Australia France Business Association

What Australia France Business Association does

The Australia France Business Association (AFBA) is a non-profit bilateral business association registered in France as an Association Loi de 1901, headquartered at 35 boulevard Malesherbes, Paris. Originally operating as ABIE France before rebranding in 2023, AFBA serves as the France chapter of the Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) network of 14 not-for-profit organizations spanning the continent. The association connects French and Australian professionals and companies through a three-tier membership structure (Corporate, Business, and Individual), generating revenue from annual membership fees and event registration fees. Its core offering is a programmed calendar of in-person and online events, including seasonal networking drinks (Summer, Autumn, Spring), the annual Rentrée Dinner, AGMs, economic briefings, webinars, and cross-chamber receptions.

AFBA's value proposition rests on institutional backing from the Australian Embassy in Paris, where the Australian Ambassador to France, H.E. Gillian Bird PSM, serves as Honorary President. Its membership roster includes major enterprises such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Annual Sponsor), TotalEnergies, NAB Europe, NEOEN, Qantas, Air Liquide, Mills Oakley, Flying Whales, and government trade bodies including Austrade, Trade and Investment Queensland, and Global Victoria. The association operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and uses standard operational tooling (Wild Apricot for CRM, Yapla for event registration, HelloAsso for payments, Google Analytics for web traffic), with no proprietary technology product.

Distribution is anchored in the AFBA website, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Facebook, and email newsletters, with event attendance and word-of-mouth within the Franco-Australian business community serving as the primary membership acquisition channel. AFBA is governed by a board led by President Frank Ribuot and Secretary Nicola Jolley (NAB Europe CEO), and is pursuing formal 'Chambre de Commerce' status at its 10 March 2026 AGM, which would expand its official bilateral recognition.

Name

Australia France Business Association

Legal name

Australia France Business Association

Website

https://australiafranceba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFBA is a Paris-based non-profit bilateral business association that connects Australian and French professionals and companies through three-tier membership (Corporate, Business, Individual), networking events, and institutional support from the Australian Embassy and the ABIE network across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: AFBA generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees charged at three tiers: Corporate Membership, Business Membership, and Individual Membership. These fees grant members access to networking events, business functions, and the association's broader business development support.
2. Event registration fees: The association charges registration fees for many of its events. Non-member event pricing is typically higher than member pricing, providing a tiered incentive structure for membership. Some events are free for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Australia France Business Association (AFBA) is a non-profit membership-based business association that connects French and Australian professionals and companies through networking events, business forums, and bilateral trade promotion. It offers three membership tiers (Corporate, Business, Individual) and runs an annual calendar of events including seasonal networking drinks, webinars, roundtables, AGMs, and the flagship Rentrée Dinner. AFBA also operates as the France chapter of the Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) network.

Product overview

Australia France Business Association (AFBA) is a business networking organization offering three-tier membership programs (Corporate, Business, Individual) that provide access to networking events, business functions, and connections between Australian and French business communities. AFBA organizes regular events including seasonal networking drinks, AGMs, business roundtables, webinars, and cross-chamber receptions. The organization is part of the broader ABIE (Australian Business in Europe) network spanning 14 European countries, facilitating trade and investment relations between Australia and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership
• Business Membership
• Individual Membership
• AFBA Events Program

