OVERVIEW
Following on from the sell-out event last year Pilbara 2024 will be looking at the economic growth, investment, development and diverse and dynamic industry across the region.
This event further builds on 5 highly successful Pilbara Summits providing the perfect opportunity for the Pilbara regions senior industry, investors, businesses, community, and government representatives to re-join and reconnect for this unique networking and shared learning opportunity.
Key topics to be discussed at Pilbara 2024 include:
- Strategic Development, Investment Opportunities and Emerging Industries Driving Economic Growth
- Clean Energy Transition and Transformation
- Industrial Decarbonisation
- A Diversifying Resources Powerhouse of WA – Growth & New Developments
- Traditional Owner Engagement and Economic Development
- Energy & Strategic Security in the North West of Australia
- Freight & Logistics – Growth and Opportunities
- Creating Thriving and Diverse Communities
2023 SPONSORS
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsor
Showcase Session Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Exhibitors
Supported By
Media Partner
SPONSORSHIP + EXHIBITION
Sponsoring Pilbara 2024 will be your gateway to the Pilbara regions senior industry, investors, businesses, community, and government representatives to re-join and reconnect for this unique networking and shared learning opportunity. If you are interested in finding out about the various sponsorship and exhibition options available, please contact: Megan Rogulski Sponsorship + Exhibition Manager E: Megan.Rogulski@informa.com.au M: 0421 048 191
2023 SPEAKERS

Hon Madeleine King MP Minister for Resources; Minister for Northern Australia

Hon. Don Punch MLA Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering

Kambiz Mohkam Head of Regional Economic Department, French Embassy in Australia

Her Excellency Ms Anne Grete Riise Ambassador of Norway

Michael Blakiston Partner, Gilbert + Tobin

Thomas Isaac Partner, Cassels (Canada)

Richard Cohen Managing Director, Rail, Port & Core Services, Rio Tinto

Brandon Craig Asset President Western Australian Iron Ore, BHP

Major General Douglas Laidlaw AM, CSC, Head Joint Support Services Division, Australian Defence Force

Terry Hill CEO, Pilbara Development Commission

Virginia Miltrup CEO, City of Karratha

Ian Saxby Appraisal General Manager, Renewables & Zero Carbon Energy, bp

Kathryn Jones Executive, Telstra InfraCo Fibre

Sam McSkimming CEO, Pilbara Ports Authority

Darren Crichton Chief Executive Officer, DT Infrastructure

Mike Price Vice President of Pluto Scarborough, Woodside Energy

Mathias Cormann Secretary-General, OECD

Katie Charuga Executive General Manager Port, Rail and Services, Fortescue

Laurent Trost General Manager, Yara Pilbara

Stephanie Unwin Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Power

Glenn Jardine Managing Director, De Grey Mining

Owen Hightower Director, RFF Pty Ltd

Darren Rogers Executive Director Energy Solutions, APA

Peter Windie Director, Pilbara Solar

Shane Walden Managing Director, ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies Oceania

Andrew Bell Deputy Director, Trailblazer, Curtin University

Kenneth Leong Executive Advisor, GHD Advisory

Dominic Letts Chief Operating Officer, Wedgetail Aerospace

Katie Cook Director, Hydrogen and New Energies, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Marshall McKenna Partner, Gilbert + Tobin

Rob Grant Managing Director – Head of Project Investments, Pollination Group

Ken Walker Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation

Chris Cowan Head of Global Indigenous Procurement, BHP

Matthew Baartz General Manager, Rail Maintenance, Rio Tinto

Sarah Whelan CEO, Karratha Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KDCCI)

Chantelle King CEO, Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Tim Bray Assistant Coordinator Strategic and Consumer Policy, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Energy Policy Group

Chris Schooling Director, Infrastructure, Planning & Economic Development, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Prof Fiona Haslam McKenzie Program Leader for Regional Economic Development, Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies

Group Captain Peter Noake Director Regional Airbase Development—West, Royal Australian Air Force

