Kongsberg Defence Australia’s Leading Technology and latest collaboration illustrates its close working relationship for over 20 years with Australia’s Defence Force.

For those you who are interested in tuning in to the Yara International ASA Second Quarter 2020 Report and Presentation, put a place holder in your agendas for

 

Friday 17 July 2020 at 08:00 (CEST)

This will be followed by

an On-line Presentation in English 

+

Q&A Session will held on the same day at 12:00 (CEST)

 hosted by

 Yara President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether

CFO Lars Røsæg

and

EVP Farming Solutions Terje Knutsen

 

Access link to the report, presentation and webcast here.

 

In case you missed it...did you know that Norwegian women’s football star Ada Hegerberg and Australian female soccer player Ellie Carpenter now both play for France’s Olympique Lyonnais, the six-time European Champions League winner and 14 times champions of France’s Division 1 Feminine.

No doubt, with the addition of the Aussie player, this dynamic combo will show how our two nationals can team together with some of the biggest names in women’s football to power, unite and drive the team with their talent and sportsmanship.

 

Following up from our previous co-hosted virtual round-table event, the Norwegian Embassy in Australia and the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce provided insights into the Norway-Australia trade relationship and how the Embassy too in Canberra is now working remotely and remaining connected everyday with their Australian political and trade counterparts, their colleagues in Perth and Melbourne as well as Australian-based Norwegian companies who have shared their Covid-19 feedback and experiences. A number of these companies reported their focus has been on bringing their people together while working remotely. DOF Subsea’s Michael Rosich and Empeiria Consultancy's Miles Ponsonby both noticed and observed that while communications have been less frequent, they have found that while working from home they have had more peace and quiet to focus on the priorities and that they are now seeing business and operations start to pick up here while others are struggling globally. As Michael Rosich shared, while it appears there have been challenges, they are actually doing better than some organisations and not as bad as others which is encouraging.

NORWEP has also been active, using this period to profile and present Norwegian companies’ energy technology capabilities via virtual sessions and by attending webinars and other online events rather than traditional office visits. From what they have been experiencing and hearing from these companies so far is that business has actually not only been positive but even more positive than expected. Norway has also been faring and managing Covid-19 better than some other countries, including one of their neighbour’s, Sweden.  Overall, their interactions have revealed that Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia in general are doing well, including recovery from the pandemic. They have also cited a shift in consumer focus, with some companies such as Ekornes, achieving good success and positive results while shipping, transport and oil industries are struggling to deal with lower prices. 

Another upside, is the rise and prominence of new sectors such as renewable energy and renewable energy transition. Their conversations and discussions with DFAT have shown how like-minded nations, such as Norway and New Zealand, are ‘safe suppliers’ although there appears to now be a trend and tendency of making countries less reliant and dependent on exports and imports. But seeking reliable and like-minded partners is also coming to the forefront so that in terms of the supply chain, countries are now looking for and seeking reliable and dependable export and import partners, from retail to strategic, and that the Norwegian Embassy in Australia is here to support Norwegian companies, by building bilateral relations that develop business relationships with their Australian counterparts. The Norwegian Embassy also expressed the pleasure for them in building these bilateral relations to support the economic growth, development and exchange between our two countries.

They are also very upbeat and foresee many opportunities and sectors that are coming to the forefront and are looking at how to expand interaction and engagement between both countries and their counterparts. The post Covid-19 focus is getting Norway back on its feet especially as Norway, like Australia, has seen a 5% contraction of its economy. The upside for both our nations is low public debt and strong economies. And on a very positive note, Norway and its markets are showing upbeat and positive signs. While the outlook looks bright, Norway emphasises the importance of and need for innovation and that Norway’s doors are open…and they will continue to open doors for Australian business.

What it takes to be a respected, inspirational and effective Leader, now more than ever, in this increasingly virtual business economy we work, communicate and transact in, is fast becoming a key focal point for companies of all types and sizes and geographical reach: local, regional and global. Are their certain personality types/traits, management styles and new ways of working that transcend and succeed in a virtual context, forum and meeting space?  How is remote Leadership viewed and embraced internally by employees and managers and externally by customers and clients?  

According to Southern Cross Coaching and Development, Leadership Coach, Simon Smith and our Corporate and Business members here are some of the takeaways from this dynamic and interactive discussion:

Simon drew our attention to focus on the concerns for companies going back to the workplace and to keep in mind that while many staff are looking forward to and excited about going back to their work place, there are however others who are not. What this means is to look at the different risk profiles, such as those who don’t want to go back due to childcare and/or fear of getting back on public transport. Being back in the office also raises more concerns around staff interactions, with younger colleagues less risk adverse while others preferring to keep a safe distance, which may result or lead to conflict with staff and complaints as they return, in addition to who is coming back and who is not.

