Governance and Committee Structure

Ensuring Accountability,
Driving Outcomes

The committees that drive Australia and Saudi Arabia’s bilateral commercial relationship are built on clear accountability, senior leadership, and a governance model designed to deliver outcomes rather than produce meetings.
PM and Cabinet meeting in Canberra
Committee Constitution

Formal Standing Bodies of ASBC/F

Each Sectoral Committee is formally constituted as a standing body of the Australia Saudi Business Council and Forum, operating under the authority of the ASBC/F Board of Directors. This is not an informal working group or an ad hoc advisory panel. Every committee has a defined mandate, a senior co-chair structure, a secretariat function, and a quarterly reporting obligation to the Board.

The governance model is deliberately designed to keep committees commercially focused. Co-chairs are senior executives drawn from Australian and Saudi member organisations, not administrators or government observers. Every plenary session is structured around commercial opportunities, active deal progress, and member introductions. The secretariat manages the operational rhythm so that co-chairs and members can focus entirely on the work that matters.
Committee Constitution

Formal Standing Bodies of ASBC/F

Each Sectoral Committee is formally constituted as a standing body of the Australia Saudi Business Council and Forum, operating under the authority of the ASBC/F Board of Directors. This is not an informal working group or an ad hoc advisory panel. Every committee has a defined mandate, a senior co-chair structure, a secretariat function, and a quarterly reporting obligation to the Board.

The governance model is deliberately designed to keep committees commercially focused. Co-chairs are senior executives drawn from Australian and Saudi member organisations, not administrators or government observers. Every plenary session is structured around commercial opportunities, active deal progress, and member introductions. The secretariat manages the operational rhythm so that co-chairs and members can focus entirely on the work that matters.
PM and Cabinet meeting in Canberra
Committee Structure

Who Sits in Each Role

Each committee operates with a clearly defined set of roles, responsibilities, and participation criteria. Every person at the table has a purpose and an accountability.

Who They Are

Senior executive from an Australian member organisation

What They Are Responsible For

Leads Australian-side engagement, chairs plenary meetings, and represents the committee in Canberra and with Austrade.

Who They Are

Senior executive from a Saudi member organisation

What They Are Responsible For

Leads Saudi-side engagement, represents the committee in Riyadh, and maintains government liaison with MISA and relevant Saudi ministries.

Who They Are

ASBC/F Secretariat staff member

What They Are Responsible For

Manages agenda, minutes, member communications, and follow-up on all action items across plenary and working group sessions.

Who They Are

Company representatives from Australian and Saudi member organisations

What They Are Responsible For

Attend plenary meetings and working groups, provide market intelligence, and actively pursue commercial opportunities through the committee.

Who They Are

DFAT, Austrade, MISA, and Saudi Ministry of Investment representatives

What They Are Responsible For

Provide policy liaison, diplomatic channel access, and facilitation support. Participate by invitation of the Council and do not drive the commercial agenda.
Committee Structure

Who Sits in Each Role

Each committee operates with a clearly defined set of roles, responsibilities, and participation criteria. Every person at the table has a purpose and an accountability.

Who They Are

Senior executive from an Australian member organisation

What They Are Responsible For

Leads Australian-side engagement, chairs plenary meetings, and represents the committee in Canberra and with Austrade.

Who They Are

Senior executive from a Saudi member organisation

What They Are Responsible For

Leads Saudi-side engagement, represents the committee in Riyadh, and maintains government liaison with MISA and relevant Saudi ministries.

Who They Are

ASBC/F Secretariat staff member

What They Are Responsible For

Manages agenda, minutes, member communications, and follow-up on all action items across plenary and working group sessions.

Who They Are

Company representatives from Australian and Saudi member organisations

What They Are Responsible For

Attend plenary meetings and working groups, provide market intelligence, and actively pursue commercial opportunities through the committee.

Who They Are

DFAT, Austrade, MISA, and Saudi Ministry of Investment representatives

What They Are Responsible For

Provide policy liaison, diplomatic channel access, and facilitation support. Participate by invitation of the Council and do not drive the commercial agenda.
Meeting Cadence

How Committees Stay Commercially Active

A structured annual operating rhythm ensures every committee maintains momentum, progresses active work, and reports transparently to the ASBC/F Board throughout the year.

Quarterly Plenary Meetings

Full committees convene four times per year, alternating between Australia and Saudi Arabia with virtual participation available. Strategic direction is set, commercial opportunities tabled, and bilateral relationships deepened.

Annual Trade Mission

Each committee leads one formal bilateral trade mission per year, coordinated with Austrade and MISA. Members participate in site visits, government roundtables, and private-sector matchmaking sessions in-Kingdom.

Quarterly Board Reports

Committee co-chairs submit written progress reports to the ASBC/F Board each quarter. An annual strategic review of each committee's performance and mandate is conducted by the Board at year end.

Membership and Participation

Who Can Join a Committee

Committee membership is open and transparent. There are no closed lists or by-invitation-only restrictions. If your organisation meets the criteria, the process to join is straightforward.
Sydney Iftar Event 2026 - ASBC/F

Financial ASBC/F Membership

Committee membership is open to all current financial members of ASBC/F with operations or material commercial interest in the relevant sector. Membership of the Council is the only prerequisite for committee participation.

