Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc.

What Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc. does

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc. is a not-for-profit, membership-based business council founded on 23 March 2022 at Government House in Perth to promote bilateral trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Western Australian and Japanese enterprises. The organization operates as a bilateral intermediary, serving approximately 500 members drawn from mining, energy, agriculture, food and beverage, tourism, education, legal, and consulting sectors, with growing activity in emerging verticals such as cybersecurity, AI, robotics, critical minerals, and green hydrogen. Its core offerings include five recurring membership tiers — Platinum Foundation ($10,000 one-off), Corporate ($2,500/year), SME ($1,200/year), Not-for-Profit ($250/year), and Individual ($150/year) — supplemented by structured event programming (the WA-Japan Sundowner Series and WA-Japan Conversation Series), trade facilitation, cultural advisory services, and forthcoming trade mission programs.

The AJBC is not a technology company; it generates no proprietary software, APIs, or digital platforms. Its operating technology footprint is limited to a WordPress website (ajbcwa.org), Eventbrite ticketing, and email newsletters. Underlying "product" is access to a curated network anchored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Perth, JETRO, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Japanese Ambassador, and senior WA Government officials. The organization runs on a lean staff of 7 with all committee members serving pro bono.

The business model is event-driven and subscription-recurring. Revenue derives primarily from annual and one-off membership fees, event ticket sales (member and non-member pricing), and sponsorship from a small set of repeat corporate and professional-services partners including GHD, KPMG, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, Jackson McDonald, Chiyoda Corporation, and INPEX. Go-to-market relies on event co-sponsorship, partner referrals from law firms and consultancies, government and diplomatic endorsement, and direct membership enrollment. The AJBC-WA is incorporated in Western Australia, is not GST-registered, has no parent company, and has not raised external funding.

Name

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc.

Legal name

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc.

Website

https://ajbcwa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc. is a Perth-based not-for-profit membership council founded in 2022 that promotes bilateral trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Western Australian and Japanese enterprises through networking events, trade facilitation, and cultural advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from corporate, SME, not-for-profit, and individual members. Tiers include Platinum Foundation Member ($10,000 one-off), Corporate Member ($2,500/year), SME Member ($1,200/year), Not for Profit ($250/year), and Individual ($150/year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc. is a not-for-profit membership-based business council that promotes bilateral trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Western Australian and Japanese enterprises. The council sells tiered annual memberships (Platinum Foundation, Corporate, SME, Not-for-Profit, Individual) and delivers recurring networking events (WA-Japan Sundowner Series, WA-Japan Conversation Series), trade facilitation introductions, cultural advisory services, and trade mission programs.

