Startups in the sun - Sydney & New South Wales

Following Russell's productive time in LA, the next stage of his journey took him to Australia to explore the StartUp scene in Sydney and New South Wales where the entrepreneurial ecosystem is best described as vibrant.

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One thing that is hard to comprehend in Australia is scale. The country is three-quarters the size of Europe with a population of a little over 26million. Whether it's the climate or the immigrant-driven source of talent in Australia, there is a real drive here not only in innovation but in the exploitation of new technology with the ultimate goal of winning in global markets.

"Huge thanks to Baris Atayman of Scottish Development International and Jonathan Cook, Deputy Consul General in Sydney for hosting us at the British Consulate today. With the help of Scottish Business Network ambassador Peter Gardiner we had the opportunity to explore a broad range of collaborative opportunities which exist between Scotland and Australia. I love these meetings as it allows me to bring together not only my work with Scottish Business Network but also the role I perform with Department for Business and Trade Global Entrepreneur Programme." - Russell Dalgleish, Chair of SBN & GEP Dealmaker

"Scottish diaspora is key for us to deliver transformational economic impact in Scotland. Members of the professional community are our eyes and ears providing us with insights and signals. They are the champions of the Scottish opportunities in their networks and the agents of influence among their peers. It was great to host two of those very valuable Scots along with my colleague, the Deputy Head of the UK mission in Sydney, Johnathan Cook. Russell Dalgleish from Scottish Business Network and Peter Gardiner from Saltire Capital Partners. Lots of takeaways, actionable items, valuable discussion." - Baris Atayman, Investment Specialist at Scottish Development International

"Thank You Jonathan, Baris Atayman & Russell Dalgleish for today's informative conversation. Effective discussions between business and government can help foster mutual understanding and collaboration. When business leaders and government officials engage in constructive dialogue, they can better understand each other's priorities and constraints, leading to more informed policymaking and better outcomes for both parties. Business interests and government priorities do not always align, and that's where discussions between the two become vital. Saltire Capital Partners is pleased to play a role in facilitating these discussions." - Peter Gardiner, Executive at Saltire Capital Partners

Russell commented that in thirty years of international business, the meeting room had truly one of the most incredible views he'd ever seen. This worked so well as a backdrop to the conversation as this very site is where so many Scots would have first touched down in the incredible continent of Australia.

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However, the trip was not all work as Russell also took time at the weekend to enjoy some Scottish culture in Sydney!