All timings are in Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
AGENDA
All timings are in Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
07:45
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:30
EVENT OPENING
Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa Connect
08:40
Welcome to Country
08:45
Remarks from the Chair
Terry Hill, Chair, Pilbara Development Commission
08:50
Welcome to the Region
Daniel Scott, Mayor, City of Karratha
KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
08:55
Retaining and extending our competitive advantage: Ensuring Australia continues to be attractive for international investment
Clare Pope, Partner, Gilbert+Tobin
09:25
Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Richard Cohen, Managing Director Rail, Port & Core Services, Rio Tinto Iron Ore
09:45
Woodside Energy
Breyden Lonnie, Vice President North West Shelf, Woodside Energy
10:05
BHP
Tim Day, Western Australian Iron Ore Asset President, BHP
10:25
Q&A
Richard Cohen, Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Breyden Lonnie, Woodside Energy
Tim Day, BHP
10:40
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS
Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara
11:00
Networking & Refreshment Break
11:45
Regional Overview
Simon Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Pilbara Development Commission
11:55
Engineering extreme efficiency: Australian miners’ path to global success
Ricky Corker, Chief Executive, Enterprise & Government, Vocus
12:15
Karratha 2025: Building Australia’s Next Northern Capital City
Virginia Miltrup, Chief Executive Officer, City of Karratha
12:35
Future-Proofing with Fibre: Why resilient digital connectivity is key to harnessing the power of AI and new data intensive technologies to support sustained growth, safety and operational excellence.
Glen Tommy, Group General Manager – Mining, Energy &Construction, Telstra Enterprise
12:50
Q&A
Simon Taylor, Pilbara Development Commission
Ricky Corker, Vocus
Virginia Miltrup, City of Karratha
Glen Tommy, Telstra Enterprise
INTERNATIONAL ADDRESSES
1:05
Government address from France
Benjamin Gallezot, Interministerial Delegate on Strategic Metals and Minerals, The Prime Minister’s Office, France
1:15
Japanese Ambassadors Address
His Excellency Kazuhiro Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan
1:25
US Consul General Address
Ms Siriana Nair, U.S. Consul General to Western Australia
1:35
Networking Lunch
Chair: Eliza Carbines, Director, Tender Relief
2:30
PANEL DISCUSSION First Nations embracing opportunities
- Consultation, engagement, and shared benefits
- Successful and respectful partnerships
- Shared learnings across regions
Moderator: Eliza Carbines, Director, Tender Relief
Professor Peter Yu, Vice-President (First Nations), Australian National University
Craig Ricato, CEO, Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation
2:55
Policy, Partnership and Demand: Striking a balance on the journey to net zero
Sarah Carter, Project Director, Australian Renewable Energy Hub, operated by bp
3:10
Addressing the crossroads between isolation and interconnection – an Independent Power Providers (IPP) perspective
Craig Blizard, Chief Technology Officer, Pacific Energy
3:25
Navigating Water-Related Climate Risks: Building Resilience for Critical Infrastructure in the Pilbara
Climate change is increasing both current and future risks to critical infrastructure in the
Pilbara, including mining facilities, power transmission and transportation networks, as well as coastal assets. The intensifying frequency and severity of water-related climate
change impacts, particularly extreme rainfall events, pose significant challenges. Ignoring these risks or relying solely on worst-case scenario planning is not a sustainable approach in the face of scientific and commercial uncertainties. This presentation will introduce a practical framework for assessing and prioritising assets based on quantifiable climate risks and uncertainties. For assets and infrastructure with critical water-related risks, we will provide examples of mitigation strategies that are resilient, adaptable, and cost-effective – aimed at minimising unnecessary investments while safeguarding vital infrastructure for generation to come.
Nick Deeks, Technical Director – Hydrology, GHD
3:35
Q&A
Pacific Energy
Australian Renewable Energy Hub
GHD
3:45
Networking & Refreshment Break
4:15
PANEL DISCUSSION How to get from bottleneck to breakthrough: What is next for project approvals in the Pilbara?
Moderator: Christopher Marchesi, Special Counsel, Gilbert + Tobin
Liam O’Connell, Executive Director – State-wide Delivery, Department of Water & Environmental Regulation
Owen Hightower, Director, RFF Pty Ltd
Rebecca Tomkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA
4:45
Pilbara Ports update and future outlook
Samuel McSkimming, Chief Executive Officer, Pilbara Ports
5:00
How Horizon Power is driving the customer-led energy transition in regional Western Australia
Darren Hill, Executive General Manager Customer and Community, Horizon Power
5:10
Western Australia’s energy backbone
Rachael Smith, Executive General Manager Commercial and Growth, AGIG Group
5:20
Decarbonising the Pilbara through reliable and lower emissions energy
Darren Rogers, Group Executive Energy Solutions, APA Group
5:30
Q&A
Samuel McSkimming, Pilbara Ports
Darren Hill, Horizon Power
Rachael Smith, AGIG Group
Darren Rogers, APA Group
5:45
CLOSING | End of Conference Day One
5:45 – 7:15
Networking Drinks
08:00
Registration & Morning Coffee
08:30
Day 2 Opening
Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa Connect
08:35
Opening remarks from the Chair
Dom McGreal, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
08:40
The Pilbara Chamber Alliance – Stronger Together
Sarah Whelan, CEO, Karratha & Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KDCCI)
08:50
Unlocking the Pilbara’s Renewable Potential: A Strategic Partnership for Decarbonisation and Diversification
- Realising the Pilbara’s world class renewable energy potential and decarbonising regional industry – how Government can help both meet the challenges and unlock the opportunities of the energy transition
- The next steps in the development of common-use transmission infrastructure, connecting world class renewable resources to major industrial demand centres
- Effectively mobilising investment and funding through collaboration between local communities and Traditional Owners, private investors and industry, and the Federal Governments ‘Rewiring the Nation’ programme.
