Celebrating 10 years of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement

The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) marked its 10th anniversary in 2015. To celebrate this landmark agreement, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Centre brought together leading Australian and American business representatives, government officials, and policy experts to reflect on its past successes and its implications for the future bilateral trade agenda.

Keynote speakers, expert panels, and interactive discussions examined the agreement in its current form and explored the future path towards enhanced bilateral trade and investment, an improved regulatory and investment environment between our two countries, the promotion of increased business mobility and collaboration, and the achievement of greater trade and investment liberalisation in the years ahead.

Given their importance to the Australia–US bilateral economic relationship, the conference particularly focused on how to improve bilateral cooperation and progress in the energy sector, and in the technology and innovation space across all sectors.

The conference addressed:

• Energy and Innovation in the 21st Century
• The Next Chapters in Indo-Pacific Free Trade
• Plans to Bolster the Future Prosperity Between Australia and the U.S.
• Business Opportunities Across the Pacific

Agenda

8:00 am — Registration & Networking

8:40 am — Welcome Address Followed by Opening Keynote

• The Hon. John Berry, US Ambassador to Australia
• Ambassador Robert Zoellick, Former US Trade Representative and World Bank President. Click here for the text of Ambassador Zoellick's address.

9:30 am — Panel 1: Assessing AUSFTA

• The Hon. Mark Vaile AO, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
• Heather Ridout AO, Chair AustralianSuper Pty Ltd and Board Member, Reserve Bank of Australia
• Andrew Stoler, Former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organisation
• Kate Carnell AO, CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

10:40 am — Morning Tea

11:10 am — Panel 2: Unconventional Energy and new Technologies

• The Hon. Martin Ferguson AM, Chairman, The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association
• Page Maxson, Chairman CEO, Australia Pacific LNG Pty Ltd
• Tony Wood, Energy Program Coordinator, Grattan Institute
• Dean Dalla Vale, BHP President HSE, Marketing & Technology, BHP Billiton

11:10 am — Panel 3: Fostering Innovation across the Pacific

• Nick Wilson, Managing Director, Hewlett-Packard, South Pacific
• Sarah Vaughan, Developer Experience Director, Microsoft Australia
• Brad Furber, COO, Michael Crouch Innovation Centre, UNSW Australia
• Dr Alex Wonhas, Executive Director, CSIRO Energy

12:30 pm — Lunch Commences

1:20 pm — Lunch Keynote Address

• The Hon. John Howard, OM AC, Former Prime Minister of Australia
• Ambassador Michael Thawley AO, Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
• Ambassador Robert Zoellick, Former US Trade Representative and World Bank President

2:30 pm — Event Concludes

Ticket Inclusions:

• Arrival Tea & Coffee
• Morning Tea
• 2 Course plated lunch & beverage package  

In conjunction with:

Event Sponsors: 

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