Trade and Investment Queensland

We’re delighted to announce Melissa Inooka has been appointed as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner – Japan. Melissa was previously Deputy Commissioner World Expo 2025 Osaka where she led Queensland’s participation at the global event. Melissa spent many years as a business development specialist in Tokyo and Brisbane before becoming Queensland’s first Director Investment - Japan. In 2022, she joined Stanwell as Commercial Partnerships Specialist, where she remained until being appointed to the Deputy Commissioner role. She is bilingual English Japanese and holds a Bachelor of Modern Asian Studies from Griffith University. Please join us in congratulating Melissa as we look forward to an exciting new chapter for TIQ Japan. Learn more about the Japan market 👉 https://lnkd.in/gqE9eYMg

Thank you, Tak Adachi! Queensland’s longest serving trade and investment commissioner is retiring after 21 years of stellar service. He has led Queensland’s Japan team since 2004 and also overseen our trade and investment commissioners in Korea and Taiwan. He is deeply respected across Queensland Government and the Japanese business community for his influence and connections. Under Tak’s leadership, Queensland has strengthened our partnership with one of our biggest trading partners. This culminated with Queensland's Gold Partnership at the Australia Pavilion at World Expo 2025 Osaka. We sincerely thank Tak for his substantial achievements and his contributions to Queensland’s relationships in Japan and North Asia. Please join us in wishing him the best for the future.

Cheers to 10 years in Korea Bundaberg Brewed Drinks! 🍻 From educating consumers about ginger beer to massive billboards light up Seoul, Bundaberg’s decade-long journey in Korea has been remarkable. It's now Bundaberg's largest Asian market, with the iconic bottles available nationwide and the Pink Grapefruit flavour its best seller. Exciting growth lies ahead, with plans for a new flavour and expansion into convenience stores. TIQ is proud to have supported Bundaberg in Korea and congratulate them on reaching this milestone. This week the Taste of Queensland campaign has been running on the Korean online grocery platform SSG.com, featuring Bundaberg. Learn more about exporting to Korea 👉 https://lnkd.in/geyUqFsB SSG.COM Corp | Michael Kocken

Queensland's best are now Australia's best! 🏆🏆🏆 Three Queensland businesses have taken their categories at the Australian Export Awards, demonstrating the quality and innovation of our state's exporting industry. 🥇 PWR Advanced Cooling Technology - Manufacturing and Advanced Materials 🥇 Six Zero Pickleball - Emerging Exporter 🥇 Marquis Macadamias - Agribusiness, Food and Beverages Mineral Technologies came close in the Resources and Energy Category, receiving a Highly Commended. Thanks to all the winners of the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards who represented our state as finalists in Canberra. Learn more about all the winners 👉 https://lnkd.in/gRHA-QHm Justin McGowan | Hon. Will Hodgman B.A., LL.B. | Anna Fedeles | Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) | BDO in Australia

Exciting news for Queensland innovation! 🚀 Gold Coast-based Heatseeker has been named as one of the winners of L'Oréal's 2025 Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, selected from 50,000 startups in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa regions. Their AI-driven technology is transforming the way consumers discover beauty products. Sunshine Coast-based business Springboards.ai, which is developing AI tools for advertising agency creative teams, was also a finalist. Both businesses highlight the incredible talent and creativity driving innovation in our state. We're proud to support innovative Queensland businesses as they continue to push boundaries, scale up and compete globally. Read more and learn about the Big Bang program 👉 https://lnkd.in/gUpMCBHr 📸: Heatseeker

Good luck to all the finalists representing Queensland at the Australian Export Awards in Canberra! 🏆 Led by Queensland Exporter of the Year PWR Advanced Cooling Technology, the innovation and expertise of our state’s exporters will be on show across 14 categories. Marquis Macadamias Circa Contemporary Circus The Equine Practice Company Six Zero Pickleball Elephant in the Room Consulting Langports English Language College HeliMods MEDICAL RESCUE PAWA Architecture Mineral Technologies Audeara Hall Contracting Megaport Previous Queensland winners of the Australian Exporter of the Year Award include PWR, Populous, Sedgman and NOJA Power. Learn more about Queensland’s Export Awards finalists 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebVaiY8y Ros Bates MP | Justin McGowan | Hon. Will Hodgman B.A., LL.B. | Anna Fedeles | Denise Kreymborg | Tiffany Madsen | Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)

Connecting Queensland's premium products with new opportunities across Western China. 🤝 As part of our largest trade delegation ever at the China International Import Expo, 17 Queensland businesses traveled to Chengdu and Chongqing for matching events. They showcased our state's world-class food, beverages and agricultural products, from premium beef and seafood to oils and wellness products Queensland produces 1% of the world’s agricultural output thanks to fertile lands, innovative farming and strict quality standards. China remains our largest trading partner, with A$25.3 billion in goods exported over the past year. Learn more about the Queensland-China Trade and Investment Strategy 👉 https://lnkd.in/gENmHvG6 Anna Fedeles | Rhett Miller | Angela Shi

Celebrating Australia's National Agriculture Day... in Korea! We're supporting Queensland producers with a week-long Taste of Queensland retail promotion on SSG.COM, one of Korea’s largest online grocery platforms. The promotion is focused on Queensland beef, which has record demand under the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement. In 2025, Korea remains Queensland’s second-largest beef market, with the state's meat exports worth $1.85 billion in the year ending September 2025. The campaign also showcases other iconic Queensland products such as macadamias, honey and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. SSG.COM attracts around two million daily visitors, providing significant exposure for Queensland brands. The initiative complements activities led by Meat & Livestock Australia and reinforces Queensland’s commitment to Korea as a strategic market for our primary industries. Learn more about exporting to Korea 👉 https://lnkd.in/geyUqFsB #agdayau SSG.COM Corp | Michael Kocken

Celebrating the enduring partnership between Queensland and Japan. This week we reflected on Queensland’s success at World Expo 2025 Osaka and honoured two great ambassadors of our state in Japan: Tak Adachi and Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai. They were joined by Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates MP, The Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Hon Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Professor Nimmo, Queensland Global Connector Takeshi Takada and Queensland food and beverage business representatives. As a Queensland Global Connector, Chef Sakai has championed a Taste of Queensland, showcasing our beef and produce to the world. Tak will retire as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for North Asia this month after leading Queensland’s presence in Japan for 21 years. Both played key roles in showcasing Queensland at Expo 2025 at the Australian Pavilion, which drew more than 3 million visitors. Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gHFzKy7Y Australia at Expo 2025 Osaka | Joshua Rich | Alex Baker | Clare Hamilton-Bate | Jacqui Price | Ginn Lai | Jacob Davidson | Beachtree Distilling Co. | Maria Karatzis | Tony Burnett

You don’t get more Australian than dyed-in-the-wool Queensland business Merino Country Australia. 🐏 Australian Made’s Australian Makers campaign has featured the business, which grew from a woolshed in western Queensland into a producer of premium Merino wool clothing and underwear. We’ve been proud to support Merino Country as they take their products to the US, UK and beyond. Watch the full video and learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gJNSn3-5 Find out how TIQ can help your business export to new markets 👉 https://lnkd.in/g7vw3z-Q