Welcome to Drumbeats, the must -listen -to podcast
which explains why Indigenous partnerships are
the key to securing successful outcomes in natural
resource and infrastructure investment in Canada.
I'm Mark McNack and my co -host Robert Brandt
and I are joined today by a truly distinguished
guest, Samantha Cohen, CVO OB and the new Chief
Executive of the Commonwealth Enterprise Investment
Council, CWIC. With more than 30 years of experience
advising heads of state, senior government leaders,
and global business executives, Sam brings a
rare global perspective to today's conversation.
In this episode, we get behind the scenes of
CWIC, the self -funded business arm of the Commonwealth,
to uncover how it facilitates real trade and
investment partnerships across more than 55 nations.
From connecting Australian innovation with Asian
markets, to bridging Indigenous knowledge with
global opportunity, CWIC is reshaping what international
trade can look like when values and value align.
Sam shares why the Commonwealth offers a 21 %
trade advantage, what Canada has been missing
in one of the world's fastest growing economic
networks, and how Indigenous partnerships can
help position Canada at the forefront of sustainable
global trade. In the 90s, Canada was very active
in the Commonwealth. Will Canada regain its leadership
role in one of the most active business networks
in the world today? So, we're very pleased today
to have with us Sam Cohen, CEO of the Commonwealth
Enterprise and Investment Council. Welcome to
our podcast, Sam. Thank you, Mark. It's great
to be here. Sam, you've recently rejoined the
Commonwealth Enterprise Council. CWEIC, and you
were actually in that leadership role a few years
ago. Can you give us a little background about
yourself and your career to date? You have a
great background to be in a leadership position
of the Commonwealth, of course. Thank you, Mark.
Yes, I'm delighted to be back at CWEIC, the Commonwealth
Enterprise and Investment Council, which is always
a mouthful for people. And I was... CEO of CWIC,
as we call it, back in early 2020. And I think
about a week after I joined, COVID struck. So
I had signed up to run a trade and investment
organization which specialized in taking trade
missions around the world and matchmaking people
across 56 countries of the Commonwealth. And
I sat in my bedroom for a few years, which was
fantastic because it really forced us to pivot
the business online as the whole world was doing.
And I hope that we were able to add value, not
in the way we used to add value, but really our
remit is to facilitate trade and investment and
to... create jobs and economic prosperity and
opportunities. So that was the first time I was
involved with CWIC. And it's such a great team
and an opportunity came up to step back into
the role. And I felt that this was a very good
time, actually, because I think there's been
a huge shift in geopolitics. I think there are
lots of things happening on the trade front as
we're all experiencing. And I felt that there
was... a huge momentum in the Commonwealth that
I hadn't seen actually for a few years. I've
been working in the Commonwealth space for more
than 20 years, and it felt like a renewed energy
and a sense of collaboration. And that's possibly
the result of the external factors that are going
on in other parts of the world. And I think,
you know, people in the Commonwealth have thought,
well, we've got a new set of challenges, so we
should really... tackle these together. And I
think that it was that sense of energy and opportunity
that drew me back. Yes. And I also think you
have, you're from the Southern Hemisphere originally
and been in the Northern Hemisphere. Can you
tell us, our listeners and viewers would love
to know a little bit about more about you, Sam?
Oh, goodness. Well, I've spent most of my career,
you know, behind the scenes, so I'm not really...
I'm not really used to talking about myself,
but I have a very fortunate and slightly unusual
background in that I was born in the UK because
my parents were here at the time. And I grew
up in Queensland, Australia, and I feel very
fortunate to have grown up there. And then I
have been back in the UK for 25 years. So I've
really had the benefit of experiencing both cultures.
experiencing both lifestyles. And I have a family
here now, and my husband is actually South African,
so we're very much a Commonwealth family. Yes,
absolutely. So great with all that experience
you bring to the Commonwealth. And as you said,
it's a real inflection point in terms of global
trade. And we won't go back to the way it was,
no matter what happens. Things are shaking up.
And as you identified, there's really a renewed
look at the Commonwealth and the opportunities
it can bring. We are very fortunate to meet one
of your colleagues prior to our most recent summit.
