Frances Van Ruth Email & Phone Number

Adelaide, Sa, Au

In April 2022 I joined Austrade's Investment Leadership team as Head of Investment - Europe, UK and Middle East while the incumbent was on an extended overseas assignment. Since January 2023, my contributions to the leadership team include development and oversight of our Net Zero Investment Strategy, design and stand up of the Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams initiative and leadership of our Investment Strategy, Insights and Performance branch. As of October 2024, I am delighted to once again be leading our Europe, UK and Middle East Investment branch, while maintaining my role as Net Zero Investment Lead.

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism was a $1.06b temporary emergency program to reconnect Australia's international airfreight supply chains during the COVID19 pandemic.I served as both Deputy Program Lead (Oct 2020 - June 2021) and Program Lead (July 2021 - April 2022).

Melbourne, Australia

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco Bay Area

From my base in San Francisco I led a virtual team located across the Americas focused on digital technology and cyber security. We worked with foreign businesses looking to set up and expand operations in Australia and assisted Australian firms as they enter markets across the Americas. I was also responsible for the Australian Landing Pad in San Francisco, one of five Landing Pads managed by Austrade around the world that support market-ready Australian start ups as they scale globally.

Melbourne

In this role I led Austrade's Agribusiness and Food Investment team and oversaw the achievement of 54 investment outcomes that brought jobs and much needed capital to the Australian industry. Outcomes per annum grew from three in 2012-13 to 19 in 2015-16.

Melbourne, Australia

In this role I led the implementation of investment attraction strategies to promote and attract investment into Australia in three sectors; resources, digital technology and agribusiness and food. These priorities were set for Austrade by our partners in state and territory governments and effective stakeholder management was critical to my success.

Melbourne, Australia

In this role I worked to enhance the state's engagement with international markets and successfully led the development of a new $50m trade and investment policy.

Melbourne, Australia

Women in Global Business was a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments to inspire and support Australian businesswomen to grow their businesses internationally. The program ran from 2011 to 2016 and provided information and resources, support, advocacy, and connections principally to women-led SMEs. While on the Steering Committee I instigated a research partnership with the University of Melbourne that resulted in a longitudinal study of the experiences of Australian women doing business globally.

Melbourne, Australia

On secondment from the Department of Business and Innovation I provided expert advice to the Review of Victoria’s Approach to International Engagement which the Premier of Victoria commissioned to develop a whole of government strategic approach to international engagement.

Melbourne, Australia

At Invest Victoria I led a program of strategic research projects to drive best practice in the government’s investment attraction and export development efforts including product development, strategy development, competitor analysis and benchmarking initiatives.

As a Senior Policy Adviser I undertook research and analysis on trade, industry and economic development issues and contributed to the development of trade and industry growth policies.

Melbourne, Australia

While completing my PhD in international business I worked in a number of part-time academic roles across the university including as a contributing author to a book on the internationalisation strategies of Australian firms. I consistently achieved excellent results on Quality of Teaching surveys, well beyond the departmental average. Students commented on my clear explanations of complex concepts, ability to lead engaging group discussions and inclusiveness.

In my time as Senior Research Assistant at the CERM Research Centre in the School of International Business I project managed numerous research studies including grant/tender preparation, research design, data collection and analysis, report writing and supervision of project teams. I also regularly contributed to academic papers and presentations based on the centre’s research projects and helped guide the research centre’s marketing and communication strategies.

Company Directors Course

Phd, Economics & Commerce (International Business)

Thesis Title: The internationalisation of Australian firms: how networks help bridge the 'psychic distance' between a firm and a market.

Bachelor Of International Business (1St Class Hons), Management, Latin American Studies

Thesis title: Chile - Australia's business gateway to Latin America? This research explored Chile's role as a gateway to the wider region.