Astin Egerton-Warburton Business Development Manager, Wood

Sandra McInnes Chief Sustainability Officer, Pilbara Minerals

Tony Veitch Chief Executive Officer, Port Hedland Lithium Pty Ltd

James Dornan Project Development Manager, Azure Minerals Limited

Eliza Carbines Director, Tender Relief

Craig Knox Lyttle Principal, Nous Group

Wadzi Katsidzira Director, Nous Group

Dr Geoff James Director, Pilbara Solar

James Petesic Co-Founder, PV Industries

Kate George Principal Consultant, Claypan Services Pty Ltd

Dave Lambert Senior Business Development Manager, Wood
2023 AGENDA
7:45 Â Â Â Â Registration & Morning Coffee
8:40 Â Â Â Â Â EVENT OPENING
Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa
8:45Â Â Â Welcome to Country
Melanie O’Donoghue, Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation
8:50 Morning Chair – Eliza Carbines, Director, Tender Relief
8:55Â Â Â Â Ministerial Address
Hon Don Punch MLA, Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering
 9:15    A Regional Economic Status Report
Terry Hill, CEO, Pilbara Development Commission
 9:25    KEYNOTE – Agreement making with First Nations people
Michael Blakiston, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Thomas Isaac, Partner, Cassels (Canada)
 9:55    KEYNOTE – The Pilbara of the future
Richard Cohen, Managing Director, Rail, Port & Core Services, Rio Tinto
 10:10  KEYNOTE – Partnering for Growth in the Pilbara
Brandon Craig, Asset President Western Australian Iron Ore, BHP
 10:25   Q & A
Richard Cohen, Managing Director, Rail, Port & Core Services, Rio Tinto
Brandon Craig, Asset President Western Australian Iron Ore, BHP
 10:40   Welcome to the Region
Virginia Miltrup, CEO, City of Karratha
 10:55  Networking & Refreshment Break
11:35 Â French Embassy Address
Kambiz Mohkam, Head of Regional Economic Department, French Embassy in Australia
CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION – HOW CAN THE PILBARA BECOME A GLOBAL PLAYER?
11:45   Here for the Long Term: The Pilbara’s Place in the Energy Transition
Mike Price, Vice President of Pluto Scarborough, Woodside Energy
 12:00    Decarbonising the Pilbara; The Challenges and the Opportunities
Ian Saxby, Appraisal General Manager, Renewables & Zero Carbon Energy, bp
 12:15    Energy Transformation in the Pilbara
Tim Bray, Assistant Coordinator Strategic and Consumer Policy, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Energy Policy GroupÂ
 12:25   Q & A
Mike Price, Woodside Energy
Ian Saxby, bp
Tim Bray, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Energy Policy Group
 12:40    OECD Mining Regions and Cities – Recommendations for the Pilbara
Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, OECD
 12:50    Pilbara Hydrogen Hub
Katie Cook, Director, Hydrogen and New Energies, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
 1:00    Government’s Program of Industrial Land Activation in the Pilbara
Chris Schooling, Director, Infrastructure, Planning & Economic Development, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
 1:10       Q & A
Katie Cook, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Chris Schooling, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
 1:20      Networking Lunch
Afternoon Chair – Astin Egerton-Warburton, Business Development Manager, Wood
INDUSTRIAL DECARBONISATION & CLEAN ENERGY
 2:20       Race to Real Zero
Katie Charuga, Executive General Manager Port, Rail and Services, Fortescue
 2:35       Industrial Decarbonisation
Laurent Trost, General Manager, Yara Pilbara
 2:45       Horizon Power: A Clean Industrial Decarbonisation Partner
Stephanie Unwin, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Power
 2:55       Q & A
Laurent Trost, Yara Pilbara
Stephanie Unwin, Horizon Power
 FIRST NATIONS AND TRADITIONAL OWNER ENGAGEMENT
 3:10       PANEL DISCUSSION – Maximising the Opportunity to Decarbonise Projects
Moderator – Marshall McKenna, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Rob Grant, Managing Director – Head of Project Investments, Pollination Group
Ken Walker, Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation
Kate George, Principal Consultant, Claypan Services Pty Ltd
 3:35       Yindjibarndi Energy Project – Supporting Establishment of Traditional Owner Led Renewable Projects
Owen Hightower, Director, RFF Pty Ltd
 3:45       First Nations driving renewable energy rollout
Peter Windie, Director, Pilbara Solar
Dr Geoff James, Director, Pilbara Solar
3:55Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Q & A
Owen Hightower, RFF Pty Ltd
Peter Windie, Pilbara Solar
Dr Geoff James, Pilbara Solar
 4:10      Networking & Refreshment Break
 THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, GROWTH & NEW DEVELOPMENTS
 4:40       PANEL DISCUSSION – Circular Economy – The Lifecycle, Recycling and Decommissioning of Renewable Infrastructure
Prof Fiona Haslam McKenzie, Program Leader for Regional Economic Development, Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies
James Petesic, Co-Founder, PV Industries
 5:05       Firming Australia’s Largest Renewable Microgrid
Darren Rogers, Executive Director Energy Solutions, APA
 5:15       Exploring Green Steel Opportunities for Western Australia
Kenneth Leong, Executive Advisor, GHD Advisory
 5:25       Q&A
Darren Rogers, APA
Kenneth Leong, GHD Advisory
 5:35       Networking Drinks Welcome
Dave Lambert, Senior Business Development Manager, Wood