Your team at CWIC invited a number of us to join
the summit at your own summit at Manchin House
a couple of days before. So we had Harold Calla,
who's executive chair of the FNFB. We had Terry
Paul, chief member to First Nation. Mark Pedlasli,
CEO of the First Nations Major Project Coalition.
Scott Munro, CEO of FNFMB. Ernie Daniels, President
and CEO of First Nations Financial Authority.
And Jody Aniston, Strategy and Partnership Advisor
at First Nations Financial Authority, as well
as myself and Rob joined as well. So we had a
great turnout. And all of those Indigenous leaders
from Canada who had the opportunity came to...
to go to the summit thought wow that was great
and so many of the other delegates i think were
so pleased the feedback i had to talk and listen
to the experience of the indigenous people of
canada and subsequently we've heard from most
of those individuals saying we've had so many
conversations of people reaching out to us after
trying to share and benefit from the learnings
of the indigenous people of canada so i think
that partly achieved what you try and do at those
events. Yes, well, thank you, Mark and Rob. I
mean, I'm very pleased to hear that. I think
that event was just slightly before I started
again, but I heard great reports, and I think
it's something that we haven't done in the past,
only because we haven't really had that connectivity.
And we're really grateful to you for bringing
us together and bringing the Indigenous leaders
into that space, because I think... While the
First Nations economic partnerships have been
evolving and becoming much bigger and more inclusive
and have moved into the mainstream, you know,
we need to now make them front and centre. And
I know that's been happening not just in Canada,
but around in Australia we have, you know, many
examples of economic partnership and economic,
you know. cooperation with Indigenous people
and some of the bigger institutions. That is
much more widespread now than it was 20 years
ago with corporates, with financial institutions.
I think the work that you're doing really helps
to elevate that and to bring it into the centre,
as I said. Well, thank you for that feedback
as well. Why don't you tell us a bit more about
the Commonwealth as a whole and where the Commonwealth
Enterprise and Investment Council sits within
the broader organization? Because I think for
a lot of our Canadian listeners, you know, Canada
goes through periods where it's, you know, very
involved and then goes quiet for a while and
things change. But everybody is now looking at.
What trade opportunities and Commonwealth is
something, you know, we've been prior for a long
time. Brian Mulroney, when he was our prime minister,
was very active in the Commonwealth in terms
of South Africa and apartheid and the change
there. But most recently, we haven't been as
involved or Canada hasn't been involved. So can
you share some? Yes, I think that's absolutely
right. And I'm glad you've said that, Mark, and
not me, because it's something we've been conscious
of for a while. So obviously. the sovereign is
the head of the Commonwealth. In my previous
life, it was a great joy that Canada was one
of the more prominent Commonwealth nations. Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made many visits to
Canada and there was an understanding that there
was a great trust between Canada and other Commonwealth
countries and that we were all friends and that
there was a depth of trust and that we were all
going to help each other to create opportunities
and, you know, build better countries for ourselves
and for each other. And I think it's true to
say, yes, absolutely, under Prime Minister Brian
Mulroney, who, you know, Her Majesty was very
familiar with, and some of those tumultuous periods
in the Commonwealth's history, countries have
bonded together. But I think Canada has been...
less active, shall I say, in the Commonwealth
trade space actually is the only area I can speak
on. And it's not to say that Canadian trade isn't
active and... you know, as folks independently
doing its own thing. But it's really just, it
hasn't been as active within the Commonwealth
family, as we call it. And we'd love to see Canada
playing a bigger role because there's so much
to offer. And I think we have in CWEIC, we have...
one Canadian member, and that's the province
of Alberta. And we'd like the, you know, more
Canadian companies joining because I think there's
huge demand for Canadian investment because Canadian
companies are so well run there. And obviously,
your new prime minister is very, you know, has
great expertise in governance. They're so well
run. They have a good reputation globally. very
well -educated and talented executives. So I
would suggest that there's huge opportunity,
huge investment opportunity across the Commonwealth.
There are now 56 countries in the Commonwealth.
We've got Gabon and Togo, two new entrants. They
joined last year. And, you know, there are some
really exciting opportunities in Africa, in Asia.
