Restoration Institute hosts Australian trade commissioner

Published: September 15, 2010

Chris Rodwell, Queensland, Australia, Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas, speaks at Tuesday's roundtable. image by: Peter Hull

NORTH CHARLESTON — In a straight line, Queensland, Australia, is more than 9,000 miles from South Carolina and is about 20-times larger in land area. But the expansive territory and the Palmetto State share some common ground. 

Both boast Boeing Co. investments. Both states also are playing leading roles in their countries’ quests to meet growing energy demands while fostering economic and work force development. 

The two also are kindred in their notions of freedom and entrepreneurship.

“What I see is that America accepts risk and it accepts failure,” said Chris Rodwell, Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas, who spoke to area lawmakers, economic development representatives and industry executives about opportunities for collaboration between the two states during a visit to the Clemson University Restoration Institute Tuesday.

Other similarities between the states lie in energy, Rodwell said. Queensland has committed to diversifying its energy base and fostering public-private partnerships in research and development, he said, and creative industry clusters equal job creation.

As trade and investment commissioner for the Americas, Rodwell leads efforts to increase Queensland’s trade and investment profile across the region. He previously held the position of Queensland director at the Australian Industry Group.

His predecessor was the Honorable Peter D. Beattie, the former premier of Queensland who joined Clemson in August as an adviser and guest lecturer on global economic development strategies.

Rodwell learned how Clemson is leading research and development in alternative energy sources via the wind-turbine drive-train testing facility under development at the Restoration Institute.

The $98 million facility will be the largest of its kind in the world and was funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant of $45 million and matched with $53 million of public and private funds.

The project, awarded to Clemson through a highly competitive bid process, clearly was a “big win” for the state, Rodwell said.

State Sen. Paul Campbell of Berkeley County told Rodwell that Queensland and South Carolina are great trading states.

“We can learn from each other,” he said.

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Clemson University Restoration Institute
The mission of the Clemson University Restoration Institute is to advance knowledge in integrative approaches to the restoration and sustainability of historic, ecological and urban infrastructure resources, and drive economic growth. The institute’s vision is to build a sustainable future through education, collaborative restoration research and strategic partnerships.