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Day One, Monday 21 April 2008
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08.50 | Opening remarks from the Chair
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| GRASPING THE FUTURE |
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09.00 | Keynote address:
Building Northern Australia’s economic prosperity
• Developing a policy framework to enhance sustainable economic growth
• Emphasising the development of key industries and infrastructure
• Identifying reform priorities for 2008 and beyond
• Is Northern Australia’s economic prosperity tied up in the commodities boom?
Paul Henderson, Chief Minister¸ NT
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09.20 | Keynote: Delivering a national plan for Northern Australia's Infrastructure development
Gary Gray, Parliamentary Secretary for regional development and Northern Australia
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09.50 | Increasing prosperity in Northern Australia through innovative development
• Channelling the north’s abundant natural resources into economic growth and development opportunities
• Evaluating the costs and benefits of various development strategies for Northern Australia
• Diversifying growth and planning for sustained demand after the ‘resources boom’
Bob McCarthy, Director General, Department of Tourism, Regional Development & Industry QLD
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10.15 | Identifying long-term market trends, infrastructure investments and policy developments needed for future economic growth
• Adopting a ‘whole-of-government/whole-of-community' approach for sustainable growth
• Developing and implementing action plans for the development of targeted industry sectors
• Providing effective and transparent land-use planning and development frameworks
• Encouraging development in a carbon constrained world
Eric Lumsden, Director General, Department for Planning & Infrastructure WA
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10.40 | Morning break
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11.00 | Regional Strategies: Strong and Flexible
- The significance of planning at the regional scale
- Regional sustainability strategies
- Regional policy frameworks with strong strategies and flexible tactics
- Simplifying development approval processes for better decisions
Jeremy Dawkins, Chairman, WA Planning Commission
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| FUNDING & BUILDING ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE |
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11.25 | International keynote address:
Bhushan Steel: an Indian Steel manufacturer’s perspective on the resources sector and infrastructure development
• Analysing what is driving foreign investment in the Australian resources market
• Key challenges over PPP governance arrangements between the public and private sectors
• Current mining operations, mineral exploration and investment opportunities
Anil Ahuja, Vice President, Bhushan Steel
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11.50 | Capitalising on the ‘boom’ to build infrastructure assets and economic development
• Quantifying public and private sector responsibilities in resolving infrastructure bottlenecks
• Analysing PPP models for various forms of economic infrastructure
• Evaluating the role of the resource sector, capital markets, developers and government in building economic infrastructure
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Yilgarn Infrastructure
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12.15 | Panel discussioin:
Building long-term capacity in Northern Australia’s transport networks
• Forecasting multimodal freight demand in Northern Australia to 2020
• Is regulatory reform the linchpin to developing freight capacity
• Strategies to make infrastructure investment a more compelling proposition
• Building transport infrastructure assets to meet growing industrial and residential demands
Robert Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Darwin
Steve Cantwell, Group Executive, General Manager QR Freight, Queensland Rail
Richard Hancock, Chief Executive Officer, Department of Infrastructure & Planning NT
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12.45 | Speed Networking
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13.15 | Networking lunch
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| ENERGY AND RESOURCES |
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14.10 | Utilising the ‘resource boom’ to drive investment in infrastructure in the resource sector
• Developing a policy framework that encourages private sector investment
• Analysing different business models for various forms of infrastructure development
• Encouraging sustainable exploration and infrastructure development to realise new market opportunities
Bryan Oliver, Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Corporation
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14.40 | Panel discussion:
Building sustainability into the resource sector in Northern Australia
• Establishing and maintaining a ‘social licence to operate’
• Current mining operations, mineral exploration and investment opportunities
• Planning for positive sustainable legacies post closure
Kezia Purick, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Territory Minerals Council
Bryan Oliver, Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Corporation
Anil Ahuja, Vice President, Bhushan Steel
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15.20 | Roundtable discussions
Roundtable 1: Modelling economic infrastructure funding
Roundtable 2: Showcasing Northern Australia as an attractive investment option Roundtable 3: Promoting the ‘Top End’s’ tourism opportunities
Roundtable 4: Finding immediate solutions to meet current energy gaps
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15.50 | Afternoon break
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| LAND AND INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA |
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16.20 | Land access and use: establishing partnerships between Indigenous communities, government and the private sector to assist indigenous development
• Resolving land rights, equity arrangements and native title claims to enable greater economic use of Indigenous land
• Bringing Indigenous land and communities into production to develop business and employment opportunities
• Building social assets within indigenous communities
Northern Land Council
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16.50 | Panel discussion:
Indigipreneur: the Indigenous entrepreneur
• Understanding the unique opportunities that exist in Indigenous business development
• Emphasising leadership, innovation and stewardship to develop Indigenous business opportunities
• Promoting indigenous culture and tourism as a cornerstone for economic development
Joseph Elu, Chairman, Indigenous Business Australia
Northern Land Council
Dennis Bree, Chair Indigenous Economic Development Taskforce, Deputy Chief Executive, Department Chief Minister
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17.20 | End of day one and networking drinks reception
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Day Two, Tuesday 22 April 2008
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09.00 | Opening remarks from the Chair
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| BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S GATEWAY TO ASIA |
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09.10 | Keynote address:
Why Northern Australia needs a global capital city
• Assessing viable options for Northern Australia’s capital city
• How big should it be and where should it be located?
