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Program

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The expertly-curated program covers a broad range of sectors presented in a variety of formats.

19 & 20 August, Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

Provisional Program

Monday 19 August 2019

  • Official welcome PNG’s High Commissioner to Australia
    09.00 - 09.15
  • Opening address The Hon. James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea*.
    09.15 - 10.00
  • Keynote: Bernard Salt — Worldwide social change and what it means for Papua New Guinea Click the link above to read in full. Bernard is one of Australia’s leading social commentators and business analysts. His keynote address will present the results of an exclusive new study on PNG commissioned by Business Advantage International especially for this conference.
    10.00 - 10.45
  • Morning Tea
    10.45 - 11.15
  • The 2019 PNG 100 CEO Survey • Andrew Wilkins, Publishing Director, Business Advantage International
    11.15 - 11.25
  • Economic update on Papua New Guinea • Ilyas Sarsenov, Senior Economist, The World Bank
    11.25 - 11.50
  • Panel: ‘Raising capital in PNG: key investors and lenders look at the best funding models for business in PNG’ Major investors in PNG’s economy and the Chair of the PNG Government’s investment promotion agency discuss the funding models that work in PNG. • Paul Sayer, CEO, Nambawan Super • David Lawrence, Chairman, Port Moresby Stock Exchange • Ian Tarutia, CEO, Nasfund • Leon Buskens, Chairman, PNG Investment Promotion Authority
    11.50 - 12.30
  • Networking lunch or Fiji update lunch (booking essential) • Brett Hooker, Chief Executive, Westpac PNG and former General Manager Westpac Fiji • Shaheen Ali, Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade & Tourism, Fiji Government
    12.30 - 13.30
  • Mining and Petroleum The US$13 billion Papua LNG project and the US$8 billion Wafi-Golpu copper-gold project are fast approaching their final investment decisions in PNG. This panel will outline the progress of these major resources projects, and the business opportunities they will bring with them. • Peter Botten, CEO, Oil Search Ltd* • Jean-Marc Noiray, Managing Director, Total PNG* • Craig Jones, Executive General Manager—Wafi-Golpu, Newcrest Mining • Saul Kavonic, Australia Research Energy, Credit Suisse
    13.30 - 14.30
  • Panel: Papua New Guinea's fast-growing services sector PNG has long been seen as an under-serviced economy but improved infrastructure and a growing formal economy is providing opportunities for both new and existing service providers across all sectors. • Zanie Theron, Managing Partner, KPMG PNG • Nuni Kulu, General Manager Digital, Bank South Pacific*
    14.30 - 15.15
  • Investment case study: providing award-winning medical services in PNG • Bruce Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Aspen Medical
    15.15 - 15.30
  • Afternoon break
    15.30 - 15.45
  • Investment case study: creating and selling a world-class security business in Papua New Guinea • Brian Kelly, founder and former CEO, Black Swan International
    15.45 - 16.00
  • Spotlight on Gulf Province Gulf Province will be the host province for the new Total-led Papua LNG project. This session will outline some of the ambitious plans to develop infrastructure in the province, and the associated investment opportunities. • Peter KenGemar, Project Director, Ihu Special Economic Zone
    16.00 - 16.15
  • The Innovators Three successful entrepreneurs show how they have innovated their way to business success in PNG. • Vani K Nades, Director Operations, Emstret Holdings Ltd (PNG’s first co-working space and an ISP) • Bridie Ohlsson, Co-founder and CEO, Geora (agritech) • Akae Pa’asia Beach, Director, Beach Accounting and Advisory (services to the SME sector)
    16.15 - 17.00
  • Networking drinks
    17.00 - 18.30
  • Conference Dinner 18:30 for 19:00 start. Gala Dinner at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, with private gallery viewing
    18.30 - 00.00

Tuesday 20 August 2019

  • Coffee in Honiara: Solomon Islands briefing
    08.30 - 09.00
  • Welcome
    09.00 - 09.05
  • A Tale of Two Cities: the Port Moresby and Lae business chambers in conversation with BAI’s Andrew Wilkins • Rio Fiocco, President, Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry* • John Byrne, CEO, Lae Chamber of Commerce*
    09.05 - 09.35
  • Keynote: Mark Pesce — Papua New Guinea in the Cloud Click link above to read in full. Mark is a leading futurist, author, entrepreneur and innovator. After a memorable keynote speech at our 2017 conference, he returns by popular demand to outline some of the business and investment opportunities that will arise from PNG’s improved connectivity.
    09.35 - 10.15
  • PNG’s telecommunications infrastructure: an update on the Coral Seas Cable and Kumul Undersea Cable Network • Paul Komboi, Managing Director, PNG Dataco
    10.15 - 10.45
  • Morning tea
    10.45 - 11.15
  • Investment Case study: managing IT risk in Papua New Guinea • Richard Dornhart, Security Practice Lead, Data#3*
    11.15 - 11.30
  • Transport and logistics Investment in road and bridge construction, and the upgrade of PNG’s airports, is set to double over the next decade, in no small part due to major new funding of up to US$2 billion from the Asian Development Bank. Speakers in this panel will provide details of exactly what is planned and where, and how the private sector can get involved. · • David Hill, Country Director—PNG, Asian Development Bank • Alan Milne, Managing Director, Air Niugini • David Wereh, Secretary, Department of Works • Richard Yopo, Managing Director, National Airports Corporation
    11.30 - 12.15
  • PNG's energy future PNG’s energy sector is taking off, with the U$2 billion PNG Rural Electrification Project announced at the end of 2018. Funded by the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, this project has the goal of providing 70% of PNG’s population with access to electricity by 2030. Locally-produced gas will provide part of the solution for the first time, as PNG’s gas exporters start to provide gas for local power generation under new domestic market obligations. This panel will outline the plans for bringing power to the people, and discuss the business and investment opportunities that will follow. · Panelists include: • Geoffrey Tan, Managing Director Asia-Pacific, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (US) • Carolyn Blacklock, Acting Managing Director, PNG Power
    12.15 - 12.45
  • Investment case study: being an Independent Power Producer in PNG • Tony Honey, Managing Director, PNG Forest Products
    12.45 - 13.00
  • Networking lunch Lunch followed by 14.00 close.
    13.00 - 14.00
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*  indicates Speaker is invited

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