And, you know, we are, if you like, we're the
official arm of the Commonwealth, CWIC, and we
like to bring people together to facilitate these
opportunities. And I think it would be beneficial
to all if Canada played a more prominent role.
Yes. And it's interesting, if we come back to
that time with Prime Minister Mulroney, because
he negotiated the free trade agreement with the
US. Part of that was, yes, we can have a free
trade agreement with the U .S., but we're going
to be very active in the Commonwealth as well.
So we're once again at an inflection point where
Canada's relationship is changing with its southern
neighbor, and the Commonwealth, as it is for
many, it's always there, as is the sovereign.
Yes, I think the thing about the Commonwealth,
the... Additional advantage I would suggest is
that 20 years ago, we didn't have the connectivity
we have today, or let's go further back. So if
you wanted to do business in Togo, you had to
get on a plane and travel a long distance. And,
you know, that would have been challenging. I
think we now have the most incredible connectivity,
which helps the Commonwealth enormously. enables
young people to be more active in the commonwealth
it enables businesses to get things done very
quickly so i think it's good to take advantage
of that and i don't think that anything beats
face -to -face meetings and building strong relationships
um over the long term but i do think that that
connectivity has helped the commonwealth realize
its potential and its power and i keep saying
you know there were some years when people would
say, well, what's the point of the Commonwealth?
You know, it's moribund. Why do you bother? What
are we doing here? And I would say, well, that's
a really interesting point because it seems to
be one of the only clubs in town that has increasing
membership over a 70 -year period. And there
is a waiting list. So I think the proof is in
the pudding. I mean, people, countries are lining
up to join. You know, we now have the Middle
East is very interested in the Commonwealth as
a network. And that's quite new. But obviously,
the Middle East is now a hub for global business.
And so, you know, we are very involved there.
We've got a new... chair of our Middle Eastern
operation, Simon Penny, who was a former British
diplomat and trade commissioner. So, you know,
there are multiple changes happening, which I
think keeps it interesting and keeps refreshing
the opportunities. Yes, and can you speak a little
bit about the criteria for joining the Commonwealth
now? Because I think it's changed slightly. It
hasn't changed. I suppose it's adapted. I think,
you know, it used to be that English had to be
the dominant language, but we now have entrants
from countries that are French speaking. English
is the language of the Commonwealth, so you have
to have a strong English capability. I think
you have to comply with the human rights guidelines.
You have to have a democratic society. You have
to sign up to the principles of the rule of law.
And there are a list of criteria along those
lines. And it's quite a stringent process that
countries are asked to go through. And some countries
are rejected and some countries are asked to
wait until their circumstances have improved.
As we know, countries are expelled from the Commonwealth
if they don't comply. Countries are suspended.
I won't name names, but I mean, it happens regularly.
And I think that's a good thing because we are
constantly monitoring these values because the
Commonwealth prides itself on being bound by
really important values and democracy, rule of
law, trust, human rights are some of those really
important values. Yes, and that is a gift that
we've all received by being part of the Commonwealth.
And, you know, is something so relevant today
for everyone because everybody's saying, you
know, the world has changed, but those values
are enduring. They don't change. So that is truly
positive. Can you share some examples where CWIC
has successfully catalyzed ethical and sustainable
investment? Because that comes to the heart of
the Indigenous peoples and seven generation thinking
and how they approach that and some of the key
factors behind those successes. We don't point
to particular deals because we work across so
many countries and so many sectors. We run every
two years, we run a big Commonwealth business
forum, which... is held in different jurisdictions
around the world. Last year it was in Samoa,
and next year it will be in Antigua, which are
obviously small island states who are suffering
from climate change. So when we hold Commonwealth
Business Forums in those countries, there is
a significant focus on sustainable investing
and climate change mitigation, and that will
certainly be the case when we go to Antigua.
So we are more a facilitating platform rather
than, you know, creating specific deals. Yes.
