3:00 – 8:00 PM Registration Desk open at the Conference Centre at GPH
Programme
MC: TBC
27 August 2026, Thursday
5:30 PM Cocktail and Networking
6:30 PM Welcome Reception and DINNER sponsored by Digicel Pacific
7:00 PM Chief Guest Address by Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Civil Service, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics
8:30 PM Magic Minute presented by Digicel Pacific
28 August 2026, Friday
7:15 AM Registration Desk open at the Pre-function Lobby (next to the Ballroom) at GPH | All day espresso sponsored by Vision Commercials
8:15 AM Welcome by FABC President, Himen Chandra
8:30 AM Address by Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises
SESSION 1: The Macro & Industrial Dialogue
Moderator: Saud Minam
9:00 AM Ariff Ali, Governor, Reserve Bank of Fiji | Justin Smirk, Senior Economist, Westpac Australia | Filimone Waqabaca, CEO, Fiji Development Bank & Chairman, Investment Fiji
9:55 AM Q & A for the Full Panel
10:15 AM Morning Refreshments
SESSION 2: The Vuvale Union Strategic Briefing
Moderator: Emily Wilson
10:45 AM High Commissioner Peter Roberts, OAM, Australian Government | Representative of the Fiji Government
11:25 AM Q & A the Full Panel
SESSION 3: The Multilateral Fireside Chat
Moderator: Glenis Yee
11:45 AM Jerome Kado, Partner, Grant Thornton | Shuichi Hayashida, Regional Manager for PPP Transaction Advisory, IFC, World Bank Group | Mathew Rees, Operational Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
12:25 PM Q & A the Full Panel
12:45 PM Networking Lunch sponsored by Swire Shipping
SESSION 4: Horizon Scanning: Workforce Trends, New Business Models, and the Power of Standards
Moderator: Mark Halabe
2:00 PM Gareth McGrath, Pacific Australia Skills | Carline Bentley, Market Development Facility | Jesse Riddell, Head of International, Standards Australia
2:55 PM Q & A the Full Panel
3:15 PM Afternoon Tea
SESSION 5: Vuvale Voices: Advancing Trade and Investment Together
Moderator: Tim Houghton
3:45 PM Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe, Consul-General Manager NZ-Pacific, Austrade | Rachel Howard, Incoming Trade Commissioner – Pacific, Austrade | Leata Alaimoana-Roberts, CEO, Australia-Fiji Business Council | Daniel Stow, Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to Australia & NZ | Tim Martin, Trade Commissioner, Pacific Trade Invest Australia
4:25 PM Q & A the Full Panel
4:55 PM Remarks by AFBC President
5:00 PM Day 1 Sessions Conclude
6:30 PM Cocktail and Networking
7:00 PM FORUM GALA DINNER sponsored by Westpac Fiji
7:30 PM Dinner Speaker: Shane Hussein, General Manager Commercial at Fijian Drua
8:00 PM Magic Minute presented by Westpac
29 August 2026, Saturday
Half-day espresso sponsored by Vision Commercials | Dress Code: Forum Shirt/Blouse
SESSION 6: Strategic Dialogue – Energy Transition in a Time of Fuel Crisis
Moderator: Bruce Sutton
8:30 AM Rokoseru Nabalarua, Chairman, Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) | Dr. Sarina Theys, Coordinator of Diplomacy & International Affairs, USP | Peter Johnston, Chair of the Executive Committee, Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands (SEIAP) | Vineil Narayan, Project Manager, Blue Economy Portfolio, Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF)
9:20 AM Q & A for the Full Panel
SESSION 7: Olympic Opportunities (Brisbane 2032)
Moderator: Cathy Wong, President, Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committees (FASANOC)
9:50 AM Kamal Chetty, CEO, Investment Fiji | Kit McConnell, Chief Sport Officer, Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games | Atma Maharaj, Strategic Lead, Fiji Olympic and Paralympic Decade Initiative (FASANOC)
10:30 AM Q & A for the Full Panel
11:00 AM Morning Refreshments and Group Photo Session
SESSION 8: Fireside – Connectivity, Destination Branding & Tourism
Moderator: Ajay Raniga
11:30 AM Paul Scurrah, CEO, Fiji Airways | Dr. Paresh Pant, CEO, Tourism Fiji | Emily King, General Counsel, Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF)
12:10 PM Q & A for the Full Panel
12:30 PM Closing Remarks by Vice President of AFBC, David Gibson
12:30 PM Day 2 Sessions Conclude
Meet our Speakers
Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises
Jonathan Pryke is Lead Economist for the DFAT’s Office of the Pacific. With 15 years’ experience working on the Pacific, Jonathan leads a team of economists providing analysis, advice and engagement on economic, debt and fiscal challenges facing the Pacific for the Australian federal government.