Nomination of Representatives

Each member organisation nominates a primary representative and an alternate, ensuring continuity across the year regardless of individual availability. Applications are submitted to the ASBC/F Secretariat and confirmed by the relevant committee co-chairs.

Government Observer Status

Relevant Australian and Saudi government agencies including DFAT, Austrade, MISA, and the Saudi Ministry of Investment may participate as observers by invitation of the Council. Observer status does not include voting rights or commercial representation.

Why Governance Matters

Structure Is What Turns Potential Into Outcomes
The history of bilateral business councils is full of initiatives that started with enthusiasm and ended with inactivity. The reason is almost always the same — no governance, no accountability, no commercial discipline. The ASBC/F Sectoral Committees are designed specifically to avoid that outcome.
Quarterly Board reporting, senior co-chair accountability, a dedicated secretariat function, and a structured annual operating calendar mean that every committee has to show progress or explain why it has not. That level of accountability is unusual in the world of bilateral business bodies. It is also why members join.

ASBC/F is committed to facilitating a new era of structured, sector-specific bilateral engagement, positioning both nations to realise the full potential of their most strategically significant bilateral relationship.

Australian Saudi Business Council and Forum

The Initiative

Four Committees. One Bilateral Mission.

The Sectoral Committees Initiative represents a generational step in the maturation of the Australia and Saudi Arabia bilateral economic relationship. Each committee is a permanent, commercially focused platform for Australian and Saudi businesses to find each other, build trust, and execute transactions.

Construction & Infrastructure

Connecting Australian expertise with Saudi Arabia’s USD $1.2 trillion pipeline.

Education & Training

Building structured bilateral agreements from 12,000+ Saudi students in Australia.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Bridging Australian clinical excellence with Saudi Arabia’s SAR 500B transformation.

Food, Beverage & Agribusiness

Strengthening Australia’s largest bilateral trade flow and extending it up the value chain.

FAQs

The Governance & Committee Structure provides the leadership and organisational framework that guides ASBC/F’s strategic direction, decision-making, and operations. It ensures the organisation operates with transparency, accountability, and a strong focus on advancing Australia–Saudi business and investment relations.

Strong governance ensures that ASBC/F operates ethically, responsibly, and effectively. It supports informed decision-making, strategic planning, member engagement, financial oversight, and long-term organisational sustainability.

ASBC/F is governed by its Board and supported by executive leadership, advisory committees, and sectoral committees. Together, these groups help shape strategic priorities, oversee organisational performance, and ensure the organisation delivers value to its members.

The Board provides strategic leadership and oversight by:

  • Setting the organisation’s vision and objectives.
  • Approving key policies and initiatives.
  • Monitoring organisational performance.
  • Supporting good governance and compliance.
  • Representing the interests of members and stakeholders.

The Executive Team manages the day-to-day operations of ASBC/F, implements the Board’s strategic direction, coordinates member services, develops partnerships, organises events and delegations, and oversees the delivery of organisational initiatives.

Sectoral Committees are industry-focused groups that bring together members, experts, government representatives, and business leaders to support collaboration across priority sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, energy, technology, agriculture, and investment.

The committees help:

  • Identify emerging business opportunities.
  • Share industry knowledge and expertise.
  • Support bilateral trade and investment.
  • Provide strategic advice.
  • Foster collaboration between Australian and Saudi stakeholders.
  • Contribute to sector-specific initiatives.

Committee participation is generally available to ASBC/F members, corporate representatives, industry professionals, government stakeholders, and recognised experts with relevant knowledge and experience. Some specialist committees may have specific eligibility requirements.

Committee members are appointed based on their industry expertise, professional experience, leadership capabilities, and ability to contribute meaningfully to the committee’s objectives and strategic priorities.

Yes. Members with expertise across multiple industries may participate in more than one committee, depending on their experience, committee requirements, and available positions.

Meeting schedules vary depending on each committee’s activities and priorities. Committees typically meet throughout the year and may also hold workshops, roundtables, strategic planning sessions, and special meetings when required.

Committee members can:

  • Build valuable industry connections.
  • Influence sector initiatives.
  • Access exclusive networking opportunities.
  • Stay informed about market developments.
  • Contribute to policy discussions.
  • Support Australia–Saudi commercial collaboration.
  • Increase their professional profile within the business community.

The governance framework enables effective leadership, coordinated industry engagement, and strategic collaboration between Australian and Saudi stakeholders. It helps identify opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and support long-term bilateral trade and investment initiatives.

Yes. Governance structures, committee responsibilities, and organisational policies are reviewed periodically to ensure they remain effective, transparent, and aligned with best governance practices and the organisation’s strategic objectives.

You can become an ASBC/F member and express your interest in serving on a committee or contributing to governance initiatives. The ASBC/F team will assess your experience, expertise, and areas of interest to identify suitable opportunities for involvement.

Engage with ASBC/F

Committee membership is open to all financial members of ASBC/F with operations or material interest in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector. If your business is serious about the Saudi market, this is where that work begins.