United Kingdom and Europe

Our trade and investment office in London, is headed up by David Ridgway, Agent General for South Australia, and offers a range of services including facilitating UK and European foreign direct investment into South Australia and providing in-market knowledge, connections and advice.

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

+44 20 7520 9110 laura.dawson@south-aus.eu

Office of the Agent General, Australia Centre, Strand, London WC2 B4LG, United Kingdom.

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

+44 20 7520 9103 stephen.camporeale@south-aus.eu

Office of the Agent General, Australia Centre, Strand, London WC2 B4LG, United Kingdom.

Henry Lawton

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

+44 0 7308 673 676 henry.lawton@south-aus.eu

Office of the Agent General, Australia Centre, Strand, London WC2 B4LG, United Kingdom.

Karen Makepeace

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

+44 0 20 7520 9110 karen.makepeace@south-aus.eu

Office of the Agent General, Australia Centre, Strand, London WC2 B4LG, United Kingdom.

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.

Europe continues to be an important partner for South Australia, with opportunities across energy and mining and health and medical industries.

Sector opportunities


The UK and Europe are growing markets for South Australian wines, particularly at the premium end of the market. With more than two-fifths of all wine consumed globally produced in another country, there are a wealth of opportunities for South Australian wine exporters to identify potential markets that best suit their wines.

The FTA will provide valuable opportunities for food, grocery and beverages manufacturers, as well as strengthening supply chains, when it comes into force.

Whilst there are challenges to entering the health and medical industries sector in the UK and Europe, there are also plenty of opportunities. The UK health market is one of the largest in the world, with the National Health Service (NHS), treating a million patients every 36 hours. South Australian health and medical companies can tap into this huge pipeline across pharmaceuticals, medicine supplies, therapeutic goods and medical devices.

In Europe, companies are looking for solutions to reduce their global footprint. South Australia’s credentials in the renewable energy is renowned as we lead the nation in the uptake of renewable energy. 

Due to our abundance of natural assets, including significant renewable energy zones for wind and solar, mineral deposits of copper, gold, iron ore, graphite, gas and petroleum products, the global demand for our resources is high.