Wednesday 25 May 2016
08:15 | Registration and welcome coffee
08:50 | Opening remarks from the Chair
Lucy Brennan, National Rural Reporter, Macquarie Media
09:00 | OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Positioning Australia for a productive, competitive and sustainable agribusiness future
- The big picture - examining Australian agribusiness’ outlook
- Where does Australia fit into the global market, and what can be done to enhance its position?
- The importance of increasing representation and advocacy for Australian agriculture in key markets
- Considering what must be done to capitalise on Australia’s favourable position, and overcome present-day challenges
Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Australian Government
RELEASING THE POTENTIAL FROM FAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS
09:20 | Enhancing Australia’s unique competitive advantages in agribusiness
- What is the competitive advantage of other nations and how does it compare with Australia?
- Increasing Australia’s competitive edge alongside declining global freight rates to ensure global market share
- Ascertaining why Australia is regarded as a trusted supplier within Asia – is it the remoteness, regulatory environment or tourism image which makes Australia competitive?
- Devising strategy to access the next key global markets
Mick Keogh, Agriculture Commissioner, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
9:50 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - leveraging benefits and identifying barriers across the agribusiness sector
- What must be done to maximise business opportunities in new and emerging markets?
- Detecting non-tariff barriers inhibiting export potential and strategies to overcome them
- How will supplying larger demand impact Australian producers?
- What opportunities would an FTA with the European Union provide?
Panel Moderator:
Lucy Brennan, National Rural Reporter, Macquarie Media
Panellists:
James Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Sanger
Sally Watts, Assistant General Manager, Austrade
David Keldie, General Manager - Global Consumer Markets, SunRice
10:30 | Morning tea
INCREASING ACCESS TO CAPITAL ACROSS AUSTRALIAN AGRIBUSINESS
11:00 | CASE STUDY: Becoming a world leader in attracting foreign direct investment
- The perquisites for becoming the principal choice for outside investors
- What Nufarm did to secure foreign investment to facilitate progression as an organisation
- Promoting Australia and your organisation as a top investment choice
- Working together to ensure a stable, consistent and transparent policy environment to foster openness and reciprocity to foreign investors
Doug Rathbone, Chairman, Rathbone Wine Group
11:30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Foreign ownership - what is the worst that could happen?
Evaluating the risks and benefits of foreign direct investment in Australian agriculture
- What are the potential implementations caused by increasing foreign ownership, such as transfer pricing and imported labour?
- How can an increase in foreign ownership compromise national security?
- How significant is foreign investment contributions to the Australian economy and agribusiness?
- Given the potentially adverse outcomes and the benefits, how should policy makers proceed?
Panel Moderator:
Lucy Brennan, National Rural Reporter, Macquarie Media
Panellists:
Darren De Bortoli, Managing Director, De Bortoli Wines
Doug Rathbone, Chairman, Rathbone Wine Group
Hans Hendrischke, Professor of Chinese Business and Management, The University of Sydney
12:10 | Supporting innovation and advancement across the agribusiness sector
- Overview of what is happening across NSW
- What is the outlook for NSW agribusiness?
- Supporting growth, advancement and innovation across the sector
The Hon. Niall Blair MLC, Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Lands and Water, NSW Government
12:25 | Comprehensive review of changes to recent policy and regulations
- Overview of latest policy and regulation changes
- How will recent changes impact current approach and operations for agribusiness organisations
- The roadmap for future policy outlook
Fran Freeman, First Assistant Secretary - Agricultural Policy Division, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
12:55 | Networking lunch
BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE INFRASTRUCTUE FRAMEWORK TO FACILITATE DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
13:55 | Examining innovative approaches for effective distribution - connecting rural Australia with China
- Developments in the prospect of flying produce from rural Australia direct to China
- What this direct distribution could signify for Australian producers and operators
- Prospective to opening up freight routes for more Queensland produce
John Wagner, Chairman, Wagners
14:25 | Continuing the story of developing Northern Australia – but is the investment worthwhile?
- Examining Northern Australia’s productivity potential and sustainability
- Evaluating biosecurity risks and the agents required to manage risks
- Building required infrastructure in Northern Australia to meet Asian demand
- What must be done to increase availability of labour in the North?
- Assessing whether investment in Northern Australia is worthwhile
Luke Bowen, General Manager, Northern Australia Development, Northern Territory Government
ENHANCING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND TRACEABILITY ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO DRIVE VALUE
14:55 | Afternoon tea
15:25 | KEYNOTE CASE STUDY: Examining innovative and creative solutions to supply-chain challenges
- Assessing the efficiency of your current supply chain and evaluating the need for improvements
- Collaborating with producer and providing co-funded business improvements
- Measuring return of investment
- Safeguarding brand reputation and managing other potential new risks
Barry Irvin, Executive Chairman, Bega Cheese
15:55 | CASE STUDY: Guaranteeing food safety by implementing strict systems, technology and transparency
- Analysing developments in technology and verification methods available
- Enhancing systems to effectively trace produce and communicate trust to consumer
- Increasing visibility across the supply-chain for increased confidence in safety
- Promote, protect and harness safety reputation across all supply chains
Mark Field, Head of Product Technology, Coles
16:25 | Collaboration in the value-chain - a strategic response to remaining competitive
- Increasing collective competitive advantage through total collaboration
- Identifying what consumers value, and implementing strategy
- How must a value-chain perform in order to create, deliver and share value?
Laurie Bonney, Associate Professor in Value Chain Innovation Research, University of Tasmania
16:55 | Closing remarks from the Chair
17:05 | End of Day One and networking drinks
18:30 | Official event dinner