Did you know that New Zealand has more species of flightless birds (including the kiwis, several species of penguins, and the takahe) than any other country? One reason is that until the arrival of humans roughly a thousand years ago, there were no large land predators in New Zealand; the main predators of flightless birds were larger birds.
That may be so, but a large flotilla of the flightless birds nested in the Amari Orchid Resort’s Garden Lounge last week for the combined New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce/Sutlet Group Networking evening.
(L to R) Max Sieracki, resident manager of the Amari Orchid Pattaya; Nikki Cox, president of the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce; Richard Prouse, Business Development Manager for the Sutlet Group; and Jens Heier, executive chef for the Amari Orchid Pattaya.
Nikki Cox, the president of the NZ-Thai Chamber, welcomed the 50 or so networkers. Nikki said that the roll-up was very reassuring and intimated that the chamber would look at coming down each three months to the Eastern Seaboard venue. The networkers were obviously enjoying the fare provided by the Amari Executive Chef Jens Heier, though some did mention there was no lamb. Also on hand was the Amari GM David Cumming and EAM Max Sieracki.
The Sutlet Group was also out in force, with MD Colin Bartlett, GM Stuart Blott and Business Development manager Richard Prouse all doing the rounds, explaining the multiple facets of business in Thailand, covered by the Sutlet Group.
One of the other sponsors was the Paulaner Garden, whose MD Ken Whitty is neither German or a New Zealander, but the beer went down very well. With NZ being a noted winemaking country these days, there was also some white and red for the oenologists.
The attendees were a mixed group and included interesting characters such as Tulshi Sen, president of the eponymous Tulshi Sen Consulting from Canada, who was neither Japanese nor Chinese, but actually Indian, though he has disguised the head wobble to confuse people. Joe Cox, resident dog guru was present, seen chatting with charity guru Tracey Cosgrove.
As a ‘first’, the New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce should be delighted with the result of this networking evening. As many other chambers of commerce have found, the Eastern Seaboard is very alive, active and an important center of Thai manufacturing and export.
(L to R) David W. Smith, director of Aqua Logic (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; and David O’Callaghan, from the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee.
Stuart Blott (left), general manager of the Sutlet Group and Colin Bartlett (right) toast to your health.
L to R) Tulshi Sen, president of Tulshi Sen Consulting Omnisun Systems Inc.; Randy Simmons, director of CHS-ASIA Co., Ltd.; Chutima Konfai, director of sales for Holiday Inn Pattaya; Dr. Iain Corness; and Amin Walter.
