Mining Mogul Clive Palmer

Speaks at Paradigm Infinitum's Year of the Tiger 2010 Ball

As part of its non-profit efforts, Paradigm Infinitum recently held its annual Ball to celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger 2010 International Business Ball at Landmark Restaurant, Sunnybank. The evening was a wonderful success with a turnout of almost 230 people, including many distinguished guests and VIPs, business people from across the spectrum, members of the professional community, community leaders and many friends at the event.

(From left) Special guests Anna and Clive Palmer with Shona Leppänen-Gibson and Kiong Chan of Paradigm Infinitum

The highlight of the evening was a keynote speech by Professor Clive Palmer.  We were very privileged to have Professor Palmer, mining mogul and the richest person in Queensland, as our special guest.  This year, our annual event attracted dozens of special guests and leaders, including 24 Australian politicians, amongst them the Hon John Mickel MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and John-Paul Langbroek, the leader of the Queensland Opposition. 

All profits raised at the Paradigm Infinitum Chinese New Year International Business Ball and Fundraiser will go towards Station Officer David Galvin, a Queensland Fire and Rescue officer who sustained serious spinal injuries in an accident recently. Dave is also a technical rescue officer, a scout leader, a husband and father to two daughters. We hope the money raised will help in a small way to ease the financial strain on his family and also help make his life more comfortable. Overall approximately $7,500 was raised for Dave. We are currently in the process of auditing the results. 

Shona Leppänen-Gibson, General Manager of Paradigm Infinitum was the MC for the night.  After the formalities and introductions, she handed over to Kiong Chan, Paradigm Infinitum CEO who gave a short speech about Paradigm Infinitum’s past year and achievements, including its New Media and the Informed Citizen project.  Chief Superintendent Andrew Short, Director of the School of Fire and Rescue Training, a key client of Paradigm Infinitum, gave a short speech of his view of leadership, and the praised Paradigm Infinitum for the leadership shown in undertaking the event on behalf of its former student.

We were also treated to a traditional Chinese Lion Dance performed by Khuan Yee Lion Dance Association.  Khuan Yee performed for free on the evening, their only earnings being the red packets that guests gave for luck.  Khuan Yee also gave a rare performance of ‘drunken lion’, where one of the ‘lions’ drank a real beer, staggered, and fell over a few times.  It was a spirited and dynamic performance, enjoyed by all.

Khuan Yee Lion Dance Association entertained the crowd		International Business Panel Consul Khairuddin, Hon John Mickel MLA, David Goodwin and Gerhard Peters with Shona Leppänen-Gibson

Our keynote speaker Professor Clive Palmer spoke extensively about the relationship between the Chinese people historically and Australia.  He reflected on his own memories, having travelled in China as a child with his father, on his business experiences, and his own research interests in these ties. 

The International Business Panel consisted of Professor Gerhard Peters from FDHW University of Germany and ISIS visiting fellow, David Goodwin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, the Hon John Mickel MLA, former Trade Minister, and Consul Khairuddin from MIDA, Sydney.  We were very privileged to have such an enormously experienced and interesting group at the event.  The Panel discussed the Global Financial Crisis, China’s trading influence and reach in our region, and future strategic issues for trade and international business.  The Panel gave very insightful responses and it was a very interesting and fruitful discussion.

Finally, raffle prizes were drawn – the major prize was a return XL airfare to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia and the prospect of a free flight in the extra luxurious class was enough to raise over $2,000 itself.  And to complete the night we heard from Assistant Commissioner from the QFRS, Iain McKenzie, who also presented thank you plaques to our special guest speaker and our business panel. 

“Paradigm Infinitum would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed on the night.  Without the help and support of many people, the event would not have been the great success it was and we would not have been able to raise funds for Dave Galvin”, said Shona Leppänen-Gibson.

“Of course, we would like to thank again our keynote speaker, Professor Clive Palmer, and our panellists, Professor Gerhard Peters, David Goodwin, the Hon John Mickel MLA, and Consul Khairuddin. Our thanks also go to Chief Superintendent Andrew Short for his kind words and wonderful encouragement at the beginning of the night.  Our sincere thanks also to our generous donors and sponsors - Air Asia for the major raffle prize, AMC at Sunnybank for the many movie tickets, Middle Park Physiotherapy, the Hon Michael Choi MLA, Member for Capalaba, and of course the Hon John Mickel MLA once again, and John-Paul Langbroek MLA for both donating their time as auction prizes! It was a wonderful gesture for the Speaker of the House and the Opposition Leader to collaborate to raise more money. Thanks also to Cr Graham Quirk for providing a very entertaining auction, as always, to Dr Nava for assisting with the raffle draw and to Gregory Gavriniotis for the photography on the night.”

“To those who have donated cash, especially David Kemp of BDS, who once again has shown great generosity, RPQ/Nova/Brisbane Sister City Committee (and Prof Clive Palmer for so generously donating the little spare time that he has), the Hon Neil Roberts MLA, Minister for Emergency Services, our sincere thanks and gratitude.  And finally we would like to thank Angela Nee, who so ably manned the door, was troubleshooting for us, and sold so many raffle tickets as well. Thank you sincerely Angela. You are a real gem and a wonderful friend to us both.”

Paradigm Infinitum

Paradigm Infinitum CEO Kiong Chan greets Brett Raguse MHR, Federal Member for Forde, and his wife Marleen		Professor Gerhard Peters, John Massey, Elfie Massey-Vallazza, President of the Australian Council for Europe, Shona Leppänen-Gibson, Gregory Gavriniotis and Kiong Chan