Quantifiable outcome

• ABIE network spans 14 countries across Europe, celebrating 50 years of fostering Australia–Europe trade and investment ties
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Commonwealth Bank of AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Commonwealth Bank serves as AFBA's Annual Sponsor, providing financial support for the association's activities and events. The CBA logo appears prominently on the AFBA website as the annual sponsor, and CBA executives (including CEO Wilco Hendriks) participate in AFBA events such as the Rentrée Dinner.
• Australian Business in Europe (ABIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA is the France chapter of the Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) network, which comprises 14 not-for-profit organizations across Europe fostering Australia–Europe trade, investment, and diplomatic ties. The network celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. AFBA participates in ABIE delegations, international events, and the ABIE International Reception, positioning itself within a pan-European ecosystem.
• ANZsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerANZ is an event sponsor of AFBA, supporting events such as the Autumn Drinks (October 2025). ANZ provides promotional support and visibility for AFBA events.
• Australian Embassy in PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA is supported by the Australian Embassy in Paris, with the Australian Ambassador H.E. Gillian Bird PSM serving as honorary President of AFBA. The embassy provides institutional support, venue access, and diplomatic linkages for AFBA events. AFBA is in contact with the embassy regarding how the business community can provide support in various situations.
• French Embassy in AustraliasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA maintains contact with the French Embassy in Australia and works collaboratively on initiatives of mutual interest, including statements on matters affecting the Franco-Australian community.
• French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA collaborates with FACCI on matters of shared interest, including joint statements and business community initiatives. FACCI organizes its own events (such as the Sustainability Forum) in which AFBA participates as a partner.
• American Chamber of Commerce in France (AmCham France)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAFBA co-hosts Cross-Chamber Network Cocktail events with AmCham France and other anglophone chambers in France, expanding networking reach for members of all participating organizations.
• Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & IndustrysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAFBA collaborates with the Franco-British Chamber for joint networking events, such as the Cross-Chambers Networking Gathering (May 2023), hosted at the Franco-British Chamber's venue.
• World Trade Center Paris Île-de-FrancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA is co-organizing the 2026 Spring Cross-Chamber Network Reception with World Trade Center Paris Île-de-France, expanding the reach of its networking activities.
• Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission) is listed as a useful link and key partner for AFBA, providing trade intelligence and investment promotion support for the Franco-Australian business community.
• Australian Embassy in FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Australian Embassy in Paris hosts AFBA events (such as the Hydrogen Geopolitics Briefing in May 2023) and provides administrative support. The Ambassador serves as honorary President of AFBA.
• FLYING WHALESsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA partnered with Flying Whales to host an exclusive member event at the company's headquarters, offering members an opportunity to explore the LCA60T air cargo transport solution and hear from CEO Vincent Guibout.
• Coolangatta GroupsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAFBA Corporate Member Coolangatta Group operates Le Jardin de Verre by Locke hotel bar in Paris, which has hosted multiple AFBA Summer Drinks events.
• Investment NSWsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerInvestment NSW sponsored the AFBA Briefing on Australia and the Geopolitics of Hydrogen (May 2023), contributing to event costs and facilitating government-level engagement.
• Victoria State Government (Global Victoria)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerVictoria State Government's Global Victoria division is an event partner for the AFBA Rentrée Dinner 2025, supporting the flagship annual event and contributing to cross-border trade promotion between Victoria and France.
• Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBA maintains close ties with Austrade's France office, including participation in joint events and referrals. Austrade provides market intelligence and trade facilitation for Australian companies seeking to engage with the French market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI): FACCI is the inverse bilateral chamber (Australian-based, French-focused) and AFBA's most natural peer. The two organizations already collaborate on joint statements and shared events, operating in the same France-Australia bilateral business space with overlapping member audiences.
• World Trade Center Paris Île-de-France: WTC Paris is a co-organizer of AFBA's 2026 Spring Cross-Chamber Network Reception. It serves a similar cross-border business audience in Paris with event-driven programming and membership services, positioning it as a directly comparable Paris-based peer.
• Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry: The Franco-British Chamber is a Paris-headquartered bilateral business association offering tiered memberships and networking events with a comparable anglophone-in-Paris value proposition. AFBA has co-hosted events with this chamber, indicating direct comparability.
• Australian British Chamber of Commerce: The Australian British Chamber is the UK-based bilateral counterpart within the ABIE network. AFBA has attended its End of Year Young Professionals Reception, and the two operate the same chamber-of-commerce model connecting Australian businesses with a single European market.
• American Chamber of Commerce in France (AmCham France): AmCham France is a Paris-based bilateral chamber offering corporate membership tiers, event programming, and cross-chamber networking. AFBA co-hosts cross-chamber receptions with AmCham, making it a directly comparable membership-driven business association operating in the same Paris market.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Française des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie à l'International (CCI France International): CCI France International is the umbrella network of French bilateral chambers worldwide. It sits above bilateral chambers like AFBA in the institutional hierarchy and provides a structural reference for how AFBA could evolve following its proposed 'Chambre de Commerce' rebranding.
• EuroCham - European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam: EuroCham is a multilateral European business chamber with a comparable member-services and policy-advocacy model. While not bilateral, its tiered corporate membership, event programming, and government engagement patterns closely mirror AFBA's operating approach.

Others

• Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission): Austrade is the official Australian government trade body that AFBA partners with for market intelligence and referrals. It is not a competitor but an ecosystem participant whose complementary role is critical to AFBA's value proposition of connecting Australian businesses to France.

Regional players

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce in France: The Canadian Chamber in France operates a parallel bilateral membership model for Canadian-French business ties. Flying Whales (an AFBA corporate member) is French-Canadian, illustrating the cross-over with AFBA's member base in the French-Canadian corridor.
• Australian German Business Association: AGBA Paris is a fellow ABIE-affiliated bilateral chamber serving Australian-German business interests from Paris. It operates an identical three-tier membership and event model, making it a near-clone peer for benchmarking AFBA's operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AusFranBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/australiafrancebusinessassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australiafranceba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 France Business Association