And with Antigua, the upcoming, when exactly
is that? That's going to be the first week of
November in 2026. And I think Antigua and Barbuda
is a British realm, which means it has the British
sovereign as the head of state represented by
the governor general. Sir Rodney Williams, who
is in country. And I think it's, you know, Antigua
is a fantastic country. It's, I think probably
three years ago now, it set up something called
the Centre of Blue Economy, COBE, as they call
it. And they're really looking at ocean solutions
and new marine industry because their dominant
industry obviously is tourism. And tourism is
affected by climate change, and this applies
to small island states all over the world. They're
affected by cyclones, by phenomena such as sargassum
seaweed, which washes up on their beaches now,
which they didn't used to have before there were
rising sea temperatures. So I think, you know,
the focus when we do hold Commonwealth business
forums in these areas is definitely sustainability
and how we can... how we can do business, we
can make money and create jobs through new environmental
and sustainable initiatives. And I think that's
a fantastic challenge. Yes. And what about in
terms of, of course, you can't talk specifics,
but how does CWEC or the Commonwealth as a whole
navigate some of these regulatory and policy
challenges and how does it contribute? Yes. I
mean, we work very closely with the policy headquarters
of the Commonwealth, which is the Commonwealth
Secretariat. And that's located on Pall Mall,
very close to Buckingham Palace, where the Sovereign
is. And that's where all the... I think that's
beside, actually, Quebec House, if I remember
correctly. It was opposite. Opposite. Okay. Sorry.
Opposite. Yes. And that's where the policy teams
are. And CWIC is the active business arm, if
you like. So we feed back into the policy team.
We work collaboratively together. It is difficult.
I mean, I don't think there's probably many business
organisations that have to navigate across 56
jurisdictions. I mean, obviously, some countries
don't need the Commonwealth Network as much as
others do. So, you know, there's sort of a variance
on how much people rely on the Commonwealth Network.
But I think most countries are engaged at some
level. And that's, you know, from Samoa and to
Valu, which is the smallest country in the Commonwealth,
to India, which obviously is the economic engine
room of the Commonwealth. And, you know, we are
taking a delegation to the Africa -India Conclave
in India. in about a week's time. So it is difficult
to navigate all of the different trade challenges,
policies, variations, shall we say, but really
that's not our job. I think the governments of
those countries need to negotiate their own requirements.
Our job is to really have a helicopter view of
what's going on in the Commonwealth because Most
governments are focused inwardly and they're
looking for opportunities, but there's quite
a lag time because government is actually agile.
We have the advantage of having a Commonwealth
view so that we can perhaps see opportunities
they can't see or they didn't know existed or
unusual combinations of investors or countries
that may have similar needs. realized had similar
needs i mean i uh i'll give you an example with
uh we did help with the development of the um
the center for blue economy in antigua and they
had this problem with sargas and seaweed washing
up on the shores and they didn't know what to
do about it I think people still don't know what
to do about it. But we created a collaboration
with another university in Queensland, Australia,
James Cook University, which is on the Great
Barrier Reef. And they're experiencing some similar
issues around rising sea temperatures and the
impact it's having on coral reefs and fish stocks
and all sorts of things. So there's a great sense
somewhere in the world, somewhere in the Commonwealth.
a country will be experiencing the same challenges.
Obviously, within Africa, it's easier to share
those challenges and opportunities. But, you
know, you find companies in... So Sri Lanka,
for example, is having a resurgence in tourism
after they've had, you know, a difficult few
years with the economy and before that the tsunami.
And now there's, you know, the tourism industry
is booming. So they're having to ask for advice
from... um other countries that have had a more
stable tourism journey you know what do we do
how do we now invest in very high level tourism
which is you know coming back to to that area
so you know there's huge knowledge exchange as
well and i think you know that's where we'd love
uh canada to to be more active and i also think
with indigenous communities they are In terms
of tourism, I think Indigenous communities are
brilliant at tourism, and I think that's just
one sector that they've excelled in. I know in
Australia there are some fantastic Indigenous
tour operators. So I think it's the knowledge
exchange, and I think First Nation and Indigenous
communities bring a completely fresh approach
to many of the sectors. Others have been operating
in for a long time. They're great problem solvers,
you know, and I think with a deep, deep connection
to nature and community. And I think that's something
that we miss sometimes. Yes, clearly. We're in
this period of climate change because we have
missed it. Because when you come in, as we discussed
earlier and in other conversations about the
seven generation thinking. of the Indigenous
peoples in Canada and similar across the world
are two -eyed thinking is if we had been thinking
of seven generations, we wouldn't be in the mess
that we are in today. And we are in a mess, right?