While Zoom and similar online meeting platforms have provided an alternative solution for meetings, they nonetheless reveal some difficulties experienced in engaging with people both for staff and clients.  As we return to the new normal, some staff will enjoy going out for meetings over a coffee with colleagues and clients while others will not. It is in these domains that leaders and managers will need to think about how to manage and set the ground rules. And address how some staff are going to feel detached from the ‘mothership’ as they continue to work remotely.

One significant point Simon raised for company heads was ‘trusting people’. As a leader, you have to trust that your team and staff can do the work and be productive.  Setting agendas and checking-in on how they are doing is imperative, as well as building trust and making stronger the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. Outcomes and what to achieve should be made clear plus scheduling check-ins to discuss those outcomes. But this can only happen if you have an agenda set with every single person and that all staff are treated the same and equitably. This ensures there is no exclusion or bullying.

A planned strategic agenda with every individual staff/team member is key and essential as it allows and shows that everyone is treated the same so there is no exclusion or bully aspect. It also permits Managers and Company heads to have a Strategic Agenda ‘Check-In’ with staff, so they can start the week and then ‘Check-Out’ at the end of it. Other key aspects include observing the mental health of your team, such as if they are chatty or not. And if they are not, then check-in with them on a separate call.

Another remote leadership dimension is how to integrate this management and approach with hybrid teams: those at home and those who are in the office.  The key here is ‘to ask, don’t tell’. While you can tell and inform your team what to achieve and the outcomes you want, remember that it is up to them to work it out. Make sure they are ‘solution-focused’ in order to be the most productive as possible.  Simon’s example of ‘Software AG’ showed that by asking and not telling, productivity increased by up to 30%.  And be ‘coaching-focused’: ask questions, what can we do to be successful next time and what does a successful solution look like. However, Simon did mention that ‘repair work’ can be difficult at a distance and other participants remarked that company culture, management and workflow can be challenged when you no longer have face-to-face meetings/interactions which can be intimidating for staff and even more so with key personnel and counterparts when they are several continents apart.

Contributions from those participating empathised with Simon’s observations and comments, echoing how they relate to remote leadership and management being challenging when they are not free or able to discuss face-to-face. And, that company culture also has an impact when it comes to employees and teams feeling integrated in the company, while others find it challenging not being able to be face-to-face. Collaborative face-to-face activities and how your staff are dealing and managing emotionally also come into the mix. Simon underlined the need to have a structure and a regular check-in schedule. Be clear as to what are your expectations and the deliverables and remember that check-ins are key. 

Issues arise when people and staff do not know what they are doing which then leads to procrastination. Ensure you have structured calls and that those staff have time to check-in and get back to you as these regular structured check-ins are crucial/fundamental.

Participants also shared their experiences, observations and input, notably how their staff and teams missed structure and face-to-face team work, catch ups and bonding. Hygiene amongst staff and inefficiencies in the workplace have also improved now that they have to check-in when online. Another positive outcome is that some organisations may no longer need a sizeable office in the CBD.  

Improvement and increase in constant communications with customers, especially in the wholesale and retail space, was another positive observation and outcome, as well as keeping the seller/buyer constantly updated and in real-time. Learning to treat your staff like customers and communicate regularly were also some of the other takeaways.  Many cited seeing working at home to continue with catch-ups over lunch.

Nonetheless, the necessity of a remote, physical office is still important, especially for staff from a social and mental health perspective, as they do miss the office interaction. Moving from office to home, the focus has been clearly on the quality of the work and ensuring everyone is keeping to project guidelines and measuring product outcomes.

The key takeaways from this session that are paramount for successful Remote Leadership include:

• Be clear on expectations, the outcomes you want, why clarification is required and make sure to check-in with your team. These are absolutely critical and crucial for success.
• Goal-setting and making sure all your team knows the steps and that the journey itself is part of the outcome
• Check-out online collaborative tools available that encourage and foster ‘all in it together’ attitudes and behaviour which can be powerful instruments for company heads as we forge ahead in this new norm

 

In 2020, workplaces are embracing remote work options and now more than ever remote working strategies are vital to bounce back and accelerate growth. However, according to a global study, one of the drawbacks of remote working is loneliness as it was the second most problem faced by remote workers after struggling to unplug from work. Managers on the other hand are still having difficulty trusting their employees to work productively when working remotely.

If not handled properly, remote working can easily sow seeds of mistrust within the teams, and do more harm than good.

For 13 years Facilitated Work Hub has been providing permanent full-time remote workers. They have been helping companies hire highly skilled and experienced software developers and other tech experts in Vietnam. However, they do not offer project based, part-time or ad-hoc works. They believe a long-term focus offers lasting business success and sustainability.