 5:40      CLOSING | End of Conference Day One
 5:40      Networking Drinks
8:00 Â Â Â Â Â Registration & Morning Coffee
 8:50      Day 2 Opening
Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa
 8:55      Opening remarks from the Chair
Eliza Carbines, Director, Tender Relief
 9:00       Federal Ministerial Address
Hon Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources; Minister for Northern Australia
 9:05       Norwegian Ambassadors Address
Her Excellency Ms Anne Grete Riise, Ambassador of Norway
SUPPORTING THE REGION
 9:15       PANEL DISCUSSION – Supporting the Region & Local Business
- The role of big business supporting local communities and the next generation
- Infrastructure, liveability, affordability & workforce
Sarah Whelan, CEO, Karratha Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KDCCI)
Chantelle King, CEO, Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)
Chris Cowan, Head of Global Indigenous Procurement, BHP
Matthew Baartz, General Manager, Rail Maintenance, Rio Tinto
Defence Investment
9:45Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Defence in Northern Australia
Major General Douglas Laidlaw, AM, CSC, Head Joint Support Services Division, Australian Defence Force
9:55Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Defence Investment in North West of Australia
Group Captain Peter Noake, Director Regional Airbase Development—West, Royal Australian Air Force
FREIGHT & LOGISTICS
 10:05       Investing in Ports to Support the Pilbara
Sam McSkimming, CEO, Pilbara Ports Authority
 10:15       ANL & CMA CGM’s Investments Towards Decarbonisation
Shane Walden, Managing Director, ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies Oceania
 10:25    Q&A
GPCAPT Peter Noake, Royal Australian Air Force
Sam McSkimming, Pilbara Ports Authority
Shane Walden, ANL & CMA CGM Group Agencies Oceania
EMBRACING CHANGE, TECHNOLOGY AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
10:40   Telstra’s plans for its Intercity Fibre program including how this will enable growth in industries, impact the environment and support diverse communities across the region
Kathryn Jones, Executive, Telstra InfraCo Fibre
 10:55   Long Range Drone Operations in the Pilbara
Dominic Letts, Chief Operating Officer, Wedgetail Aerospace
 11:05   DT Infrastructure unlocking opportunities
Darren Crichton, Chief Executive Officer, DT Infrastructure
11:20Â Â Â Â Q&A
Kathryn Jones, Telstra InfraCo Fibre
Dominic Letts, Wedgetail Aerospace
Darren Crichton, DT Infrastructure
11:35Â Â Â Â Networking & Refreshment Break
12:10Â Â Â Â How to make net zero happen. Insights from the Net Zero Australia study
Craig Knox Lyttle, Principal, Nous Group
Wadzi Katsidzira, Director, Nous Group
12:30    Hemi Gold Project – Commodity and Technology Diversification for the Pilbara
Glenn Jardine, Managing Director, De Grey Mining
CRITICAL MINERALS & BATTERY METALS FOR A GREENER FUTURE
12:45    A Diversifying Resources Powerhouse of WA – Growth & New Developments Including Mining and Processing Critical Minerals and Rare Earths
Sandra McInnes, Chief Sustainability Officer, Pilbara Minerals
12:55Â Â Â Â Port Hedland Merchant Lithium Sulphate Refinery
Tony Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, Port Hedland Lithium Pty Ltd
 1:05       Trailblazing Innovation in Australia’s Resource Sector
Andrew Bell, Deputy Director, Trailblazer, Curtin University
 1:15       The Andover Project – Battery Minerals
James Dornan, Project Development Manager, Azure Minerals Limited
 1:25       Q&A
Sandra McInnes, Pilbara Minerals
Tony Veitch, Port Hedland Lithium Pty Ltd
Andrew Bell, Curtin University
James Dornan, Azure Minerals Limited
 1:45      Closing remarks
1:50 Â Â Â Â Â Networking & Lunch
 3:00      Close of Pilbara 2023
PRICING
FACE TO FACE PRICING
- Super Early Bird Rate – book by 20 December 2023
– 2 Day Conference $1,600 + GST (Save $600) - Early Bird Rate – book between 21 December 2023 to 31 March 2024
– 2 Day Conference $1,900 + GST (Save $300) - Full Rate – book from 1 April 2024
– 2 Day Conference $2,200 + GST
VIRTUAL ACCESS
- 2 Day Conference $1,395 + GST
– Book by 26 June 2024
SPECIAL PILBARA RATE – SMALL BUSINESS & NOT FOR PROFIT There is a special discount on conference attendance for all not for profit organisations & small businesses (less than 10 people) that have originated in the Pilbara and are NOT a branch office of a national or international company. To see if you qualify for the discounted rate, please email Richard.Beattie@informa.com.au
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Receive updates on this event. Leave your details with us and we will notify you of updates as they happen. Register your interest here.
VENUE
Red Earth Arts Precinct
27 Welcome Road Karratha Western Australia
(08) 9186 8600

ACCOMMODATION
Local accommodation options close to the Red Earth Arts Precinct include:
Karratha International Hotel
(08) 9187 3333
Ibis Styles Karratha
(08) 9159 1000
Karratha Central Apartments
(08) 9143 9888
Aspen Karratha Village
(08) 9185 2726
For further accommodation options please contact:
Karratha Tourism and Visitor Centre
(08) 9186 8055
visitkarratha@karratha.wa.gov.au
SUSTAINABILITY
Our Commitment to Sustainability In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in. We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve. To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.