Three Committee members of AJS-QLD, Julie Yamamoto, Shannon Whiley, and Lawson Dibb worked throughout EXPO 2025 Osaka at the Australian Pavilion and have provided their reflections on their once in a lifetime experience.
Julie Yamamoto
I was fortunate to be a part of TEAM AUSTRALIA for the 2025 Expo in Osaka, Japan.
It was a once in a career opportunity and one that I will cherish for the years to come. I was one of the first Australia Pavilion staff on the ground in Osaka – I landed in November 2024 six months prior to the opening of the Expo. My early work included the operations preparations for the pavilion – as I had never worked previously in mega events this was certainly a challenging period for me and a huge learning curve. With the guidance of colleagues with mega event expertise, I soon found myself drafting multiple operations plans, policies and drafts – everything from first aid, pavilion opening and closing procedures, emergency evacuation, noise management, VIP protocol, communications, staffing plans and many more. At the same time, I was working with colleagues to understand what equipment needed to be procured and identifying providers.
One of the main focusses of our preparation for the pavilion was securing a team of approximately 200 staff by mid-March 2025, one month prior to opening. We received so many high calibre applications from both Australian and Japanese professionals wanting to be part of TEAM AUSTRALIA. In reviewing the applications, it reinforced to me how many talented professionals there are in both Australia and Japan who have a strong understanding and passion for the bilateral relationship. With 4 weeks until the opening of Expo we had secured a dynamic team of highly enthusiastic members ready to showcase Australia to the Japanese public and visitors from across the globe. As a team, we entered a 4-week training period – I was heavily involved in the planning and delivery of the training – during this time I learned more about people’s motivations for wanting to work in the pavilion, their hopes and dreams. During this time, I truly started to understand how much it meant to our Japanese colleagues to be part of TEAM AUSTRALIA – many of them had studied or worked in Australia and wanted to share their love of Australia with the Japanese public who would be coming to our pavilion. They became my inspiration!
During our training period, we focussed on team bonding activities including an Amazing Race Osaka. More than 10 teams competed for the honours – it was a great afternoon filled with lots of laughing and cheering. A day many of us will never forget.
On 13 April 2025, the Expo opened and the Australia Pavilion soon became a firm favourite. The team at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Government) had worked with professional services firms in the years leading up to 2025 on the design, exhibition, narrative and functionality of the pavilion. It was clear from very early on that they had delivered something very special.
In addition to the exhibition which attracted over 3 million visitors over 6 months, the cultural program delivered on the stage at the front of the pavilion (open to all expo site visitors) provided an incredible opportunity for the Japanese public to learn more about Australia. From musicians, singers and chefs, to acrobats, dancers, story tellers, high profile Australian athletes, media and TV identities and artists, the program showcased the depth and breadth of Australia to the Japanese public. I spent a lot of time at the front of our pavilion and cherished my conversations with our Japanese guests – from children to grandparents, students to schoolteachers, they all told me that the Australian Pavilion was ‘Saikou’ (which means the best/incredibly good!) and they loved Australia and wanted to visit in the future.
The Australia Pavilion was also unique in that it also included a business events zone in the back of the pavilion. Over 6 months, more than 160 business events were held in the pavilion – promoting Australia’s industry strengths and the connections to Japan through trade, export, investment, cultural, artistic, communities and sporting ties. There was a large size commercial grade kitchen in the back of house, preparing meals using the best of Australia ingredients, and providing our business guests with the 5-star treatment and unique Australian hospitality.
And I couldn’t sign off without mentioning our pavilion mascot, Koko. She was our number one team member, delighting everyone whether it be members of the public at the front of the pavilion or business guests in the back of the pavilion. She was my guru – her hugs, high fives, high energy dancing, and gorgeous personality will never be forgotten.
