Program 2024

6.30pm Pre-conference drinks reception

Pre-conference drinks and the official opening of the Conference Expo in the Plaza Foyer, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southbank, Brisbane. Delegates and speakers can also pick up their conference lanyards.

9.00am. Welcome to delegates

• His Excellency John Mao Kali, PNG’s High Commissioner to Australia

9.45am  Keynote address: Chris Riddell, Futurist

Former Chief Digital Officer at Mars, Chris is a recognised trend spotter, frequent media commentator, and digital expert with unparalleled insights into emerging trends and human behaviour.

The fast-changing post-COVID world is chaotic and, in Chris view, that chaos isn’t going away. So, how do business leaders formulate their strategies and provide leadership in such an environment?

Chris provided his insights on exactly how this can be done and how we can seize the opportunities that change – in the form of such developments as Artificial Intelligence – is going to bring us.

• Chris Riddell, Futurist 

This session kindly sponsored by Vodafone PNG

10.30am  Morning tea, kindly sponsored by the Constantinou Group of Companies

11.15am  Economic Update on PNG

PNG is currently undergoing a program of economic reform supported by a program from the International Monetary Fund. During this session, we heard an update on the current state of its economy, the prospects for growth, and the key elements of the planned reforms, which will involve key changes to the foreign exchange regime.

• David Toua, Chairman, Bank of Papua New Guinea
• Sohrab Rafiq, Country Manager, International Monetary Fund

11.55am LNG and beyond

With PNG entering its second LNG decade, the head of PNG’s national petroleum company, Kumul Petroleum Holdings, discussed what to expect in coming years, PNG’s fuel security challenge, and the prospects for changes to the sector’s regulatory framework. We also learned of related plans to develop a complementary onshore petrochemical processing and fabrication sector.

In addition, the head of Twinza Oil outlined the progress of the US$1.5 billion Pasca A LNG project, which looks set to become PNG’s first offshore gas field.

• Wapu Sonk, Managing Director, Kumul Petroleum Holdings, in conversation with Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director, Business Advantage International
• Stephen Quantrill, Executive Chairman, Twinza Oil [Presentation]

12.45pm Networking lunch, kindly sponsored by KPMG

1.30pm Fireside chat: Building, construction and hospitality

When Cypriot emigré George (later Sir George) Constantinou, started a welding business in Port Moresby in 1954, he could hardly have imagined where the business would end up. Seventy years later, the Constantinou Group is one of PNG’s most dynamic and successful companies, with businesses in building and construction, hospitality and property. 

• George Constantinou, CEO, Constantinou Group of Companies, in conversation with Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director and Co-founder, Business Advantage International 

1.50pm Papua New Guinea’s investment climate [Interactive panel]

A panel of experts discussed the key features of PNG’s prevailing investment climate. 

• Wavie Kendino Leki, Managing Partner, Dentons 
• Rajeev Sharma, CEO, Nasfund
• Susil Nelson-Kongoi, President, Business Council of Papua New Guinea and CEO, Institute of Banking and Business Management

2.30pm  Papua New Guinea’s mining outlook

 The Kainantu gold mine in PNG’s Eastern Highlands has been transformed in recent years into a major producing mine, thanks to investment from Canada’s K92 Mining. CEO John Lewins shared his insights into how this transformation is being achieved. Meanwhile, the head of PNG’s state-owned mining company, Kumul Minerals Holdings, spoke on its ambitious plans to encourage the development of the sector and partner with the private sector. 

• John Lewins, CEO, K92 Mining [Presentation]
• Sarimu Kanu, Managing Director, Kumul Minerals Holdings [Presentation]

3.10pm  Afternoon mini break 

3.25pm ESG and responsible investment

Global investment parameters have changed markedly in the past five years. This session looked at both the changes and the opportunities investors now have to understand to finance their projects successfully in PNG.

• Geri McMahon, Global Head of ESG, Asset Management Sector, KPMG Australia

3.45pm Green finance in Papua New Guinea

With global factors making more finance available for ‘green’ and sustainable projects, we take closer look at what’s actually taking place on the ground in PNG. The head of the Bank of PNG’s Green Finance Centre outlined what funds are available and what kinds of projects may qualify for support.

• Mohinesh Prasad, Head of Green Finance Centre, Bank of Papua New Guinea/Global Green Growth Institute

4.00pm PNG’s state-owned enterprises 

The head of the holding company for PNG’s state assets described the plans to transform PNG’s state-owned enterprises and involve the private sector in the commercialisation of some of PNG’s state assets, including the site of Port Moresby original port. 

