Program 2023

9.00am  Welcome and opening remarks

• His Excellency John Ma’o Kali, Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to Australia

9.10am  Official opening address

• The Hon. Richard Maru, OBE, MP, Minister for International Trade and Investment, representing the Hon. James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

9.30am  Keynote address: How the world economy is likely to reshape in coming years – and how it is likely to impact PNG This session kindly sponsored by Vodafone

One of Australia’s most experienced and respected financial journalists and commentators provides his personal take on how the world economy is likely to reshape in coming years – and how it is likely to impact PNG.

The owner, publisher and editor of The Constant Investor, Alan Kohler has been Editor of the Australian Financial Review and The Age and presented the ABC TV’s ‘Inside Business’.

In 2005, Alan launched the Eureka Report, a newsletter for self-directed investors, and in 2007 was the largest shareholder and CEO of Business Spectator. In 2012, both businesses were sold to News Corporation.

These days, Alan is best known as the finance presenter for ABC TV News.

• Alan Kohler, Expert Financial Journalist

10.15am  Economic update on Papua New Guinea  This session kindly sponsored by Nasfund

An up-to-the-minute briefing on the state of PNG’s economy and economic trends.

• Marcel Schroder, PNG Country Economist, Asian Development Bank

10.40am Morning tea.  Kindly sponsored by Credit Corporation

11.25am Papua New Guinea’s investment climate (Interactive panel). This session kindly sponsored by Trade Investment Queensland

A conference highlight, a panel of experts discusses the key features of PNG’s prevailing investment climate and identify the risks and the rewards. Topics to be covered include recent and planned regulatory changes, recent investment trends, and sectors where there are particular opportunities. Our experts:

• Zanie Theron, Partner in Charge, KPMG South Pacific
• Clarence Hoot, Managing Director, Investment Promotion Authority
• Rajeev Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Nasfund

12.10pm  PNG LNG, Papua LNG and beyond: PNG’s gas-led decade This session kindly sponsored by ExxonMobil PNG

With the TotalEnergies-led Papua LNG project now in its front end engineering and design (FEED) stage, this session will look at the next decade of planned investments in PNG’s gas sector, and the opportunities it will deliver to businesses of all sizes. Participants to include:

• Tera Shandro, Chairperson and Managing Director, ExxonMobil PNG
• Brett Darley, Executive Vice President – Eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, Santos

12.50pm  Networking lunch. Kindly sponsored by KPMG

1.50pm  Keynote: Positioning PNG for energy transition investment

Now more than ever, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are front and centre of major investment decisions. KPMG’s Global Oil and Gas Lead Jonathan Peacock will outline the factors business leaders need to consider when planning their investments in the energy sector, and the opportunities.

• Jonathan Peacock, Global Oil and Gas Sector Lead, KPMG

2.15pm  Decarbonisation: what does it mean for PNG?

This session will look at how renewables are becoming a key part of the power generation mix in PNG. It will also consider the international factors that are placing greater pressure on businesses of all kinds to decarbonise.

Participants include:

• Jeffrey Tan, Senior Investment Officer, IFC

2.35pm  Case study: Mining

The Ramu nickel and cobalt mine in PNG’s Madang Province recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. With both metals playing a key role in renewable energy technologies, there are significant prospects for further expansion.

• Craig Lennon, Head of Asia Pacific, Nickel 28

2.50pm  [Investment climate] PNG’s central bank

The Bank of Papua New Guinea, PNG’s central bank, is undergoing a process of reform as a result of recent reviews. Acting Governor Elizabeth Genia will address the conference on the these reforms, on monetary policy and foreign exchange reform. Speaker:

• Elizabeth Genia, Acting Governor, Bank of Papua New Guinea

3.10pm  [Investment climate] PNG’s capital markets

This session will take a closer look at plans to expand PNG’s capital markets by introducing a corporate bond market, real estate investment trusts and the encouragement of greater participation. Speaker:

• David Lawrence, Chairman, PNGX Markets

3.25pm Afternoon break.

3.35pm  Investor insight: real estate development

• Q&A with Rupert Bray, Managing Director, Steamships (Video presentation)

3.45pm  Papua New Guinea’s mining outlook: the MRA’s Jerry Garry in conversation

This question-and-answer session will provide an update on current and planned mining projects (including the reopening of Porgera and the planned Wafi-Golpu copper-gold project), and examine measures being taken to ramping up more exploration. Participant:

• Jerry Garry, Managing Director, Mineral Resources Authority of PNG

4.10pm  Case study: Training

• Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Chief Executive Officer, PNG Institute of Banking and Business Management

4.30pm  [Investment Climate] Improving international travel to PNG

• Stanis Hulahau, Chief Migration Officer, Immigration and Citizenship Authority of PNG

5.00pm Networking drinks. Kindly sponsored by Hebou Constructions

6.30pm for 7.00pm Gala Dinner. Kindly sponsored by KPMG