicious aroma of the barbecue wafted through the air. Many attendees savoured a nice cold beer, truly sharing in the spirit of Australia.
We must commend the amazing staff at the Grand Hyatt Macau, as well as the dedicated crew members from the Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau whose hard work and dedication ensured the event was a huge success. A big thank you goes to everyone involved, including our strong membership base that came out in droves. The barbecue featured sizzling Queensland organic beef and freshly cooked sausages, and the “make your own
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burger” stand was a popular attraction in the beautiful summer weather. We had many children participating in the event and enjoying creative face painting, the kid’s club and being bewildered by the roving magician. When the ice cream stall opened, they were queuing up for their favourite ice cream with fresh fruit. There were so many smiling faces representing the good harmony in our community while their parents chatted, tapping their fingers and feet to classic Australian music that wafted through the warm, afternoon air, everything from ballads to good old rock ‘n’ roll. Ms Patricia Slawinska, CEO of AustCham Hong Kong commented on how beautifully the event was put together remarking, “You couldn’t have picked a better day.” The lovely breeze that swept through in the afternoon was reminiscent of the soothing effects of a southerly change that is experienced on many Australian beaches after a long, hot summer’s afternoon. Mr Gautam Dev from the Hong Kong Jockey Club also noted the beautiful food and the spirit of friendship on display. “I’m so happy to have made the journey all the way from Hong Kong to attend this event - it truly was a memorable afternoon.” And indeed, we created a “home away from home” for many on the day. Thank you for all your support and stay tuned for more exciting events like this one!
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AUSTCHAM SIP & CONNECT SUMMER NETWORKING EVENT
SIP&CONNECT
O n the evening of Saturday 26thJuly, over 50 of our AustCham Macau members came together at the lovely Artyzen Grand Lapa Hotel in the stunning Vasco Bar for our latest ‘Sip and Connect’ networking event. We were really delighted to have a large contingent from Hong Kong come and support the event especially considering that quite a few of our members are off on summer holidays. Despite that, we had a full house. Our guest speaker is a well-respected Chinese
Australian businesswoman, Mrs Ivy Wong Stephens who runs ‘Meat Market,’ a company specialising in top notch Australian meat produce. She’s also the President of the Australia Association of Hong Kong which is celebrating its 71stanniversary this year, can you believe it? They kicked things off back in 1954 in British Hong Kong. Ivy regaled the audience with how the association came about, starting as a business club and evolving into the Australian Association of Hong Kong. It’s a
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now diverse community, welcoming not just Australians but anyone wanting to study or do business in Australia. It really does present a cracking networking opportunity. Among those joining us was Mr Kenneth Wan, the Vice Chair of the Hong Kong Chinese Australian Association and a few overseas Australians visiting friends in Macau. They’re looking forward to making some business connections and getting to know our lively Aussie community. Martin and Anna Lindeman mentioned how successful the event was, saying it left them with a fantastic impression of the friendliness of Macau people. They’re already keen to come back for another visit. The Association’s secretary, Andrew John Dyke arrived with his lovely wife, Jessica. Their member Dean Williams was there too as well as Ivy’s husband, Jarron Stephens. They all had a good time sharing experiences and reinforcing ties with Australia. The atmosphere was simply brilliant, proving that our ‘Sip and Connect’ initiative is really taking off.
SUCCESSFUL POWER HOUR FEATURING PROMINENT AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS By Dr. Billy Chan
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Prof. Peter Lobie
Peter Lobie, a distinguished figure in Australian medicine who holds the record as the youngest person to earn a PhD in Sweden. With an extensive career in medicine and research across Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, Professor Lobie recounted his inspiring story that began in humble circumstances in Queensland. He has collaborated with leading medical experts worldwide, including significant time spent in Singapore working with various universities. Dr. Gabriel Li
T he most recent session of our longest running Power Hour event has proven to be a tremendous success, attracting nearly 60 attendees. This program has become a platform for sharing inspiring medical journeys and cutting-edge research, and this session was no exception. We were honoured to host two remarkable medical professionals who shared their unique experiences in the field of medicine. Among them was Professor
Professor Lobie is currently affiliated with the Tsinghau University Research Institute, specialising in breast cancer and is known for his pioneering research efforts. His work has garnered numerous awards and recognition internationally, showcasing him as an exemplary ambassador for Australia. Joining him was Dr Gabriel Li who presented for the second time at our Power Hour. It was particularly heartwarming to see Dr Li’s mother, who travelled from Queensland in the audience to support him. Dr Li captivated attendees with his innovative research on the integration of Aboriginal instruments, specifically the didgeridoo and traditional Chinese instruments in therapeutic practices. His approach explores the power of sound frequencies in enhancing the functionality of various organs, a topic that generated stimulating questions during the Q&A session. We were also honoured to welcome a number of VIP guests from Hong Kong. Mr Andrew Wells of the Royal Commonwealth Society, along with his business partner Ms Eleanor Mak attended for the first time. Besides, we had the privilege of hosting representatives from the Fred Hollow Foundation, led by the head of the philanthropy department, Ms Supipi Jayawardena. This foundation based in Sydney has made significant contributions to treating blindness in the global south, especially for underprivileged communities. We were delighted to have Ms Pinky Fong from the Hong Kong office in attendance as well. All our distinguished guests expressed their appreciation for the strong support from the community at the event, feeling a sense of
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home amongst so many Australians present. The event extended well into the evening, concluding at 8:15 pm, as participants remained engaged and eager to learn more. Our heartfelt thanks go to our moderators, Dr Olivia Monteiro and Professor Brian Tomlinson for expertly chairing the Q&A session alongside our esteemed Australian presenters. We also extend our gratitude to Ms Catherine Dai, Director of the Australian Trade Commission who was present at the event. The strong support from the Australian Trade Commission office and the Australian Consulate in Hong Kong is immensely valued. Thank you to everyone who made this Power Hour a remarkable evening of education and inspiration. We look forward to future events that continue to bring together influential voices in medicine and research.