Facilitated Work Hub is the Employer of Record in Vietnam, handling administration, tax and compliance, in addition to talent acquisition, onboarding, integrating, managing and employee engagement, the remote software developers become an integral part of a company’s work environment. 

Led by their highly experienced management team, whose role is to prevent risks associated with remote working, they create a stable and cohesive workplace and act as a fail safe. All facilitated through a hub concept. This improves productivity, cost efficiency and stability.  As well as allowing you to have control without taking on risks or sacrificing on talent and business goals.

The Facilitated Work Hub is now open for business in Australia and located in Melbourne. So they are seeking experienced and skilled Business Developers (Sales) to join them in Melbourne and a Facilitation Manager for their hub in Ho Chi Minh City. Talk to their CEO Øystein Baeko for more information.

 

Recent participation by the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce in the Forum “The Impact of COVID-19 for European Business in the Asia Pacific Region” hosted by the European Australian Business Council

DNV GL is launching its latest four-part series, DNV GL Talks Energy podcast, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the energy transition. Hosted by Mathias Steck, Managing Director, DNV GL – Energy, each week the world’s leading energy experts will join in to explore how industry, business and society are responding to the global pandemic, and the role that policy, investment and technology is likely to play as the world seeks to recover.

Now, more than ever, safety and caring for people comes first. In Equinor, health and safety are always our top priority—but the magnitude of the corona crisis calls for a broader contribution. That’s why we’re announcing donations of USD 500,000 each to Norwegian Refugee Council and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization powered by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and UN Foundation.

A number of our employees are working from home offices at present, but certain tasks are more difficult than others to carry out there. So when you can't use a geology lab onsite at the office, what about bringing the geology lab home? ? Our proprietary "Rock'n Log" tool makes it possible for our geologists to study Johan Sverdrup subsurface core samples from the safety of their living rooms and kitchens. “How cool is that? This gives us enormous opportunities ?,” says Elisabeth Bratli, who uses the technology in her workday.

 

 

An update on the current situation from a few Norwegian companies in Australia

May 2020

ABSTRACT

This report provides information about eight different companies. Ekornes, Viking Cruises, Nordic Bev, 50 Degrees North, Handelsbanken, Tieto, DNV Global and Q-Free are all members of Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce

(NACC). You can read about what the companies do and how they are doing now. Some of the companies have interesting resources, and ongoing campaigns we would like to share. Covid-19 has forced many businesses to make big changes. You can read about how NACC´s members are dealing with the current situation in this Covid-19 update.

 

Ekornes

 

Ekornes is Europe’s biggest furniture producer. The company is best known for its famous brand Stressless, which is sold in over 40 countries, and in several Australian furniture shops like David Jones and Easy Living. They think that a great idea can come from anywhere, and encourage their employees to be a part of a company that creates.

 

Ekornes is a company that cares for the environment. They are experts in reuse of materials, and always avoid using extra resources. Nothing goes to waste in their production process, and left overs from sofas and chairs are sold to other businesses who creates smaller products.

 

The business is currently applying to become a member of the Leather Working Group (LWG) to promote improvement in the leather manufacturing industry by creating alignment on environmental priorities (Ekornes, 2020)

 

They also have a summer intern program, which is a great opportunity for young people to become a part of a big brand. This is advertised on Ekornes Facebook page.

 

Covid-19 update:

• The Stressless team are helping healthcare workers globally as a way of saying thankyou. The sewing department in Norway and America has turned their skills to producing reusable facemasks to be used in hospitals. As long as there is a demand, the team will continue to do what they can to help.
• Working from home special offer, 25% off the luxury office collection.

 

 

Viking cruises

 

Viking Cruises is a cruise line, voted the world´s best. Since founded in 1997, they have expanded massively, and are introducing new cruises regularly. On their webpage you can even do a virtual tour of all their cruises.

 

In 2022 they are launching expedition journeys to arctic and Antarctica, as well as North America´s great lakes. The cruise line also recently introduced Viking Mississippi 2022-2023.  Viking cruises continues to introduce new destinations, and is a growing company.

 

Viking Cruises recently partnered with TED, a non-profit organisation devoted to spreading bold new ideas and sparking conversation. Ted talks are now screened on board Viking Cruises.

 

Covid-19 update:

 

• The business has temporarily suspended all cruise operations until May 1. 2020. Viking Cruises is offering full refunds for bookings or a 125% voucher for a future cruise.

 

 

Nordic Bev

 

Nordic Bev is a small Norwegian business making gins, aquavit, beers, ciders and other drinks. The business is most famous for its Harahorn gin, which was recently awarded number 5 spirit in the world by London Spirits Competition 2020. Nordic Bev´s Harahorn gin has been spotted in several bars and restaurants in Hong Kong, and it is a business with great growth potential.

