Program 2026

6:00-7:30pm Pre-conference drinks reception

Pre-conference drinks at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

9:00am Welcome to delegates

• Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director, Business Advantage International

9:10am Official Opening Address

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

9:30am Keynote address: AI, productivity and the future of work – what every business leader needs to know

Skills shortages aren’t just a PNG phenomenon but a global one. The competition for experienced people is intensifying across almost every industry.

At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing what high-value work looks like faster than most organisations are ready for, and the gap between those using it well and those that are not is already widening.

Finally, the very nature of work is changing: fractional careers, portfolio workers, and new generations entering the workforce with very differing expectations.

How can business leaders navigate their way through these challenges to reach the opportunities?

Our opening keynote address this year will be made by the accredited and globally awarded futurist, Dr Ben Hamer, who is ranked as one of the Top 20 Global Futurists and is the #1 thought leader for the Future of Work in the Asia-Pacific.

• Dr Ben Hamer, International expert on the Future of Work

 This session kindly sponsored by ANZ

10:20am Morning tea kindly sponsored by BSP

11am Keynote: economic update

Update on how global factors such as the war in the Middle East will impact PNG’s economy in the coming year.

• Dr Brendan Rynne, Chief Economist, KPMG Australia

11:30am Driving financial sector reform, inclusion and stability

PNG’s central bank has been at the forefront of reforms to improve the efficiency of the country’s financial services sector, drive greater financial inclusion, and encourage innovation in areas such as green finance. At the same time, it has made major progress in restoring PNG’s foreign exchange system to balance and is leading reforms. 

• Elizabeth Genia, Governor, Bank of Papua New Guinea 

11:50am Interactive panel: Papua New Guinea’s business climate

We look at PNG’s economy through the eyes of one of its leading private sector developers, a major international bank, and its largest superannuation fund to identify and consider the opportunities that lie ahead. 

• Chris Daniells, Managing Director, Steamships Trading Company 
• Lachlan Baird, CEO, Nambawan Super 
• Andrew Betteridge, Country Head – Papua New Guinea, ANZ 

 This session kindly sponsored by PNG DataCo

12:30pm Networking lunch kindly sponsored by KPMG

1:30pm The missing link in PNG’s innovation ecosystem: building a venture capital market

As the annual Innovation PNG Awards have identified, there is no shortage of innovative small businesses in the country. However, with no venture capital market in Papua New Guinea and only a smattering of genuine ‘angel’ investors, many of the country’s most innovative startups have struggled to establish themselves, grow and prosper.  

However, as Vignesh Kumar has experienced through his involvement in the rapid growth of the VC market in PNG’s Pacific neighbour New Zealand, a dynamic venture capital market can be built quickly and successfully with the right support. 

• Vignesh Kumar, Co-Managing Partner, GD1 (Venture Capital)

2pm Panel discussion: Investing in growth – trends and opportunities in Papua New Guinea

The past year has seen PNG’s first corporate bond issued, the first digital strata title issued, a ramping up of interest in green finance and some signature investments made across tourism and hospitality, infrastructure and real estate. Our expert panel will take a closer look at what is sitting behind recent key investment decisions in PNG and where the smart money will be invested over the next five years. 

Speakers include:  

• Daniel Faunt, Group General Manager Corporate & Institutional Bank, BSP Financial Group Limited
• Eric Kramer, Acting Chief Investment Officer, Nasfund
• Clarence Hoot, Managing Director, Investment Promotion Authority
• Moderator: Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director, Business Advantage International 

2:45pm Investment case study: Launching a new bank on Papua New Guinea – the lessons learned 

CEO Danny Robinson used the 2024 PNG Investment Conference to launch PNG’s latest bank, CreditBank PNG. With its first full trading year now successfully completed and the bank well on its way, he is back to report to the conference on its progress and what he and his team have learned along the way. 

• Danny Robinson, CEO, CreditBank PNG 

3:00pm Afternoon mini break 

3:20pm A tale of two cities: business conditions in Port Moresby and Lae

The third instalment of an informal discussion about the respective day-to-day challenges facing businesses in PNG’s capital, Port Moresby, versus its manufacturing and logistics hub of Lae.

Speakers include:

• Mary Johns, Executive Officer, Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry (POMCCI)
• John Byrne, President, Lae Chamber of Commerce
• Moderator: Robert Hamilton-Jones, Commercial Director, Business Advantage International 

3:45pm Interactive panel: From education to employment – strengthening Papua New Guinea’s talent pipeline

Following on from Dr Ben Hamer’s keynote address on the future of work, this expert panel will take a closer look at the skills situation on the ground in PNG and discuss how the workforce of the future can be developed and supported.

