Primary contacts
Hon. David Ridgway
Agent General for South Australia - UK and Europe
David Ridgway is South Australia’s Agent General in London. A former Trade and Investment Minister in the South Australian Parliament, David is passionate about the economic growth of the State.
Contact
Stephen Camporeale
Country Director - UK and Europe
Stephen joined South Australia’s Agent General Office in London in 2022 as Country Director for UK and Europe with an aim to attract investment to the state and support exporters for this region. Previously a Chief Executive Officer of the European businesses of Nova Systems in London, Stephen had an extensive Defence, Aerospace and Management Career and has worked extensively in Australia, the UK, Norway, and Singapore. Stephen is a Chartered Professional Engineer, Fellow of IEAUST, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the Institute of Directors. He has held board appointments in Australia, the UK and Norway.
Contact
John Rees
Trade and Investment Director - UK and Europe
John has facilitated defence investment and trade into South Australia for the past decade with the Office of the Agent General. Fluent in French, he is experienced in market research, brand management and FMCG sales. John has previously worked at the Welsh Development Agency, responsible for attracting inward investment into Wales from the Benelux countries, Scandinavia and latterly France, where he ran the Paris office of the Welsh Government for 12 years.
Contact
Henry Lawton
Investment Director - UK and Europe
Henry facilitates investment from the UK and Europe into South Australia concentrating on key priority sectors including agribusiness, health and medical industries and energy and mining. He was previously Vice President of a specialist global research service provider where he serviced the majority of the leading Australian and international private equity and infrastructure investors. Prior to this he worked for a Federal Senator for South Australia and then a prominent national industry association.
Contact
Karen Makepeace
Business Development Manager - UK and Europe
Having joined the team in September 2022, Karen works to promote and facilitate trade in the UK and Europe. Covering all of the priority sectors for South Australia, Karen’s key focus is on supporting food, wine and agri-business. With over fifteen years experience in buying across a wide range of categories within grocery and FMCG, Karen has worked for A.S. Watson and Ocado Retail. She is highly skilled at developing and implementing successful commercial strategies, whilst creating meaningful, beneficial and long term partnerships.
Contact
Overview
Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) have enjoyed a long-standing trade and investment partnership. With Brexit now a reality and the UK no longer part of the European Union, South Australia has an opportunity to strengthen cooperation through the ongoing negotiations for a new Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.