It's just not correct. We're melting in London.
We are in a mess and place that, you know, Scandinavia
will soon become the top holiday destination.
Yes, exactly. Yes, exactly. And what about, so
we've talked a bit about the Indigenous peoples
in Canada. What would you say, as you said, Canada's
taking a fresh look at trade opportunities around
the world. What's the pitch to Canadian firms,
Canadian SMEs, Indigenous, non -Indigenous, about
the Commonwealth and Enterprise Investment Council?
Why should they get on board now? Well, I would
say, first of all, because I think most businesses
are focused on outcomes. We say there is a 21
% business advantage, direct business advantage
to doing trade with other Commonwealth countries.
And I think Canada would specifically benefit
from that because there is so much. shared history
with other Commonwealth countries. And there's
the legal structure, which Canada shares with
many countries in the Commonwealth, which makes
doing business much easier. Language and both
languages of Canada are very handy in many Commonwealth
jurisdictions. And I think that Canada is a flagship
country in the Commonwealth. You know, Canada
is a great country and you've produced, you know,
incredible leaders over your history. You have
great companies. You have progressive industry.
You have, you know, a lot of green industry.
And I think it's a shame that Canada, it would
be a shame if Canada wasn't more active because
I think. Countries that are particularly emerging
economies and developing countries are looking
for trustworthy partners, particularly for things
like big infrastructure projects, renewable energy
projects. They want partners who are going to
respect the local community, put something back
into the local community, hire local people,
have good governance. make a contribution to
the country in which they're doing business.
And I think it's fair to say that Canadian companies
have a great reputation for that and for leadership.
You know, your Prime Minister, we got to know
very well when he was here running the Bank of
England. And, you know, I think Canada has a
fantastic reputation in the business world and
it can show more leadership, I would say. we
are a very good way of bringing Canadian companies
into the wider Commonwealth quite quickly. I'm
sure you'll have a lot of requests and inquiries
about how we can make that happen and how Canadian
firms, Indigenous and non -Indigenous, can take
advantage of that. And I think just to come back
for that Commonwealth network, because we mentioned
about Prime Minister of Canada's involvement
with the... apartheid in South Africa. And South
Africa then had their truth and reconciliation,
which then Canada copied the essence of that
to deal with the injustices done to the Indigenous
people of Canada. So economic and social reconciliation,
which actually originated from South Africa in
the transition, Canada then looked inward and...
said we need to do the same and that has led
to you know the when the constitution coming
back the rights the indigenous people being included
in the constitution the recognition of treaty
rights as as well as subsequently with that in
terms of supreme court cases and sign up to under
the united nations declaration of the rights
of indigenous people so you can see that influence
that's completely right mark and i think one
of the things that people don't know is you know
the um the reader crossed two with native title
in Canada and Australia. So I think the Australian
model was developed after the Canadian model
of native title for Indigenous communities. And
that was a very important contribution to Australia.
And I also think it's important to realise that
a lot of companies now are not a global as we
know but they're doing business so it's it's
it's probably becoming more unusual to just do
business within your own jurisdiction so um you
know i spent some time at rio tinto which is
a dual listed uh british australian company which
has many businesses in canada i mean it has um
you know green aluminium it creates green aluminium
in canada That's a truly Commonwealth country,
and it operates in South Africa and all over
Africa. So I think there are many, many countries
that would welcome Canadian companies who are
global, who are already operating across the
Commonwealth, to just sort of hold their hands
up. and say, look, we're here and we care and
we are an active member of the Commonwealth.
Yes. I think it's important because I think the
world is an uncertain place at the moment. There
are scenarios that we haven't experienced before.