• Susil Nelson-Kongoi, President, Business Council of Papua New Guinea (BCPNG)
• Gregory Mataenge, Manager ICT and Cloud, Vodafone PNG
• John Byrne, President, Lae Chamber of Commerce
• Moderator: Nadav Shemer Shlezinger, Senior Business Editor, Business Advantage International 

4:25pm Investment opportunities across fisheries, real estate, agriculture & energy

• Professor David Kavanamur, Managing Director, Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH)

5:00pm Networking drinks, kindly sponsored by Steamships

6:30pm Gala Dinner kindly sponsored by the Investment Promotion Authority

9am Fiji/Pacific Island investment update

The economy of PNG’s Melanesian neighbour Fiji is thriving on the back of a booming tourism industry. Meanwhile, commercial ties between the two nations have never been stronger. This session will provide a concise update on business conditions, major projects and key investment opportunities in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific Island region.

Speakers include:

• Craig Strong, Chief Investments Officer, BSP Life
• Zanie Theron, Partner-in-Charge, South Pacific Practice, KPMG
• Moderator: Robert Hamilton-Jones, Commercial Director, Business Advantage International 

Official launch of Business Advantage Fiji: with His Excellency Mr Ajay Amrit, High Commissioner for Fiji to Australia.

9:40am Connectivity and beyond: building PNG’s future ICT backbone

The dramatic improvement in data connectivity over the past five years has kick-started the digital age in PNG, transforming opportunities for businesses of all kinds. Central to that work is state-owned ICT infrastructure provider, PNG DataCo, which is now developing the next phase of the country’s ICT infrastructure. Moving beyond cables and transmission towers, the General Manager – Commercial of PNG DataCo Une O’Ome will outline its ambitious plans for data centres, digital government, public cloud services and more.

• Une O’Ome, General Manager – Commercial, PNG DataCo Limited

10am The Asian Development Bank’s investment pipeline in Papua New Guinea 

 The Asian Development Bank is one of PNG’s largest sources of official development assistance, providing a total of US$5.4 billion in loans, grants and technical assistance to date, with an average annual lending of US$380 million from 2021 to 2025. Transport and infrastructure are a particular focus, and the ADB also has the ability to take equity positions in key private sector projects. Its Country Director for PNG, Takafumi Kadono, will outline its forward program of investments and detail how the private sector can get involved. 

• Takafumi Kadono, PNG Country Director, Asian Development Bank 

10:25am Morning tea, kindly sponsored by Vodafone PNG

11:05am Australian support for infrastructure projects in PNG

Launched in 2019, the multi-billion dollar Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) is one of the largest funds currently providing grants and loans for infrastructure development in PNG. Its Chief Investment Officer, Dr Amit Chanan, will outline what kinds of project are able to access support from the fund and provide some key recent examples of funded projects.

• Dr Amit Chanan, Chief Investment Officer, Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP)

11:25am The AgriConnect program

Historically high prices for agricultural commodities such as coffee and cocoa have provided a boost to PNG’s farmers in recent years. But how can PNG do more to leverage its significant natural advantages in agriculture? This session will detail an exciting new pilot program developed by the World Bank, aimed at unlocking new opportunities for PNG farmers. 

• Catherine Hendren, Associate Investment Officer, World Bank Group

11:45am Papua New Guinea and the global energy market: the outlook

With the TotalEnergies-led Papua LNG project nearing a final investment decision, Senior Commodity Strategist for ANZ Bank, Daniel Hynes, will consider PNG’s position as a supplier to international oil and gas markets and how it may be affected by fundamental changes taking place globally.

• Daniel Hynes, Senior Commodity Strategist, ANZ Research

12:15pm In conversation: Papua New Guinea’s mining outlook  

With global metals prices sitting at historic highs, PNG’s existing miners are investing heavily to firm up and develop their future reserves. At the same time, juniors are ramping up their exploration activities, with several promising deposits already identified. Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited not only holds the PNG State’s interests in the major Porgera and Ok Tedi mines but also has a mandate to expand its portfolio further and act as a catalyst for the next generation of mining projects. 

• Sarimu Kanu, Managing Director, Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited

1:00pm–2:00pm Networking lunch, kindly sponsored by Kumul Minerals Holding Ltd