 

The gin is the best selling premium gin in Norway, and the company´s vision is to start the fairy tail in the rest of the world, and open minds to Harahorn gin and other drinks.

 

The company has a sustainable way to harvest. Their secret and most important ingredient is called einebær and is a berry that grows high up in the Norwegian mountains. It takes 2 years to grow, and gives the spirits a powerful taste.

 

Covid-19 update: Operating as per usual with online sales.

 

 

50 degrees north

 

50 Degrees North is a company passionate about their own home – the Nordic region. They want people to have an authentic experience that creates life long memories. The company has offices in Norway, Canada and Australia. Lapland tour and a tour of the Norwegian fjords 2020 are the newest tours introduced in 2020.

 

The business is active on social media, and while people cannot travel, they want to spread positivity and the Norwegian Term “hygge”. This term is about creating cosy and peaceful environments, and the business is encouraging people to spread hygge in these uncertain times.

 

They want people to have something to look forward to, and just opened up for family Christmas holidays 2021 bookings.

 

Covid-19 update:

 

• 50 Degrees North is not planning travels at the moment, but will open for bookings again in September 2020.

 

 

Handelsbanken

 

Handelsbanken is the only Nordic bank with presence in Australia. The company has more than 12.000 employees, where 40% are employed outside Sweden. They are also proud to announce that at the moment 40% of all their managers are women. The bank wants to be a sustainable business, and focuses on strong, long lasting business relationships, low risk taking and cost awareness.

 

Looking at the summary for Q1 2020, the operating profit went down by 10%. This was expected because of Covid-19. What they also announced in the report is that their costumer satisfaction was shown to be an index of 72.6 compared to the average of 65.6.

 

Covid-19 update:

 

• Handelsbanken recently invested SEK 220 million in Covid-19 response bond, and want to contribute to easing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• All services are available as usual.
• Handelsbanken offers temporary financial support for individuals who are impacted by the coronavirus.

 

Q-Free

 

Q-Free is a global supplier of class-leading Tolling, Parking, Traffic Management and Connected ITS (C-ITS)/Connected Vehicle solutions. The company is working to maintain and improve the flow in an increasingly complex traffic environment

 

In the first quarter of 2020 Q-Free reported a 10% drop in revenues. This quarter was negatively impacted by delayed purchase orders deliveries in the Traffic Management segment. The company is 6% up from previous quarter.

 

Covid-19 update:

 

• Q-Free has taken the necessary action across its different offices to ensure that colleagues, clients and the public in general are kept safe. Most colleagues are working form home in countries where this is required.
• Business continues as usual while respecting the instructions outlined by authorities.

 

 

DNV Global

 

DNV GL is an independent expert in risk management and quality assurance. The company provides customers with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence. DNV GL´s purpose is to safeguard life, property and the environment.

 

The business focuses on being safer, smarter and greener, and signed the United Nation´s nine sustainable ocean principles earlier this year. By doing this DNV GL has committed to providing both customers with expertise on how to manage risks while safely exploring further, and setting the standard for future generations.

Covid-19 update:

 

• Business continues.
• DNV GL´s employees have limited their business travel to essential only since early March, and are continuing to support customers virtually wherever possible.
• The business has increased focus on providing remote surveys and audits, online support and training, and continued communication with key contacts at DNV GL.

 

 

Tieto

 

Tieto creates digital advantage for businesses and society, and has a global team of 15 000 employees in almost 20 countries. The company foster an open source culture that promotes respect for every individual, openness, good teamwork, diversity and equal opportunities.

 

Tieto aims to minimise their environmental impact along their value chain. The company´s overall goal is to reduce the global CO2 emissions of their indirect energy consumption by 50% by 2020.

Covid-19 update:

 

• Tieto has taken strict measures to mitigate the potential financial impact of Covid-19 pandemic to ensure health and safety of employees and ensure critical services to customers.
• Current guidance, according to which Tieto expects its comparable full-year adjusted operating profit (EBIT) to increase from the previous year´s level, is withdrawn.

 

Resources/links

https://www.stressless.com/nb-no/var-historie/caring-for-the-earth

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/ekornesimg-furniture-expands-market-with-more-affordable-still-as-excellent-brand-20150614-ghnlca

https://www.vikingcruises.com.au/press/press-releases/viking-temporarily-suspends-cruise-operations.html

https://www.facebook.com/VikingAUNZ/?brand_redir=122446663491

https://www.facebook.com/NordicBevAsia/

https://www.handelsbanken.com/en/sustainability

https://www.tietoevry.com/en/newsroom/all-news-and-releases/stock-exchange-releases/2020/03/tietoevry-withdraws-its-guidance-for-2020--uncertain-market-outlook-due-to-covid-19/