There are variables that have changed quite dramatically
that we haven't seen for decades. So I think
that really we all need to be operating, we need
to be finding. safe spaces and networks where
trust is valued and good practice is valued and
leadership. And I think the Commonwealth is that
place. Yes, and it has proven to be and will
continue to do so, I have no doubt. Can you explain
or reinforce where the Council sits within the
Commonwealth structure and how the Council is
structured itself? For a lot of people. You know,
the Commonwealth is a huge organization, as you
know. Yes. And it'd be great to have a little
explainer. Yes, exactly. Well, I mean, the Commonwealth,
it is quite nebulous in that, you know, it's
quite hard to tie 56 countries together. But
the headquarters of the Commonwealth is based
in central London. operate a number of arms,
if you like. They have a Commonwealth Foundation,
which makes contributions to a whole range of
charitable interests. It supports youth development
and charitable causes and interests across the
Commonwealth. Within that Commonwealth Secretariat,
there's a trade policy team, there's a women's
policy team, there's various policy teams across
a different range of subjects, and they are funded
by the member nations. So not all the member
nations because some of them are not financially
able to afford that, but the bigger Commonwealth
countries make a contribution to managing that.
When every two years there is this Commonwealth
Heads of Government Forum, all the heads of government
of the Commonwealth gather to agree on what they
call a communique. And that's sort of a statement
of intent for the next two years where they set
out what they want to achieve, areas of collaboration,
areas of focus, and that's agreed upon. And then
the Commonwealth Secretariat implements those
in agreement with the board, the member nations
who are contributing financially. And then, you
know, all member nations have had an opportunity
to contribute to that. CWIC is the business arm.
It's independent of that because we're not policy.
We're more the practical arm, I suppose. And
we feed into the policy arm. We flag trade challenges
where we can improve processes. And we are self
-funded. So we're not funded by the member nations.
We raise our own money within the business community
too. the service so okay very very helpful for
everyone to understand that because this is the
practical arm and this is where businesses should
be connecting so very important that you highlighted
that because a lot of people would think oh the
member nations are funding it so some of these
leading organizations that cross national boundaries
you know It's important for them to be listening
to this conversation and contributing to an organization
that makes a positive difference across so many
different countries across the whole globe, north,
south, east, west. Yeah, I mean, it's a great
model because we have quite a small team in London,
and then we have a number of teams. We have 13
hubs in other Commonwealth countries. So we have
one in Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Gibraltar,
Australia, Cayman Islands, Maldives, Dubai. So
those hubs, a lot of them are self -funded. Sometimes
we have voluntary businessmen who operate a hub
for us because they want to represent the Commonwealth.
It's a passion. They almost volunteer their time.
And that's wonderful for us. So there is a huge
amount of goodwill in this network. We all want
to improve the lives of our communities and those
around us and to create more opportunities for
future generations. And I think it's quite heavy
lifting sometimes, but I think the outcomes are
worth it. um working towards and you know that's
our that's our passion and our remit so uh we
always welcome fellow converts who who are on
this journey with us great well hopefully one
day we can get a hub set up in canada maybe it's
in one of the indigenous nations maybe it's in
the arctic so we can have your have you instead
of residing in malta today you can be uh somewhere
It's so dynamic. It's the most dynamic network.
I find that's what's so exciting about it because,
I mean, every day there are examples of innovation
and opportunity. So just last week I had a company
in Australia, that very small company, an SME,
that wants to scale up. And it's this incredible
innovation that sterilises. spaces, hospitals,
aircraft, hotels through ultraviolet light. And
it's a very agile technology. And they didn't
know how to bring this to market, this product.
And we've had a couple of conversations and we
found this incredible opportunity for them with
a very large tourism operator in Asia. And they,
yeah, it's just a couple of phone calls and this
relationship has sprung up and it's going to
be, you know, a wonderful pairing. So, you know,
I think every day is full of those sorts of opportunities
that just require the right people connecting
with each other. Tell us what it was like to
work in the Royal Household. It was a huge honour
and a remarkable experience. It was really a
great privilege. And I was very fortunate and
I learned a great deal. Yes, I'm sure it was
a great honor. And I'm sure the Sovereign is
also very comfortable with you rejoining the
organization because these are the organizations
that keep those ties that bind us all together.
And having that perspective of working closely
with the Royal Household, as well as with all
the member countries. that's the glue that binds
us all together, or a lot of us, without a doubt.
