About Us

The Export Council of Australia began in 1957. That is more than 60 years ago!  At that time, we were known as the Australian Institute of Export, the leading provider of education and training for Australian businesses engaged in global trade.

Today, we are known as the Export Council of Australia, and we do significantly more. We are the peak body representing every player in the ecosystem of international trade. Our members are individuals, small, medium and large enterprises, coming from different industries and sectors.

Our member exporters are involved in both the manufacturing of goods and delivery of services in a variety of industries such as agrifood, well-being and health, wine, defence, entertainment, information technology, cyber security, construction, etc.  They export to a diverse range of markets across every continent of the world.

Organisations that support exporters are also part of our strategic network. They provide marketing and legal advice, arrange logistics and transport services, and facilitate information flows to ease trade processes. They are a critical part of the ecosystem, and we are pleased to be working closely with them.

Also, we collaborate with government departments at the federal, state and local levels (including specialised agencies such as Austrade, IP Australia and CSIRO), as well as academic institutions (such as the University of Canberra, Bond University and the Australian National University) to advance issues that have impact at scale (including on reliable and affordable shipping, simplified trade, Indigenous and environmental issues).

We support our members by:

  1. Providing updated information – Members are alerted to news and reports, including on government policies and regulations, as well as market conditions.
  2. On-going capacity building – Exporters benefit from tailored training to build on their knowledge and skills, as global rules and practices change, trade patterns shift, and technologies develop.
  3. Advisory services – Exporters can get immediate insight on pressing challenges and questions, such as on licensing, clearances, access to finance and trade agreements.
  4. Creating ecosystems – Facilitating crucial business relationships help exporters progress opportunities, including with sourcing materials and new ideas, getting things stored and delivered, and channelling financial transactions.
  5. Advocating on behalf of members – Members’ views and concerns are articulated to government partners. Effective and sustainable solutions are best reached through collaboration with governments and other stakeholders.

About us