Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox is leading a delegation of more than 60 business, industry, and government leaders to New Zealand and Australia this week to strengthen international ties and explore new opportunities for trade and investment.
Organized by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and World Trade Center Utah, the delegation includes senior executives and stakeholders from the aerospace and defense, life sciences, critical minerals and innovation sectors. From Oct. 16–25, the delegation will travel to Auckland and Sydney for meetings with public- and private-sector leaders, investors and research institutions.
Each sector track will engage in industry-specific programming in both countries. The aerospace and defense track will focus on expanding market access, connecting Utah companies with advanced technologies and exploring joint venture opportunities in the region. The critical minerals track will center around industry-focused site visits, roundtables and investor meetings. Participants will also attend the International Mining and Resources Conference + Expo (IMARC) in Sydney, one of the world’s top mining conferences, where Utah businesses will spotlight their leadership in responsible sourcing, advanced manufacturing and global supply chains.
The development and innovation track will connect with venture partners, deep tech accelerators and public-sector commercialization leaders. The life sciences track will explore partnerships with leading biotech firms and research institutions in Sydney and Melbourne, with a focus on advancing innovation and accelerating pathways from lab to market.
This visit builds on years of bilateral engagement in Utah, including meetings with ambassadors, consuls general and former prime ministers from both New Zealand and Australia.