Product overview

Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc. is a not-for-profit membership-based business council that does not offer technology products. The organization provides a portfolio of membership tiers (Platinum Foundation, Corporate, SME, Not for Profit, and Individual) and services including business networking events (Sundowner Series, Conversation Series), trade facilitation, cultural advisory services, and trade mission programs. The core value proposition centers on connecting Western Australian and Japanese enterprises through networking, policy engagement, and cultural exchange rather than technology offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Platinum Foundation Membership
• Corporate Membership
• SME Membership
• Not for Profit Membership
• Individual Membership
• WA-Japan Sundowner Series (Business Networking Events)
• WA-Japan Conversation Series
• Trade Facilitation Services
• Cultural Advisory Services
• Trade Mission Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 high school student exchanges between WA and Hyogo prefecture since 1986
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• JETRO – Japan External Trade OrganizationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2023JETRO Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Mr Takahara Masaki, attended the AJBC's 1st anniversary celebration. JETRO and AJBC collaborate on promoting trade and investment opportunities between Japan and Western Australia.
• GHDsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2023Australian engineering firm GHD supported the AJBC event featuring WA Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken AC on Energy and advanced technologies. GHD hosted the event at their rooftop venue in Perth.
• Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023AJBC welcomed the signing of an MoU between the WA Government and JBIC focusing on information exchange and investment opportunities in hydrogen, ammonia, low emission, and decarbonisation technology. The MoU promotes cooperation in developing sectors to attract greater support from JBIC in new energy projects across WA.
• Clayton UtzsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading Australian law firm Clayton Utz hosted the WA-Japan conversations with Ross-Garnaut AC event. Partner Mark Paganin supported the Conversation Series event on zero-carbon economy.
• Herbert Smith FreehillssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm Herbert Smith Freehills partnered with AJBC for the WA-Japan Conversation Series networking event featuring Hon. Madeleine King, MP on critical minerals cooperation.
• Jackson McDonaldsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWA's largest independent law firm Jackson McDonald supported events including the Hon. Colin Barnett AC networking event. AJBC Chair Richard Sandover practiced law at Jackson McDonald for 43 years.
• KPMG AustraliasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm KPMG Australia proudly supported the WA-Japan Conversation Series event on accelerating WA's AI ambitions with Hon. Stephen Dawson, Minister for Science & Innovation.
• Makoto Asia PacificsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJBC introduced Makoto Asia Pacific and their Lean Japan Study Tours program to members. Daniel Giles, Consulting Partner at Makoto APAC, presented at AJBC Christmas Sundowner on Japan's Lean Business culture.
• Perth USAsia CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerth USAsia Centre led by Gordon Flake hosted business briefing with INPEX CORPORATION CEO on Australia Japan Security and Decarbonisation. The centre is a key think tank for Indo-Pacific strategic issues.
• Whipper Snapper DistillerysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning Perth distillery hosted Whiskey & Chocolate Pairing Masterclass events featuring Nakamura Chocolates. Ongoing partnership for WA-Japan Sundowner Series events.
• Nakamura ChocolatessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWA premium chocolate company with Japanese connections collaborated on Whiskey & Chocolate Pairing Masterclass events. Managing Director Yuki Nakamura is also an Australia-Japan Foundation board member.
• Willie Creek PearlssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWA pearl company hosted AJBC Sundowner Series July networking event at their Elizabeth Quay showroom, showcasing Australian South Sea Pearls and facilitating introductions with the new Consul-General of Japan.
• Consulate-General of Japan in PerthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consulate-General of Japan is a key partner for AJBC events, hosting occasions at the Consul-General's Residence. Collaboration includes cultural events, business receptions, and diplomatic engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Japan-Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JACCI): JACCI is a Sydney-based bilateral business organization serving Australian and Japanese companies. It is directly comparable in mission (bilateral networking, trade promotion, cultural exchange) and operates at a larger national scale with corporate membership tiers.
• Australia China Business Council (ACBC): ACBC is a parallel bilateral business council between Australia and China with a WA chapter. It is directly comparable in structure, event model, and member value proposition, serving as the closest functional analog for a non-Japan bilateral relationship.
• Australia Korea Business Council (AKBC): AKBC is another parallel bilateral business council focused on Australia-Korea trade and investment. Comparable in membership-driven, event-led operating model and in serving a single Asia-Pacific bilateral corridor.
• Australia Japan Business Council (National): The federal Australia Japan Business Council is the national umbrella body for state-level Japan-focused business councils. AJBC-WA is essentially a state affiliate, making the national body its most direct structural peer.
• Australia-ASEAN Business Council: Another parallel bilateral/regional business council bridging Australia and Southeast Asia, with similar networking, trade mission, and corporate member service offerings. Comparable in mission and target member base.

Broad incumbents

• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): JETRO is the official Japanese government trade promotion body with offices in Australia (including Perth). It is the closest functional peer to AJBC — both broker Japan-Australia business relationships, host networking events, and provide market intelligence — but JETRO operates with sovereign backing and a much broader geographic remit.
• Consulate-General of Japan in Perth: The Consulate-General is a key AJBC partner and partially overlaps in mission — it hosts diplomatic receptions, business introductions and cultural events that mirror AJBC's offerings. As a sovereign actor, it can both enable and crowd out AJBC programming.
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA): CCIWA is the broad incumbent WA business chamber. It overlaps with AJBC's WA business community membership base and event offerings, but is not Japan-specific and competes for the same regional corporate sponsorship dollars.

Emerging players

• Perth USAsia Centre: Perth USAsia Centre is a Perth-based think tank focused on Indo-Pacific strategic and economic issues. Already an AJBC partner, it operates in adjacent space hosting bilateral briefings with Japanese senior executives (e.g., INPEX CEO) that compete for similar high-profile audience attention.

Regional players

• Hyogo Business Development Support Center: Hyogo Prefecture has been WA's Sister State since 1981 and runs its own business exchange programs with WA. It is comparable in mission (facilitating Hyogo–WA economic ties) but operates from the Japanese side of the corridor.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australia-japan-business-council-wa-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australia Japan Business Council (WA) Inc.