• Professor David Kavanamur, Managing Director, Kumul Consolidated Holdings 

4.20pm Foreign direct investment trends in Papua New Guinea

The head of PNG’s Investment Promotion Authority presented the latest intelligence on the origins and direction of foreign direct investment into the country and identified some of the key trends.

• Clarence Hoot, Managing Director, Investment Promotion Authority of PNG, in conversation with Robert Hamilton-Jones, Commercial Director, Business Advantage International

4.40pm  Mergers and acquisitions in PNG: what every investor needs to know  

As well as monitoring the prices of key products and services, PNG’s Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) plays a key role in ensuring business follows the rules in mergers and acquisitions (for instance, it was responsible for approving Newmont Corporation’s recent acquisition of Newcrest Mining). Its head outlined the key elements of PNG’s M&A regime.

• Paulus Ain, Commissioner, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission

5.00pm  Networking drinks, kindly sponsored by Kumul Petroleum Holdings

6.30pm for 7.00pm  Gala Dinner 

This year’s Gala Dinner took place at The Rooftop, Level 12 at Rydges South Bank Brisbane (adjacent to the conference venue).

Our guest speaker at dinner was Wapu Sonk, who is Chairman of PNG’s bid to join Australia’s National Rugby League competition.

9.00am  Keynote: PNG’s cybersecurity challenge: what every director should know 

This was one session no CEO or board member could afford to miss. KPMG Australia’s leading cybersecurity expert outlined the business risks of cyber crime, based on the latest data and trends, and set out what companies need to put in to place to minimise risk. 

• Matt Dri, Partner, Cyber Response & Forensic Technology, KPMG Australia 

This session kindly sponsored by Datec

09.30am  PNG’s telecommunications roadmap 

The digitisation of PNG’s economy is increasing rapidly on the back of a major expansion of telecommunications networks across the country. In this session, the key players behind the expansion outlined what the market can expect in coming years. 

• Pradeep Lal, CEO, Vodafone PNG, in conversation with Robert Hamilton-Jones, Commercial Director, Business Advantage International
• Tony Morisause, General Manager – Engineering Services, PNG Dataco  [Presentation]

 10.00am  A Tale of Two Cities: Port Moresby and Lae

While Port Moresby is PNG’s administrative hub, its manufacturing and logistics hub is Lae, which is not only the main port servicing PNG’s populous Highlands region but, increasingly, an important transhipment hub for the Pacific Islands. In a ‘rematch’ from our 2019 conference, the presidents of the two cities’ business chambers talked about what makes each city unique, how they complement each other, and the business environments in both.

• Rio Fiocco, President, Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• John Byrne, President, Lae Chamber of Commerce

10.30am Morning tea, kindly sponsored by BSP

11.00am Investment case study: finance

Credit Corporation has a long and successful history as a licenced finance institution in PNG and the Pacific. Recently, it has taken the first steps towards becoming a fully-fledged bank. CEO Danny Robinson outlined the company’s vision for increasing competition in PNG’s banking sector. 

• Danny Robinson, CEO, Credit Corporation 

11.15am Financing PNG business

The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, operates across the Pacific, acting as a catalyst for the development of non-bank financial institutions, and also takes equity positions in key businesses. In this presentation, we learned how IFC is helping to improve access to credit in PNG, and what types of businesses it is keen to support.

• Kevin Gani, Financial Institutions Group – Country Leader Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Countries

11.30am Financing PNG’s infrastructure investment pipeline 

The ADB is the largest international agency supporting the development of infrastructure in PNG. Its country head outlined the extent of its country program and its criteria for lending to the private sector. 

• Said Zaidansyah, PNG Country Director, Asian Development Bank

11.50am Infrastructure: aviation and ports 

The heads of two of PNG’s critical state-owned enterprises – PNG Ports Corporation and Air Niugini – outlined the outlook for their sectors and their signficant forward investment programs.

• Gary Seddon, CEO, Air Niugini 
• Neil Papenfus, CEO, PNG Ports Ltd

This session kindly sponsored by Nasfund

12.30pm Investment case study: tourism 

Overlooking Port Moresby’s picturesque Ela Beach and old port, the transformative Paga Hill development is an ambitious attempt to create a cruise ship and tourism destination in PNG’s capital. Chairman of Paga Hill Development Company, Gummi Fridriksson, provided an update on this major project, already slated to be the site of PNG’s first Radisson Blu resort and casino. 

• Gudmundur Fridriksson, Chairman, Paga Hill Development Company

12.45pm Official closing address  

• The Hon. James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

1.00pm–2.00pm Closing remarks and networking lunch, kindly sponsored by Credit Corporation