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BRIDGING TRADITIONS: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. GABRIEL LI ON THE INNOVATIONS AND GLOBAL REACH OF CHINESE MEDICINE
By Raymond Lam
“AROUND ONE IN TEN AUSTRALIANS HAS USED ACUPUNCTURE IN THE PAST YEAR, AND THE MAJORITY OF GPS NOW REFER PATIENTS TO ACUPUNCTURISTS. IT’S NO LONGER SIMPLY AN ‘ALTERNATIVE,’ WHICH WAS WHAT TCM WAS CALLED FOR DECADES, BUT A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY FOR A HEALTH-CONSCIOUS PUBLIC.”
W elcome to a new series of interviews for the AustCham Macau newsletter, in which we speak to Power Hour speakers. In this pilot piece, Dr. Billy Chan and Raymond Lam spoke to Dr. Gabriel Li of Macau University of Science and Technology. A practitioner and expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Dr. Li was one of two speakers on 27 August’s Power Hour at St. Regis, Cotai. We sat down with Dr. Li after his talk to explore the journey of TCM in the West and the cutting-edge biotechnology research emerging from the Greater Bay Area (GBA). In a recent AustCham Macau Power Hour talk on
27 August, Dr. Gabriel Li, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Chinese Medicine at Macau University of Science and Technology, provided a fascinating insight into the evolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Even Chinese-born friends who adopt TCM might do so as a cultural practice, or based on the good word of others. Some of us have heard of the relative or friend who, at their wit’s end after using modern medicine in vain, turn to alternative plans like TCM and then enjoy a striking recovery. But now TCM, thanks to the efforts of specialists like Dr. Li, is becoming a globally-recognised, scientifically- validated field.
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medicine and AI are revolutionising our understanding of what is actually possible,” Dr. Li explained. “By mapping herb-target-symptom networks, we can predict effectiveness and discover new therapeutic candidates. AI-driven models, like the FMCHS framework, integrate molecular data with clinical patterns to significantly improve the precision of herb recommendations.” The Greater Bay Area: A Hub of TCM Development Dr. Li works at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic regions for TCM research: the Greater Bay Area (GBA). He highlighted several groundbreaking initiatives steered by institutions like the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Strategic research by provincial laboratories is addressing high-impact areas, from refining original TCM theory to treating major diseases,” he said. “This is a testament to the strength of local innovations throughout the GBA.” Key breakthroughs include: • Synthetic Biology: The engineering of Compound Danshen Yeast 1.0, a genetically modified yeast that produces active compounds through fermentation, offering a scalable alternative to traditional herb cultivation. • Nanotechnology: Continued exploration of self- assembling nanoparticles derived from TCM herbs to enhance targeted drug delivery. • AI Integration: The use of graph neural networks to analyze complex herb-symptom-drug interactions. • Microbiome Studies: Research into how herbal extracts modulate gut microbiota to manage metabolic diseases like diabetes. Dr. Li is also directly involved in Macau’s smart health initiatives, such as the Ao Ben Tong TCM AI Robots. “These systemsuseAItoprovidepersonalizedTCMrecommendations and herbal teas, even performing facial and tongue diagnosis,” he said. “It’s a perfect example of bridging millennia-old knowledge with tomorrow’s technology.” Dr. Li’s AustCham talk and insights underscore a clear message: TCM is not a static dogma. It is a dynamic, evolving field, actively being validated, enhanced, and propelled into the future by the very latest advancements in modern science.
From Goldfields to Mainstream: The Australian TCM Story
Dr. Li began by tracing the remarkable journey of TCM in Australia, a path that mirrors his own academic history. “TCM was first introduced in the 1850s during the Gold Rush by Chinese men working in the goldfields,” he noted, “but for over a century, it remained largely within Chinese émigré communities.” The transformation, he explained, began in the late 1960s with the establishment of acupuncture schools and professional bodies. A pivotal moment was the Chinese Medicine Registration Act in Victoria in 2000, which paved the way for nationwide mandatory registration for all TCM practitioners by 2012. “This was a landmark achievement, fully integrating TCM into Australia’s health regulation system,” notes Dr. Li, who coincidentally enrolled in the University of Technology Sydney’s TCM program that same year. This regulatory acceptance was driven by cultural integration. The growth of the Chinese Australian population familiarised the broader public with TCM principles. Today, its appeal is universal. “Around one in ten Australians has used acupuncture in the past year,” Dr. Li highlighted, “and the majority of GPs now refer patients to acupuncturists. It’s no longer simply an ‘alternative,’ which was what TCM was called for decades, but a complementary therapy for a health-conscious public.” Informing Modern Biotechnology: The Science Behind the Tradition When we asked him how TCM’s use of natural sources is informing modern biotechnology, Dr. Li’s passion for the subject was evident. He described a field rich with innovation, where ancient wisdom meets cutting-edge technology. “Modern tools are being deployed to uncover the molecular basis of TCM therapies,” he stated. This includes using gene knockout models, proteomics, and sophisticated drug- design algorithms. He pointed to specific advancements like self-assembling nanotechnology, where active TCM compounds form nanoparticles to improve drug targeting and efficacy, particularly in oncology. Perhaps most exciting is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in pioneering new approaches to healing. “Network
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