NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS 2024
Check out highlights from Australia's premier
public policy conference, CEDA's State of the Nation.
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS 2024
Check out highlights from Australia's premier
public policy conference, CEDA's State of the Nation.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: THE HON. ANTHONY ALBANESE
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
"CEDA plays an absolutely critical role in the intellectual life of this nation.
You need to have forums like this which can propagate ideas going forward so congratulations on once again having me here, and everyone here, decision-makers, people from the business community at this ‘State of the Nation’ Conference.
It is one of the many ways that CEDA helps drive the big ideas and shape the important debates about our nation’s future."
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: SENATOR THE HON. PENNY WONG
FEDERAL MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
"We are 26 million people, from more than 300 ancestries, and home to the oldest continuing civilisation on the planet.
There is vast power in that.
The ability to see and understand every part of the world.
To reach into every part of the world and find common ground.
Yet it's also something we need to nurture...
Nothing is more important for our future than ensuring that Australia remains a pluralist nation, welcoming different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace."
Read the Senator's full address.
We need to be bold, we need to be ambitious, if our rate of
productivity growth is going to be closer to two per cent than
one per cent or less, we need transformation and we need
transformative thinking.
CEDA CEO, MELINDA CILENTO
A MORE INNOVATIVE ECONOMY
Speakers:
- Dr Doug Hilton AO, Chief Executive, CSIRO
- Melissa Wilson, Senior Economist, CEDA
- Megan Wheeldon, Hydrogen, Derivatives and Industrial Decarbonisation Leader, Aurecon Australasia
- Sam Elsom, Chief Executive Officer, Sea Forest
"We need an Australian research and innovation system that allows us to both make these breakthroughs and build companies that are going to be parts and hearts of a new industry, employing Australians in highly skilled, high-paying jobs, driving productivity and ultimately allowing us to flourish as a community."
Read Dr Doug Hilton AO's full address.
Insights and ideas
Ownership Matters: Why investing for sustainable outcomes will shape the future of investing
READ MORECities are Australia’s superpower
READ MOREHow creating “slack” can fix Australia’s productivity challenge
READ MORECan we hit the Universities Accord’s ambitious targets?
READ MOREHow Australia’s skills will evolve with Generative AI
READ MOREData for decarbonisation: How AI can secure a hydrogen future
READ MOREInternational student changes could harm fabric of our economy
READ MORESpeakers:
- Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO, Laureate Fellow, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education; Research , University of Technology Sydney
- Luke Sheehy, Chief Executive Officer, Universities Australia
- Hayley Whatman, Director Research and Policy, Foundations for Tomorrow, Social Work Student, Charles Sturt University
- Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University
- The Hon. Jason Clare, Federal Minister for Education
"The Universities Accord makes the argument that by 2050 we are going to need a workforce where not just 80 percent have finished school, but also have a TAFE or university qualification.
And that if we don’t, it will be like driving with the handbrake on.
We will be slower, poorer and less productive than we otherwise would be.
The converse is also true. If we hit that 80 per cent target the economic dividend is real."
Read the Hon. Jason Clare's full address.
EXTRACTING MORE FROM MINING: RARE EARTHS
- Grant Wilson, Executive Chair, Tivan
- Dino Otranto, Chief Executive Officer, Fortescue
- Vanessa Torres, Chief Operating Officer, South32
- The Hon. Madeleine King, Federal Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia
"There are many Australians that have no connection to the resources operations of WA or Queensland or in the Hunter Valley. They may have never been to a mine site and they haven't been able to see how sophisticated and innovative mining is.
And as a result, many may not understand how their lives have benefited from the resources industry and how much our modern lives depend upon it.
And indeed, how modern and technologically advanced modern mining is."
Read the Hon. Madeleine King's full address.
THE AUSTRALIA-US RELATIONSHIP
- Erika Olson, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Australia
- David Lipson, Political Editor, ABC
- Victoria Cooper, Non-Resident Fellow, United States Studies Centre
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: THE HON PETER DUTTON
FEDERAL LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
"Nuclear is a proven technology. It has application in most major economies in the world or others have signed up to it...countries including France...because without they know they don't have a critical path to net-zero by 2050."
THE ELECTRIFICATION OF EVERYTHING
- Saul Griffith, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Rewiring Australia
- Ian Learmonth, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
- Lena Parker, General Manager, Energy Solutions, Ventia
- Marc England, Chief Executive Officer, Ausgrid
RESKILLING FOR AI
- Professor Genevieve Bell AO, Vice Chancellor and President, Australian National University
- Jo Dooley, General Manager, Enterprise Commercial , Microsoft Australia and New Zealand
- Dayle Stevens OAM, Executive Data and AI, Telstra
- Chris Fechner, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Transformation Agency
- Melinda Cilento, Chief Executive, CEDA
SUPPORTING CEDA TO DRIVE THESE DISCUSSIONS
MAJOR SPONSOR
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
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Aurecon CEO Bill Cox; CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
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Australian National University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Genevieve Bell AO and Telstra Executive Data and AI, Dayle Stevens OAM.
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Microsoft General Manager, Enterprise Commercial, Jo Dooley and Digital Transformation Agency CEO, Chris Fechner.
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Microsoft General Manager, Enterprise Commercial, Jo Dooley; Digital Transformation Agency CEO, Chris Fechner; Australian National University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Genevieve Bell AO; Telstra Executive Data and AI, Dayle Stevens OAM and CEDA CEO, Melinda Cilento.
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Telstra Chairman, Craig W Dunn; CEDA Chairman, Diane Smith-Gander AO and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong.
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CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton AO and Aurecon Hydrogen, Derivatives and Industrial Decarbonisation Leader Megan Wheeldon
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Tivan Executive Chair, Grant Wilson and Federal Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, the Hon. Madeleine King.
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CEDA Chairman, Diane Smith-Gander AO; Federal Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton and CEDA Chief Economist, Cassandra Winzar.
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Ventia General Manager, Energy Solutions, Lena Parker and Ausgrid Chief Executive Officer, Marc England
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Ausgrid Chief Executive Officer, Marc England; Clean Energy Finance Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Ian Learmonth; CEDA Associate Director, Clint O'Brien; Ventia General Manager, Energy Solutions, Lena Parker and Rewiring Australia Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Saul Griffith.