This page contains outlines of the various session at In the Zone.
- Crises, opportunity and the new world order
- Australia in the ‘Asian Century’ and strategic role In the Zone
- Regional financial markets in the new world order
- China: an enduring partnership and perspectives on its future
- Foreign investment and sovereignty: a domestic perspective
- Isolation, or centre stage? When the tyranny of distance becomes an advantage
- Responding to terror, pandemic and natural disasters: the essential role of modern technology and expertise in co-operative health and disaster management
- The evolution of energy
- Japan: an enduring investment relationship - securing demand for natural resources to drive mutual economic growth
- Media futures: markets and audiences In the Zone take centre stage
- Higher education in globalised economies: opportunities, challenges and solutions
- Western Australia's engagement with the economic powers of the twenty-first century
- India: twenty-first century powerhouse
- Twenty-first century Perth: a leading city In the Zone
- Emerging security issues in a new world order, within the zone and beyond
- Energy, innovation and climate change
- Conference summation, networking and drinks
Monday, 9 November 2009
Opening plenary session 1: Crises, opportunity and the new world order
This session will constitute the official opening of the Conference by His Excellency Dr Ken Michael AC, Governor of Western Australia.
Professor Margaret Seares AO, Conference Chair, and Dr Michael Chaney AO, Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, will outline the concept of the conference and share their vision of ‘the zone’ and Western Australia’s place in this exciting geopolitical arena.
Plenary session 2: Australia in the ‘Asian Century’ and strategic role In the Zone
Global economic and strategic influence is shifting to the Asia Pacific. By 2020, it is forecast that Asia will account for around 45 per cent of global GDP, one-third of global trade, and more than half of the increase in global energy consumption.
Asia's surging growth is driving Australia’s own economic prosperity. Western Australia in particular has developed strong bilateral ties with its major trading partners In the Zone. Australia has a responsibility and long-term interest to work with our region to ensure we are collectively well placed to advance our common interests.
Join Australia’s Foreign Minister the Hon Stephen Smith, His Excellency Zhang Junsai, Chinese Ambassador to Australia and His Excellency Taka-aki Kojima, Japanese Ambassador to Australia as they share their views on Australia’s future role In the Zone and the ongoing development of beneficial relationships between key trading partners.
Plenary session 3: Regional financial markets in the new world order
The past 12 months have been defined by a period of unprecedented volatility in global financial markets, challenging the era of prosperity enjoyed by much of the world in the early part of the century.
How has this global crisis affected regional financial markets and their increasing resilience? What are the anticipated savings rates across the region in the long-term?
What is the anticipated role of the ASX in the Asian time zone in the next decade? What about funds under management, and are we making progress on transparency and corporations law regimes? And how overall, do we ensure that this economically powerful region of the world stays that way in the long-term?
A powerful line up of financial experts will join a panel to discuss regional financial markets in the new world order, chaired by CEO of Australian Capital Equity, John Langoulant. Panellists will include the Australian Treasury’s Executive Director Macroeconomics Group Dr David Gruen, Assistant Governor (Economic) of the Reserve Bank of Australia Phil Lowe, CEO of ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and Amercia Alex Thursby and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of Thailand Dr Narongchai Akrasanee.
Luncheon plenary session 4: China: an enduring partnership and perspectives on its future
China is Western Australia’s major trading partner and the State’s largest export market. Stellar and continuing economic growth and the increasing wealth of its inhabitants have positioned China as one of the premier economic powers in the twenty-first century.
What are the challenges and opportunities in dealing with contemporary China? Is it our trading relationships, or a broader strategic policy framework that will frame our long-term interactions? How do we best gauge and respond to Australian domestic public attitudes toward China and vice versa?
The Australia-China Business Council’s Chief Representative in China, Paul Glasson, will deliver a first-hand and informed commentary on China over lunch.
This lunch is proudly sponsored by WesTrac.
Plenary session 5: Foreign investment and sovereignty: a domestic perspective
The free flow of capital in an increasingly globalised economy has enabled Australia to develop its significant natural resources and form strong and interdependent trading relationships with its major partners In the Zone.
Yet around the world public concern remains about the implications of this investment on national sovereignty, particularly where these funds are government-owned.
Australia established its own sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund, in 2006 to assist future governments meet the cost of public sector superannuation liabilities by delivering investment returns on contributions to the Fund.
