SYDNEY, Australia — The Alabama Department of Commerce is leading a trade mission to Australia this week, bringing together a delegation of six Alabama companies and key state economic development partners to expand international connections and identify new business opportunities in a rapidly growing market.

During the mission, the delegation will engage in scheduled business-to-business meetings, receive high-level briefings from senior trade officials and tour innovation hubs in Sydney and Melbourne.

In addition, representatives from Commerce, AIDT, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) and the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) will highlight Alabama’s strengths as a destination for international investment — from its advanced workforce training network to its thriving manufacturing and technology sectors.

“Trade missions like this help Alabama companies discover new markets, build lasting international partnerships and showcase the capabilities that make our state a global player,” said Christina Stimpson, Global Business Officer for the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Australia is a dynamic market with deep economic and cultural ties to the United States, and we’re excited to see how this mission strengthens those connections,” she added.

The Alabama companies participating the trade mission are:

• Bahari Analytics (Sustain360), a Huntsville company that helps enterprises to strategically design and implement decarbonization plans while enhancing financial resilience.
• CHONEX, a business that operates in rural Alabama specializing in recycling agricultural materials to enhance sustainability and profitability in agriculture.
• Conserv, a Birmingham company that offers a plug-and-play, wireless environmental monitoring platform tailored for museums, libraries, archives, historic properties and private collections.
• Cummings Aerospace, a defense and aerospace systems engineering firm based in Huntsville that specializes in model-based systems engineering, modeling & simulation, digital engineering and software development.
• Dialytix, a kidney disease care management startup from Hoover delivering a platform that integrates real-time data from EHRs, dialysis machines and financial systems to improve treatment.
• LIDAR USA, a family-run team of geomatics pioneers dedicated to designing affordable, highly portable LiDAR mapping systems for aerial, terrestrial and mobile applications.
• Phoenix Global Aviation Services, a global aviation support company based in Birmingham that offers aircraft maintenance and operations on both civilian and military aircraft.

“Our goal is to connect directly with Australian companies that share our drive for innovation and excellence,” said Amanda Parsons, President and CEO of Phoenix Global Aviation Services. “Face-to-face meetings like these open the door to real collaboration and new business opportunities.”

Mission agenda

The mission officially launched Sunday night in Sydney with an Export Alabama dinner that set the stage for a week of high-level engagement. 

Today, the delegation will receive a morning market briefing from in-country partners then dive into a full day of business-to-business meetings designed to build commercial bridges between Alabama and Australia. The day concludes with a networking reception with business and government partners.

On Tuesday, the group will visit Macquarie University, one of Australia’s top-ranked research institutions, to explore collaboration in innovation and workforce development. Additional meetings will connect Alabama companies with Australian firms seeking U.S. partners and investment opportunities.

On Wednesday, members of the delegation will take part in the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney, Australia’s largest mining event, which attracts global leaders in mining, technology, and investment. Later that day, the group travels to Melbourne for additional meetings and a Thursday visit to Tank Stream Labs, a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Joining Stimpson from Commerce on the trade mission are Gary Walton, Global FDI Officer for the Office of Global Business, and David Sides, an International Project Manager for Global Business.

Representing Alabama on the mission are Miller Girvin, President and CEO of the EDPA; Bobby Jon Drinkard, Assistant Director of AIDT; and Melody Whitten, Chief Economic Development Officer for ACCS. Bill Kraus, Chief Operating Officer, Logistics, for Mobile firm Page & Jones is also supporting the mission.

“Australia’s advanced industries — from energy and mining to tech and research — align closely with Alabama’s strengths,” EDPA’s Girvin said. “This mission gives us a platform to tell Alabama’s story: world-class workforce, cutting-edge infrastructure and a business climate built for global success.”

A global reach

For over a decade, the Alabama Department of Commerce and its Export Alabama partners have organized regular trade and investment missions to markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas. 

These missions have helped Alabama companies enter new markets, expand exports and attract foreign investment that supports thousands of jobs across the state.

The Australia mission reflects that same global vision — one built on partnership, innovation and a shared commitment to growth.

“Every conversation this week represents a potential bridge between Alabama and Australia,” Stimpson said. “We’re not simply promoting our homegrown companies — we’re also building relationships that create long-term opportunities for both sides.”