• Evaluating the investment opportunities that exist
• Delivering a sustainable outcome via PPPs
Brian Haratsis, Managing Director, MacroPlan
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09.40 | Driving foreign investment in Northern economies
• Marketing the various regions of Northern Australia as an attractive investment location
• Identifying and attracting new businesses
• Facilitating the growth of commercial and industrial infrastructure
• Encouraging the development of an internationally competitive business environment
Barry Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Australia
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10.10 | Panel discussion:
Strategies to tackle skills and labour shortages in Northern Australia
• Ensuring the adequate supply of skilled workers in key industries to maximise export capacity and growth
• Innovative PPPs to attract and retain skilled workers
• Minimising the transition and disruption in transient workforces
• Building social infrastructure to meet growing population needs
Chris Young, Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce NT
Deidre Wilmott, Executive Director Policy, Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA
Beatrice Booth, President, Commerce Queensland
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10.50 | Morning break
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| BUILDING SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL ECONOMIES |
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11.20 | Identifying and developing a long-term regional development strategy
• Capitalising of the region’s natural advantages to fuel growth
• Coping with isolation and a dependence on decisions made from the capitals
• Quantifying the effect of geography and population in developing local markets
• Developing regional infrastructure to deal with scale and scope
Kevin O’Connor, Head of Urban Planning, University Of Melbourne
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11.50 | Developing sustainable urban centres of growth
• Looking at how the transformation of Northern Australia’s is leading urban renewal
• What is driving and sustaining the population and housing booms across Northern Australia
• Ensuring Northern Australia’s cities remain liveable and viable centres for growth
Ron McCulloch, Mayor, Mt Isa, Chief Executive, MITEZ
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12.20 | Meeting the rising demand for property development
• Encouraging development and major project initiatives
• City development and sustainability in Northern Australia
• Building essential infrastructure and services for growing populations
David Keir, Chief Executive Officer, Delfin Lend Lease
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12.50 | Panel discussion:
Building sustainable economies and encouraging development
• What is driving growth in land values across Northern Australia?
• Growing industrial and office park developments
• Incubating industrial projects business through acquisition, development and masterplan projects
• Commercial and industrial development
• Creating sustainable city centres
David Keir, Chief Executive Officer, Delfin Lend Lease
Robert Macleod, Mayor, Palmerston
Ron McCulloch, Mayor, Mt Isa, Chief Executive, MITEZ
Kevin O’Connor, Head of Urban Planning, University Of Melbourne
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13.20 | Networking lunch
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| THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE FOR CHANGE |
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14.20 | Development and sustainability imperatives: linking economic growth with environmental innovation for sustainability
• Combating climate change through carbon offsets: what role can Northern Australia play in the emerging carbon economy and environmental services market?
• What role will clean energy play in meeting future energy needs in Northern Australia?
• Understanding what developments are ecologically, culturally and economically appropriate for the North
• Taking a long-term integrated approach to economic, social, environmental and developmental practice
Colin Cassidy, Executive Director Sustainable Planning, Department of Infrastructure & Planning QLD
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14.50 | Panel discussion:
Sustainably developing North Australia’s natural resources and primary industries
• Analysing Northern Australia’s agricultural performance and it’s feasibility to become Australia’s next food bowl
• What impact will climate change have on agriculture, tourism, the resource sector and population growth across Northern Australia?
• Identifying sustainable resource use practices and other economic development opportunities
• Identifying incentives and market, regulatory and planning instruments that influence sustainable development
John Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, Department of Primary Industries Fisheries and Mines NT
Colin Cassidy, Executive Director Sustainable Planning, Department of Infrastructure & Planning QLD
Rod Shaw, Executive Manager, Natural Resource Management Business Unit
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15.20 | Afternoon Break
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| DEVELOPING TRAVEL & TOURISM GROWTH |
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15.50 | Panel discussion:
Travelling North: positioning Northern Australia as a stop-over destination between Asia and Southern Australia
• Designing innovative new products and tourism experiences for international and domestic visitor growth
• Quantifying the importance of tourism growth to Northern economies
• Building economic infrastructure to handle international and domestic tourism growth
Richard Muirhead, Chief Executive Officer, WA Tourism Commission
Glenys Schuntner, Chief Executive Officer, Townsville Enterprise
Rita Harding, General Manager Marketing Communications, Tourism NT
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16.30 | Encouraging tourism growth in Northern Australia
• Identifying niche and broad tourist markets for growth and designing innovative strategies to capture market share
• Investing in education and training young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs who will be the future of northern Australia’s tourism industry
• Strategies to promoting the various regions’ in Northern Australia as a attractive tourist destination
John King, Chairman, Australian Tourism Export Council
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17.00 | End of day two and close of conference
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