How do we continue to ensure the positive economic consequences associated with the increased movement of private and public capital around the zone and at the same time address these public concerns?
David Murray AO, Chair of the Australian Future Fund and the Hon Julie Bishop, Federal Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs present their views on this topical subject.
Concurrent session 1a: Isolation, or centre stage? When the tyranny of distance becomes an advantage
The successful development of Western Australia’s abundant and diverse natural resources base has been accelerated by the State’s geographical proximity to its key markets and attractive sovereign risk profile. Working together, resources companies and their customers are creating strong and mutually beneficial relationships that underlie Australia’s long-term economic growth and the resources security of its trading partners.
Sam Walsh, CEO of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, will chair a representative panel from across the zone to discuss how Western Australia and neighbouring economies can continue to build beneficial relationships based on the development and export of natural resources within this rapidly developing geographical community.
Concurrent session 1b: Responding to terror, pandemic and natural disasters: the essential role of modern technology and expertise in co-operative health and disaster management
What do terrorist bombings, tsunamis, pandemics and El-Nino events have in common? They are all major perturbations to the global environment that call for preparedness and vigilance in order to respond to them quickly and efficiently, mitigating the impacts on health, regional security and economic stability.
Failure to manage the flow-on effects of these disasters costs lives and billions of dollars. The SARS outbreak alone is estimated to have cost the global economy 20 billion dollars. What can Australia do, in conjunction with its neighbours In the Zone, to invest in developing regional skills and cutting-edge educational facilities, as well as establishing strategies for shared resources in biotechnology.
Nobel laureate Professor Barry Marshall convenes a group of internationally acclaimed speakers with first-hand knowledge of these issues, to discuss the strategies that can enhance our capacity to respond to them. These speakers include UWA Professor Bruce Robinson who worked in Aceh after the 2004 Tsunami, Professor Sai Kit (Ken) Lam, a UWA science graduate with expertise in the identification of new viruses, and Professor Sangkot Marzuki, President of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences and director of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta, whose cutting-edge forensic laboratory helped identify the suicide bombers responsible for the terrorist bombings in Indonesia.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Breakfast plenary session 6: The evolution of energy
The world needs all the energy we can develop, in every potential form. As the energy sector evolves, natural gas has come of age and is beginning to play a more prominent role in the energy mix amid a global move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this regard, the world also depends on technology to produce emerging sources of energy and this is where partnerships and innovation are key.
Join Desmond King, President of Chevron Technology Ventures and the Hon Eric Ripper MLA as they share their views on the evolution of energy.
This breakfast is sponsored by the Energy and Minerals Initiative at The University of Western Australia. Further informationabout the Initiative.
Opening plenary session 7: Japan: an enduring investment relationship - securing demand for natural resources to drive mutual economic growth
It’s now over 50 years since Japan and Australia signed the first of their major trading agreements that led to the very active trade relationship that the two countries have maintained and developed since that time. And now, what of the future? Sir Rod Eddington, of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee, and Mr Akio Mimura, the Chairman of one of Japan’s leading companies, Nippon Steel, will consider how this important relationship will play out in the future, particularly in the area of natural resources.
Concurrent session 2a: Media futures: markets and audiences In the Zone take centre stage
With 60 per cent of the world’s population and the fastest growing media markets in the world, what traditional and new media opportunities does our proximity to this region provide? China now has more internet users than the United States and India is rapidly experiencing a similar growth pattern - can we be part of this new media revolution?
In traditional mediums like newspapers, television and radio, the growth is in Asia and the weight of the world’s viewing public is shifting. And what of newer technologies? Mobile phones and handheld devices, and $100 laptops - what impact will this new connectivity have on life across the region from the bottom of the pyramid to the world’s largest middle classes?
Chaired by Elena Douglas, International Affairs and Media Adviser, In the Zone, panellists will explore the business, economic and social implications of this rapid transformation in both technology and market share. Speakers include Jeremy Philips, Senior Executive Vice President, Office of the Chairman, News Corporation, Michelle Guthrie, Managing Director of Providence Equity, Ryan Stokes, Director of Australian Capital Equity and Indrani Bagchi, Diplomatic Editor of The Times of India.
