It was an evening that built bridges. A few days ago, on June, 9, I attended the Ambassador Dinner with Australia’s Ambassador to Germany, Natasha Smith, hosted by the German Australian Business Council (GABC).
We met at the newly opened “The Florentin” Frankfurt, a place whose design and evening light immediately create a sense of worldliness. The speeches were concise and insightful, the conversations lively, and the Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon simply excellent.
Networking happened almost effortlessly.
Given my professional background and my long-standing connection to the Industriepark Höchst, my attention naturally turned to a topic that links both countries: Vulcan Energy.
The company is building an integrated project for climate‑neutral lithium production in Landau and at the Industriepark Höchst. In Landau, lithium is extracted from geothermal brine; in Höchst, it is refined into battery‑grade lithium hydroxide. Together, these sites form Europe’s first CO₂‑neutral lithium value chain, a lighthouse project for the industrial transformation we urgently need.
And another highlight of the evening was a side discussion with my neighbour at the dinner table. She knows Queensland and Brisbane well and she had even heard of Bluey.
This warm, imaginative Australian animated series about a dog family is a real family topic for us. Our grandchildren adore it, whether they are in Germany or Australia. And so, in that moment, anticipation grew: during our next trip to Australia, a visit to Bluey’s World in Brisbane is already on the agenda.
On this evening, professional themes, international encounters and personal stories blended into a coherent whole. And one thought remained: the wonder in children’s eyes is the most beautiful thing in the world. Don’t you agree?
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I am Bernd Scharbert, member of the GABC and happily travelling between Frankfurt and Sydney for family reunions and for work. Professionally, I support leaders in applying intercultural guiding principles in their daily practice. It’s about seeing cultural differences not as barriers but as strengths, and creating genuine connections in globally composed teams.
If you are interested, feel free to explore my book: “Prepare for Landing: Leitlinien für interkulturelle Führung“ (transl. Guiding Principles for Intercultural Leadership), available in bookstores in Germany and in the online shop of Verlag Barbara Budrich, there also as eBook.