Professor Meg Keen is the Director of the Pacific Islands Program at The Lowy Institute and oversees the Institute's analysis, events and external engagements concerning the Pacific Islands. She is currently leading a regional project on Geopolitics in the Pacific and will draw out implications for the Australia-Fiji Business Council at the conference. Meg's work in the Pacific region spans several decades across academia, intelligence and policy-making. She has worked in nearly all Pacific island countries on diverse issues including resource management, security and economic development. Before joining The Lowy Institute, Meg was the inaugural Director of the Pacific Security College at the Australian National University (ANU), a senior policy fellow in the ANU's Department of Pacific Affairs, a senior analyst in the Oceania branch of the Australian Office of National Intelligence and a senior adviser for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). She has also taught at and run workshops with colleagues at the University of the South Pacific and the Pacific Islands Forum. Meg is originally from Canada.
Slides
Presentations and Slides submitted by Speakers will be placed here for downloading during the Conference.
SESSION 1: The Macro & Industrial Dialogue
Moderator: Saud Minam
Ariff Ali, Governor, Reserve Bank of Fiji – Slides coming soon
Justin Smirk, Senior Economist, Westpac Australia – Slides coming soon
Filimone Waqabaca, CEO, Fiji Development Bank & Chairman, Investment Fiji – Slides coming soon
SESSION 2: The Vuvale Union Strategic Briefing
Moderator: Emily Wilson
High Commissioner Peter Roberts, OAM, Australian Government – Slides coming soon
Representative of the Fiji Government – Slides coming soon
SESSION 3: The Multilateral Fireside Chat
Moderator: Glenis Yee
Jerome Kado, Partner, Grant Thornton – Slides coming soon
Shuichi Hayashida, Regional Manager for PPP Transaction Advisory, IFC, World Bank Group – Slides coming soon
Mathew Rees, Operational Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB) – Slides coming soon
SESSION 4: Horizon Scanning: Workforce Trends, New Business Models, and the Power of Standards
Moderator: Mark Halabe
Gareth McGrath, Pacific Australia Skills – Slides coming soon
Carline Bentley, Market Development Facility – Slides coming soon
Jesse Riddell, Head of International, Standards Australia – Slides coming soon
SESSION 5: Vuvale Voices: Advancing Trade and Investment Together
Moderator: Tim Houghton
Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe, Consul-General Manager NZ-Pacific, Austrade – Slides coming soon
Rachel Howard, Incoming Trade Commissioner – Pacific, Austrade – Slides coming soon
Leata Alaimoana-Roberts, CEO, Australia-Fiji Business Council – Slides coming soon
Daniel Stow, Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to Australia & NZ – Slides coming soon
Tim Martin, Trade Commissioner, Pacific Trade Invest Australia – Slides coming soon
Gala Dinner
Shane Hussein, General Manager Commercial at Fijian Drua – Slides coming soon
SESSION 6: Strategic Dialogue – Energy Transition in a Time of Fuel Crisis
Moderator: Bruce Sutton
Rokoseru Nabalarua, Chairman, Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) – Slides coming soon
Dr. Sarina Theys, Coordinator of Diplomacy & International Affairs, USP – Slides coming soon
Peter Johnston, Chair of the Executive Committee, Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands (SEIAP) – Slides coming soon
Vineil Narayan, Project Manager, Blue Economy Portfolio, Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) – Slides coming soon
SESSION 7: Olympic Opportunities (Brisbane 2032)
Moderator: Cathy Wong, President, Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committees (FASANOC)
Kamal Chetty, CEO, Investment Fiji – Slides coming soon
Kit McConnell, Chief Sport Officer, Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – Slides coming soon
Atma Maharaj, Strategic Lead, Fiji Olympic and Paralympic Decade Initiative (FASANOC) – Slides coming soon
SESSION 8: Fireside – Connectivity, Destination Branding & Tourism
Moderator: Ajay Raniga
Paul Scurrah, CEO, Fiji Airways – Slides coming soon
Dr. Paresh Pant, CEO, Tourism Fiji – Slides coming soon
Emily King, General Counsel, Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) – Slides coming soon
Have a question or need some help?
Contact our Team
Enquiries about the event can be directed to our event manager at The Greenhouse Studio:
Miriama Dinamati
Email: miri@greenhousefiji.com
Mobile: +679 7888404
Other general enquiries can be directed to our Secretariat, Akeneta:
fj-fmfabcsecretariat@kpmg.com.au or on +679 330 1155
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