Alan is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected financial journalists and commentators. The owner, publisher and editor of The Constant Investor, Alan 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.
Morning tea
An up-to-the-minute briefing on the state of PNG’s economy and economic trends.
A conference highlight, a panel of experts discuss the key features of PNG’s prevailing investment climate and identify the risks and the rewards. Participants include:
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:
Networking lunch
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:
With its much-anticipated new SEZ strategy set to be unveiled, this session will take a closer look at the PNG Government’s plans to create SEZs across the country.
This session will provide an update on current and planned mining projects and examine measures being taken to ramping up more exploration. Participants include:
Greater efforts in important replacement are under way to ensure PNG is able to feed itself. The larger opportunity, however, may be for the country to grow its exports to the Asia-Pacific region.
The President of Lae’s Chamber of Commerce, in conversation about the future of PNG’s manufacturing and logistics hub.
5.00pm Networking drinks
6.30pm for 7.00pm Gala Dinner
This quick-fire session will provide business updates on some of PNG’s closest neighbours. Participants will include:
PNG’s telecommunications sector has undergone significant expansion in recent times, with the entry into the market of two major new players, Fiji’s ATH (Vodafone) and Australia’s Telstra (Digicel). At the same time the PNG government has commitment itself to an ambitious digital government strategy. Key leaders from the sector will outline the prospects for growth in the tech sector and what it means for PNG’s economic development.
Morning tea
Electricity is the key to driving future economic growth across the country. State utility PNG Power is at the centre of both the sector’s current challenges and its future solutions. This session will discuss the road ahead for the electrification of PNG and discuss private sector involvement.
PNG’s National Airports Corporation not only runs the nation’s airports; it is also one of the country’s largest landowners. This session will outline the opportunities for private sector involvement in two major new projects: the transformation of Port Moresby International Airport and the ‘Airport City’ precincts being planned adjacent to Port Moresby, Lae Nadzab and Tokua airports.
PNG’s tourism sector is starting to rebound after COVID-19. The head fo the peak body for the sector to outline the PNG government’s strategy to increase visitor numbers and encourage more investment.
Funding for the Connect PNG road construction program was approved in the 2023 National Budget. This session will provide an update on the current projects under way, including work on the Highlands Highway and the road to connect Lae and Port Moresby. It will also preview future plans.
The privately-owned Constantinou Group of Companies has a long and successful history in Papua New Guinea, dating back to the late 1950s. With businesses covering material supply, construction, hospitality and real estate development, this family-owned group has grown in parallel with PNG itself to become a key player in country’s development. George Constantinou, Managing Director of Hebou Constructions and CEO of Monier, will join us to discuss the lessons that can be drawn from the group’s rich history, and how its future is shaping up as it undergoes generational change.
* Invited