Industry development in a new economy- how do we accelerate?

The year 2020 was a disruptive year for most industries creating a time of uncertainty. Some businesses grew, some contracted, some reinvented.

This event will showcase industry association leaders who have helped their members and ecosystem weather the changes required to ensure future growth. The strategies employed are as diverse as the industries they represent, but all have faced similar disruption in dealing with different markets, investments and challenges.

Come and share this journey with likeminded business leaders, joining a discussion - “Industry Development in a new economy- how do we accelerate ?”

SPEAKERS

Paul Cooper, Chairman, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Ltd (AMGC)

Paul was appointed to the Board in 2015 and is now tasked with overseeing the implementation of AMGC’s strategy and its alignment with the overall Growth Centre Initiative.

The Industry Growth Centre Initiative is the centrepiece of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. There are six Growth Centres focused on where Australia excels. The Initiative enables national action on key issues by improving capabilities to engage with international markets and global supply chains, enhancing management and workforce skills, encouraging collaboration and the commercialisation of new products and identifying opportunities to reduce regulatory burden.

Today, Australian manufacturing employs close to 1.3 million people representing over 10% of the Australian workforce. It contributes over $9 billion per month in exports of goods and services and files more patents than any other sector. It a vibrant and dynamic industry that is undergoing profound transformation with the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies, automation and artificial intelligence.

Paul is owner and Executive Chair of Rinstrum, an industrial electronics manufacturing company. Rinstrum is based in Brisbane and actively exports to global markets with subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, India and Sri Lanka.

In addition, Paul is a Board Member of Children’s Health Queensland and Chairman of its Audit and Risk Committee, Chair of the Queensland Department of Health Audit & Risk Committee and is a Director of Vadain International Pty Ltd. Paul holds qualifications as a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), is a Fellow of Certified Practising Accountants Australia, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dominique Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, National Retail Association

CEO of the National Retail Association and Director of NRA Legal, Dominique Lamb has extensive experience providing industrial relations and employment law advice to a range of small, medium and large businesses across a range of industries. Dominique is also a Chair on the Retail Doctor Group Advisory Board, and Board Member on the Bleu Australia Advisory Board.

Dominique plays an integral role with the National Retail Association by liaising and advocating on behalf of retailers at a Federal and State Government level on all areas of policy which affect retail businesses both large and small, including but not limited to industrial relations, technical standards, product safety, loss prevention and city planning and infrastructure.

In her downtime, Dominique is a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence and has volunteered with the Women’s Legal Service Queensland for over six years. Dominique is the President of the Women's Legal Service Queensland as well as being the Chair of their Dancing CEO’s event which raised $440,000 in 2019.

Dominique brings a level passion and motivation to her role which is hard to equal. In 2011, she was awarded the Australian Institute of Management’s Young Gun of the Year Award and in 2016 Dominique was a finalist in the Brisbane Women in Business Awards. In 2020, Dominique was also a finalist in the Queensland For Purpose & Social Enterprise Award category of the Telstra Business Women's Awards.

Dominique is frequently featured across television, radio and print media as an industry expert for retail. 

Shane Rodgers, Chief Operating Officer, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)

Ai Group is a peak national employer association for Australian industry, linking members to the insights, services and expertise they need to be successful. Shane was previously the Queensland Head of Ai Group and has also been the COO of Brisbane’s economic development agency and General Manager of Queensland Newspapers. His media roles have included Queensland Editor and Manager of The Australian, national Editorial Director of APN Regional Media, Editor-in-Chief of Quest Newspapers and Deputy Editor, News Editor and Chief of Staff of The Courier Mail. He has also been Marketing and Communications Director of The University of Queensland, Goodstart Early Learning and Brisbane Marketing.

Paul Martyn, Chief Executive Officer, Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ)

Paul Martyn leads Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), the Queensland Government’s dedicated global business agency. Paul works with more than 220 staff worldwide to help Queensland firms achieve export success and to encourage global investment in Queensland projects.

Paul has over 20 years’ experience in economic development, working with industries, firms and regions to successfully grow and compete in a global context.

Prior to joining TIQ, Paul led the implementation of the Queensland Government’s flagship $650 million Advance Queensland agenda, working to promote innovation-led economic growth.

Paul has worked to encourage growth and investment in a wide range of Queensland’s key sectors, including resources and energy, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, defence industries and high technology.

MODERATED BY

Steven Silvester, Former General Manager of Investment and Industry Development, Brisbane Economic Development Agency

Steven Silvester is an industry leader in economic development and foreign direct investment, an experienced practitioner having spent 14 ½ years working for Brisbane’s official economic development agency. There he led the investment attraction and industry development department for over 8 years generating over $5b in economic impact for the city during that time.

Steven has led numerous industry development initiatives and secured foreign investment to Brisbane in a range of industry sectors.  Steven has worked across the infrastructure, energy & resources, tourism, property, proptech, information technology and renewables industries.

Steven has a Bachelor of Engineering in Microelectronic Engineering and a Masters in Technology Management. Prior to his role at Brisbane EDA, he worked for one of Australia’s largest and most diverse human resource outsourcing and recruitment companies.