Tim Bray, Acting Coordinator of Energy, Energy Policy WA, and Deputy Director General, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
09:05
First Nations Clean Energy Strategy – Creating opportunities, guiding investment and policy
Dr Kate George, Principal Consultant, Claypan Consulting
09:20
A Shared Interest – Realising National Defence Strategy objectives and building resilience in the Pilbara Region
Major General Jason Walk AM, Head National Support, National Support Division, Joint Capabilities Group, Australian Defence Force
09:35
Forging a Resilient and Sustainable Future
The Pilbara faces evolving challenges in defence, energy, and strategic security, which is why strengthening these sectors is more important than ever. The presentation will explore the critical need for improved defence capabilities, energy generation and transmission, and resilient infrastructure in the region – and examine the powerful role First Nations engagement plays in shaping these solutions.
Mike Rinaudo, Head of Defence, DT Infrastructure
09:50
Q&A
Dr Kate George, Claypan Consulting
Tim Bray, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Major General Jason Walk AM, Australian Defence Force
Mike Rinaudo, DT Infrastructure
10:05
More than a quarry: Value adding in the Pilbara
Joe Allen, COO, Azure Minerals
10:20
The evolution of skills requirements as we move into a decarbonised world
Kass Nofz, Group Manager of Asset & Materials Management, Fortescue
10:30
Pilbara – A New Dawn
Jim Coxon, Executive General Manager – Pogo & Hemi, Northern Star Resources Ltd
10:40
Developing a significant Gold Mine (next to a significant Lithium Mine) in the Pilbara
Dr Peter Turner, Managing Director, Kairos Minerals Ltd
10:50
Q&A
Joe Allen, Azure Minerals
Kass Nofz, Fortescue
Jim Coxon, Northern Star Resources Ltd
Dr Peter Turner, Kairos Minerals Ltd
11:05
Networking & Refreshment Break
Chair: Tessa Hughes, Senior Regional Development Officer, Pilbara Development Commission
11:45
Driving the creation of local jobs and industry
Rebecca Brown, Director General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
12:00
Partnering for Growth: Optimising & Modernising Balance Machines – The OEM Advantage
Luke Bennett, Head of Sales, Koch Solutions Australia
12:10
Q&A
Rebecca Brown, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Luke Bennett, Koch Solutions Australia
12:20
PANEL DISCUSSION – The power & opportunity of co-location
- Opportunities for complimentary processes & industries
- Facilitating the development of new lower-carbon industries
- How can synergies improve project fundamentals, drive down energy costs, speed up assessments and minimising disruption to the land?
Moderator: Tessa Hughes, Senior Regional Development Officer, Pilbara Development Commission
Andrew Nicholls, General Manager Carbon Capture & Storage, Woodside Energy
Jason Mennell, Manager – Regional WA & South West Lead, Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA
12:50
PANEL DISCUSSION – Critical infrastructure & Data Centres – Unique challenges & opportunities
- Rethinking the approach to critical infrastructure and the need to streamline approvals
- Ensuring competitiveness by embracing and deploying automation and digital technologies at scale
- The reality – You can’t automate without connectivity, and you can’t have connectivity without infrastructure
- Enhancing Pilbara’s capabilities & resilience
- Emerging infrastructure benefitting businesses & communities
Moderator: Tessa Hughes, Senior Regional Development Officer, Pilbara Development Commission
Claire Sangster, Head of Regional Sales (WA/QLD/SA/NT), NextDC
Matt Walsh, Chief Customer Officer, Vocus
Renee Hakendorf, National Lead, CORE Innovation Hub
1:10
PANEL DISCUSSION – Building a solid future for the region and its people
Hear directly from local innovators, small business heroes, fast-moving companies and new operators to the region
Moderator: Natalie Jones, Newman Innovation Hub Lead, CORE Innovation Hub
Nick Tidmarsh, Managing Director, Pilbara Ecological
Masoud Abshar, Managing Director, Magellan Power
Ashlee Tucker, Managing Director, Shift Diesel & Earth
1:35
Closing remarks
1:40
Networking break & Lunch
2:30
Close of Pilbara 2025