Yes, and I was very fortunate to attend a number
of Commonwealth heads of government meetings
with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We visited
Chogham in Australia, in Perth, in Trinidad and
Tobago, in fact, in Australia twice. I think
there was another one in India. So I have had
that direct experience of the way the Commonwealth
works because I have worked alongside Her Late
Majesty, and I think that's been a very valuable
experience. And Queen Elizabeth II was passionate
about the Commonwealth, and she saw it grow from
nine countries at the beginning of her reign
to 56. I think that's one of her great legacies.
And I think His Majesty the King is carrying
on that legacy in the most remarkable way and
is so involved. He traveled to Samoa, even though
he wasn't well. Unbelievable. His commitment
is extraordinary. And I think we're very lucky
because having an apolitical head of the Commonwealth
means that the agenda is neutral. The sovereign
is there because there's a care and a compassion
and a desire to see these countries thrive and
prosper. And that's incredibly valuable. Yes,
and we've certainly seen that during the early
part of his reign. A man for his time, because
he's intervened at very critical moments to nudge
things in the right direction. or just to give
that non -political support or nudge. Yes. The
King has, as you know, he's been very involved
in the sustainability agenda for many years before
he became sovereign. He started an initiative
called the Sustainable Markets Initiative, SMI.
You may be familiar with it or some of your listeners
may have heard of it. And this is a really fantastic
platform as well, which is bringing finance and
opportunity to... um sustainable business initiatives
and renewable energy projects and um around the
world uh even beyond the commonwealth uh they're
truly global and and we work closely with smi
as well so i mean the king has had a huge um
has already made a huge contribution to um sustainability
to indigenous people to the business community
at large and He's a very practical man. He set
up Dutchie Originals himself. He has direct business
experience. He knows how to run a business well.
He listens to people. He's very astute, and I
think we're lucky to have him, and we were lucky
to have his mother leading the Commonwealth and
taking an interest in the business arm of that
as well. If I'm an SME candidate, do I have to
be a member of the council to take advantage
of the council, like the great example you mentioned?
We don't usually have SMEs as members, but that
example came through the state government of
Victoria. There was an amazing SME who was headquartered
in Alberta, and they remember we would help them.
I mean, there are limits to that because we can't
deal with multiple SMEs in each state. But if
there's something that's relevant and is a really
good piece of technology or innovation or an
idea or a business that's going to be relevant
across multiple countries, then absolutely. And
thank you for that. And just for some comparability
with Australia, is it the federal government
in Australia that's a member or it's the states?
No, the states are members. Because the states
in Australia are probably like Canada. They're
all very different. Yes, that's what I was thinking.
Yeah, and we're finding that's more of a trend
at the moment. So we presented to one of the
states of Pakistan the other day. various states
of India joining because everybody's got a different
trade imperative. So in Queensland, they're sort
of ramping up to the Olympics in 2032 and they
have different produce and different business
innovations and mining operations than they do
in Victoria or over in Western Australia. So
the same is in Canada. So I think we are seeing
a pattern of more. state governments joining.
Great. So we will do our best to help facilitate
those conversations and introductions, because
I can think of many provinces and the territories
in Canada who would benefit. And as they are
as strong as they are in Australia, they have
their own individual objectives. So we will see
what we can do to nurture those relationships.
Sam Cohen, thank you very much for a wonderful
conversation. It has been great to learn in depth
about the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Trade
and Investment Council and the opportunities
and the power of that network that the Commonwealth
provides. So thank you very much for joining
us today. Thank you, Mark. It's been a great
pleasure. to join you here at CII today. And
I hope that the Canadian Indigenous Investment
Corporation joins us again at CWIC events, and
you would be more than welcome. And it really
was transformative for us. And it's very important
that we maintain this relationship and continue
to help and support each other. Yes, and we look
forward to seeing you at our summit in April.
in the square mile again as well. So thank you
very much. Thank you, Mark. Thank you to Sam
Cohen for sharing your insights with us. And
thank you for viewing and listening. Be sure
to share, subscribe and leave a review on your
favorite podcast channel. Mark your calendars
for the upcoming 2026 Summit taking place on
the 8th of April. Thanks for listening to Drumbeats.
Until next time.