Dominic Sheehan, Bulkbox Foods, Australia (left) during his professional placement in Jakarta, Indonesia
New strategies, shared regional knowledge and anchored relationships forged from professional placement
Overview
Indonesian culinary heritage organisation, Atelier Rasa welcomed Australian end-to-end food distribution company, Bulkbox Foods to its workplace for four weeks as part of the Professional Placements program in September 2025.
This program, implemented on behalf of the Australian Government, supports businesses in Australia to make new connections with businesses in Southeast Asia by facilitating temporary work placements of early to mid-career professionals. Participants share knowledge, build capability and lay down foundations for lasting business-to-business relationships.
ParticiPATING ORGANISATIONS
Two organisations participated in this professional placement.
Sending Business: Bulkbox Foods, Australia
Food and Beverage Business, Melbourne, Australia
Bulkbox Foods is an Australian-based end-to-end food distribution company, championing the quality, regenerative practices and provenance of premium Australian meat, dairy and consumer packaged goods.
Bulkbox Foods had been exploring opportunities to enter the Southeast Asian market. The professional placement program provided the catalyst it needed to take the next step to shaping its approach. The program enabled Bulkbox to send their General Manager to gain immersive, in-country experience and build enduring networks at the executive level. These gains will enable Bulkbox Foods to move to its next stage in engaging in Southeast Asia.
““We’ve been really wanting to get on the ground and be able to network with the right people to ask the right questions, as researching from abroad and trying to understand the administrative red tape and consumer market can only get you so far.” ”
Host Business: Atelier Rasa, Indonesia
Culinary Heritage Organisation, Jakarta, Indonesia
Atelier Rasa is a collective food space committed to safeguarding and promoting Indonesia’s culinary heritage. Atelier Rasa showcases the richness of Indonesian cuisine through hands-on cooking lessons, curated literature, and authentic food experiences, with a strong focus on preserving traditional recipes and cooking practices. The team hosted Dominic to gain regional insights and build relationships with like-minded, forward-thinking Australian businesses.
Placement Activities
The placement commenced with a three-day cultural orientation for participants facilitated by the program. This included a visit to the Australian Embassy hosted by Ambassador Rod Brazier briefings from Austrade and Deal Teams representatives, offering valuable insights into Australia-Indonesia trade and investment opportunities.
““Another highlight was going to the Australian Embassy. I was sitting by the Agri-Food Trade Commissioner and across from the Ambassador and I could ask them some direct questions about market entry and challenges, but also, we were able to have an organic conversation that actually elicited a few business ideas.””
Networks and market landscaping
Bulkbox Foods accessed accessed a range of networking opportunities facilitated by Atelier Rasa, attending major events such as the ASEAN for the Peoples Conference, Trade Expo Indonesia, and the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.
Placement Outcomes
Atelier supported Bulkbox Foods to gain insights from industry experts and local stakeholders, building connections with prospective partners including suppliers, importers, and logistics companies. Bulkbox Foods also explored potential locations for restaurant expansion, gaining valuable on-the-ground market insights.
““We’re exploring taking-up some restaurant space in a government-owned hotel, so it was good to hear the locals’ intuitive thoughts on it.”
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Participant Experience and Insights
Dominic noted how the relationship-driven nature of Indonesian business culture made a strong impression.
““One slightly surprising element that is different to the Australian context is how social and relationship-oriented doing business here can be.””
Recognising the value of these connections, Dominic extended his stay beyond the initial placement period to attend additional conferences and deepen engagement with industry stakeholders. Dominic is now collaborating with local partners and a fellow program participant, seeking to conduct field research that showcases best practices, facilitates knowledge-sharing, and fosters trade and collaboration on sustainable aquafarming across Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
““It’s been a very stimulating, productive and exciting 6-weeks… it came at the perfect time for me at Bulkbox””
Benefits to the Host Organisation
For Atelier Rasa, hosting Dominic presented a valuable opportunity to connect with a like-minded Australian business and explore avenues for collaboration. The placement fostered knowledge sharing and talent exchange, laying the groundwork for future creative ventures. Building on this experience, Atelier Rasa is now working with Dominic on an Indonesian cookbook project, drawing on his insights to help shape its development.
Dominic Sheehan at a company visit to Blibli, one of Indonesia’s leading e-commerce companies
Benefits and Broader Impact from this Placement
For the Participant from Australia:
· Gained immersive experience to inform Southeast Asia market entry
· Gained cultural, regulatory, and business insights.
· Built networks with suppliers, importers, and government representatives
For the Host Organisation in Indonesia:
· Strengthened ties with Australia
· Shared knowledge and exchanged expertise
· Opened doors for future collaboration, including a cookbook project
Lessons and Future Opportunities
Dominic’s placement underscored the value of cross-border knowledge exchange in the food and beverage industry. While four weeks delivered strong value, both parties acknowledged that longer placements could deepen collaboration further.
From understanding the administrative and regulatory landscape to establishing collaborative ventures with local partners, this placement is already delivering lasting benefits - and has opened the door to new industry-to-industry engagement between Australia and Indonesia.
Conclusion
The Professional Placements program is more than a knowledge exchange - it’s a powerful tool for laying foundations for lasting relationships between Australian and Southeast Asian businesses. For host organisations like Atelier Rasa, it provides access to fresh regional insights. For sending organisations such as Bulkbox Foods, the placement can open up new business opportunities and shapes strategies for entering new Southeast Asian markets. For individuals like Dominic, it’s a transformative experience that can change how they understand and engage with people in other cultures, reinforcing the importance of strong people-to-people connections as a foundation for more effective and culturally attuned business practices.
About the Professional Placements program
The Professional Placements program is funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The program offers support to Australian and Southeast Asian businesses to send or host temporary professional placements of young professionals between Australia and Southeast Asia. Eligible countries are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
Interested in hosting or undertaking a placement?
