Program
A full-day program designed to unlock collaboration, accelerate sustainable green economies, and drive shared growth across Australia and Latin America.
Agenda
One day of substance. Three pillars of opportunity. Dialogue with purpose.
📍 Melbourne Town Hall I Swanston Hall
We will open the day with welcome from host organisation ALABC and event sponsor COALAR.
Welcome to Country
- Irene Morris, Wurundjeri Elder
Welcome ALABC
- Richard Andrews, Chairman, ALABC
Welcome COALAR
- Christine Gibbs Stewart, Acting Chair COALAR
Cr. Rafael Camillo, Councillor, City of Melbourne will welcome the attendees to Melbourne.
The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the global strategic context for the Australia-Latin America relationship and outline the growing importance of links with Latin America.
Leigh Harrison, Global Head of Real Assets at Macquarie Asset Management with an overview of infrastructure investment in the Latin American region, and the key industries attracting capital investment.
A forward-looking perspective on the Humboldt Cable as a transformative digital infrastructure project directly linking Latin America and the Asia-Pacific, with implications for regional connectivity, data sovereignty, and trade enablement.
Speaker: Andrés Contreras, Senior Digital Projects Engineer, Humboldt Cable Project.
AFR National Affairs columnist Jennifer Hewett will moderate a panel discussion on why greater alignment between Australia and Latin America is more important than ever and how government and industry can work together to shape future trade, investment and policy outcomes.
PanellLists include:
- The Hon. Bill Shorten, VC University of Canberra,
- H.E. Dianela Pi, Ambassador of Uruguay to Australia and Dean of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies,
- Daniel Boyer, Deputy CEO, Austrade,
- Prof Jessica Gallagher, Deputy VC, Adelaide University,
- Stephen Durkin, Chief Executive Officer, AusIMM
- Brian Blakely - Lead Investment Officer, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group.
German Morales, President of Australia Pacific and former President of Latin America, Orica will show how Orica’s Blasting Solutions, Digital Solutions, Mining Chemicals, and safety innovations can accelerate joint projects—from exploration and procurement to decarbonisation and sustainable mineral supply chains in copper and other critical minerals.
Stuart Gale, CEO and MD of Meteoric Resources, will be interviewed by Tim Crossley, MD of Adyton Resources, sharing insights into an Australian rare earths company and its flagship project in Brazil to produce ultra high-grade rare earths products in a low-cost, sustainable way.
Christine Gibbs Stewart, COALAR Acting Chair, will moderate the panel discussion that includes:
- HE Vitaliano Gallardo, Ambassador of Peru to Australia,
- Professor Rick Valenta, Director, The University of Queensland
- Brian Bero, Principal, Jaramer Legal & First Nations Clean Energy Network, Committee Member Pilot Advisory Group,
- Gabriel Jaime, CEO Robla Energy,
Thiago Deiro, Chief Executive Officer, Volgren Marcopolo Australia on scaling sustainable innovation and the importance of cultivating strong bilateral trade and investment ties in a fast-changing world.
Sergio Correa, Managing Director, Daabon Organic Australia Pty Ltd will moderate a panel that includes:
- Mary Raynes - Markets Manager Lead Grains Australia,
- David Messina - Co Founder and CEO Rumin8,
- Bruce Rodgerson - CEO Rubicon Water
Agriculture feeds the world yet it accounts for some of the most fragile supply chains, fastest growing emissions sources, and most pressing water challenges on the planet. As Australia and Latin America deepen their ties, a new wave of bilateral agri-innovation is quietly reshaping both regions. This open conversation style brings together senior leaders from agribusiness, climate technology and water management to explore how that innovation is already scaling across borders — and where the next opportunities lie.
Chris Carman, Founder and CEO of Workinitiatives will unpack one of the more underutilised dimensions of the Australia–Latin America relationship: the movement of skilled people. Chris will show how technology enables streamlining of recruitment, upskilling of locals, and tackling shortages through data-driven collaboration.
Ed Mason, CEO of Jet Zero will deliver insights of how the company that was founded in North Queensland with increasing links to South America, has secured airline and industry backing for its SAF production technologies that use regional feedstocks.
Victoria and Latin America: Unlocking Trade and Investment Potential
Speaker: Danni Jarrett, Deputy Secretary of Industry, Trade and Investment and CEO of Invest Victoria & Global Victoria
Mara Bún, COALAR board member will moderate a panel that includes:
- Neil Salisbury, Founder and Chair of NatureCo,
- Julien Gastaldi, CEO Maki Planet,
- Kirsty Galloway McLean, Executive Director Pollination Foundation,
- Thiago Barbosa, CEO Syntropic Solutions.
This session focuses on how emerging technology and new business models are driving sustainable solutions to nature restoration. We will explore emerging environmental markets and indigenous-led innovation and leverage comparative advantage in value chains that recognise nature dependencies and nature based solutions to climate change
Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Costa Rican Government.
Be Part of the Next Australia-Latin America Chapter
Join a distinguished network of influential leaders and connect with key decision-makers from Australia and Latin America, strengthening your strategic relationships and extending your reach across the region.