Concurrent session 2b: Higher education in globalised economies: opportunities, challenges and solutions
Globalised economies present complex and exciting challenges, especially to leading, research-intensive universities. The content and structure of both general and professional degrees, as well as patterns of student demand, are changing rapidly.
Teaching and learning depend upon optimal use of new technologies, the recruitment of a new generation of academic leaders and enhanced levels of involvement with professional and community leaders and alumni through adjunct and visiting appointments. Increasingly, universities must identify and fund their academic and research priorities, withdrawing from lower priority fields, collaborate with appropriate institutions and organisations, and allow students to pursue part of their degree programs internationally.
Join Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia Professor Alan Robson and other international leaders in the field of higher education in a wide-ranging discussion about the many development opportunities being created and pursued by leading academic institutions In the Zone.
Luncheon plenary session 8: Western Australia's engagement with the economic powers of the twenty-first century
Western Australia’s proximity to China, India, Japan and the major economies of the twenty-first century constitutes a significant competitive advantage for our resources-rich regions.
Over lunch, the Western Australian Premier, the Hon Colin Barnett MLA will speak on Western Australia’s engagement with our key trading partners and the importance of investing in international relationships and a deeper understanding of our place at the nexus of these powerful nations.
Tom Albanese, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto will then speak on the increased level of private sector engagement and importance of both China and India to the companies future, and India’s emergence as both a market and a producer of resources.
Concurrent session 3a: India: twenty-first century powerhouse
India alone will be the largest country in the world by 2030. The country has demonstrated its ability to survive the global economic crisis by maintaining an expanding GDP rate. Bilateral trade between Australia and India has grown rapidly and promises to accelerate into the future.
Join two of India’s senior commentators, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Senior Editor of The Hindustan Times and Indrani Bagchi, Diplomatic Editor of The Times of India as they discuss India’s emergence as a powerhouse of the twenty-first century and what that means for Western Australia, the zone and the rest of the world.
Concurrent session 3b: Twenty-first century Perth: a leading city In the Zone
The rapidly developing Western Australian economy has thrust the city of Perth into the international spotlight as a hub for the natural resources community and an increasing network of related scientific, technical and creative expertise. The ‘lucky country’ of Australia is emerging relatively unscathed from the global economic crisis, and its population is predicted to soar into the twenty-first century due to a combination of increasing fertility rates and continued migration.
How does Perth, currently one of the top five most liveable cities in the world, optimise the advantages bestowed upon it by this fortunate confluence of economic and geographical factors, its positioning within this zone of twenty-first century growth? What will it take to realise its aspirations to become one of the leading cities In the Zone?
Join the well-travelled Sue Boyd, President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs as she debates these issues with the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi, award-winning landscape architect Professor Richard Weller, author of Boomtown 2050, and the acclaimed Professor Fiona Stanley.
Concurrent session 4a: Emerging security issues in a new world order, within the zone and beyond
The simultaneous economic rise of a large number of powers In the Zone with the consequent increase in military capacity has shone a light on many unresolved security questions. In addition, the issue of approaches to militant fundamentalism has exercised the minds of security planners within and without the region. Efforts at transparency and collaboration have become marked features of the region’s diplomacy.
Hear distinguished speakers in the field including Ric Smith AO PSM, Australia’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Professor the Hon Kim Beazley AC, the Hon Gareth Evans AO QC and Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Senior Editor of the Hindustan Times, deliver their own perspective on and debate the many security challenges In the Zone.
Concurrent session 4b: Energy, innovation and climate change
The diversity and abundance of Western Australia’s natural energy resources coupled with the scientific and technical expertise of our skilled professionals and researchers have positioned this state as a key player in domestic and regional energy security issues.
Energy developments in Western Australia are poised to underwrite a healthy state and national economy for many decades to come, and provide cleaner energy solutions to our major trading partners. What role can industry, government and the academic community play to ensure we optimise our natural and human resources in the energy sector and how can we work together to promote Western Australia as a leading global energy jurisdiction?
Managing Director and CEO of Woodside Don Voelte is joined by Dr Megan Clark, CEO of CSIRO and Dr Ziggy Switkowski, Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in this very current discussion.
Conference summation, networking and drinks
Join thought leaders from The University of Western Australia and the Conference’s key sponsors in celebrating the conclusion of two days of intense dialogue about Perth, Western Australia and the wider context of this incredibly exciting zone in which we live and work.