One month out from the upcoming US Election, AmCham will be hosting a business luncheon in Western Australia to dive into the implications for business.

Why do the US elections matter to Australia? Why do leaders in the energy, mining, medical and defence sectors care about the outcome and whether a Republican or Democrat Administration is in power? What trend lines is each industry watching with the upcoming election and what concerns or hopes do they hold?

Our panel of industry and government leaders will discuss each of these topics and more in a conversation expertly moderated by Perth USAsia CEO Professor Gordon Flake. Join AmCham for a business luncheon on Wednesday 2 October in Perth to hear leaders in our State analyse the answers to these questions so that your organisation is best prepared for either outcome.

Speakers

The Hon Mark McGowan, Senior Advisor

Bondi Partners 

Mark McGowan is the former Premier and Treasurer of Western Australia. Mr McGowan delivered seven state budgets, paid down debt and restored WA to a AAA credit rating. His strong financial and economic management resulted in WA having the strongest economy in Australia.

His Government’s COVID-19 response saw WA achieve the best health and economic outcomes in the world.

As Premier he was instrumental in a range of economic and social reforms that restored WA to be the leading state in Australia. His Government reforms include modernising to WA’s planning, strata, on-demand transport, and mining legislation, and built important transport, port, and health infrastructure as part of a record infrastructure program. It also engaged in a program of progressive social reforms including voluntary assisted dying laws, mental health reforms, and reforms to the criminal justice system.

As Minister in the 2000’s, he delivered reforms such as bringing the syllabus and traditional marking to schools, approving the Gorgon project, as well as delivering WA’s small bar reforms.

 Prior to public life, Mr McGowan served as a Lieutenant at HMAS STIRLING. He was awarded a Governor General’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for actions he took in 1995 rescuing an unconscious driver from a burning car.

The Hon Ben Wyatt, Independent Non-Executive Director

Rio Tinto

Ben had a prolific career in the Western Australian Parliament before retiring in March 2021.

He held a number of ministerial positions and became the first Indigenous treasurer of an Australian parliament. His extensive knowledge of public policy, finance, international trade and Indigenous affairs brings valuable insight and adds to the depth of knowledge on the Board of Rio Tinto.

Ben was previously an officer in the Australian Army Reserves and went on to have a career in the legal profession as a barrister and solicitor.

Consul General Siriana Nair

US Consulate, Perth

Siriana Kvalvik Nair is a career Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.  Prior to her assignment as the United States Consul General in Perth, Australia, she served as the Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Mission in Brasilia, Brazil, advancing bilateral geopolitical objectives during a period of transformation in Brazil’s foreign policy.  In 2021, she was nominated for the State Department Director General’s Award for Impact and Originality in Reporting.  Prior to Brazil, Ms. Nair served as Acting Political Counselor at the U.S. Mission in Jakarta, Indonesia, overseeing U.S. engagement in a broad range of areas, including democracy and human rights, military and security cooperation, and the South China Sea.

As the Director of the United States’ International Narcotics and Law Enforcement regional office for North Africa in Rabat, Morocco, Ms. Nair established and managed multi-million dollar programs in law enforcement, prison reform, and border security, which continue to deliver benefits to the U.S.-Morocco partnership.  Her other assignments with the Department of State include New Delhi, India; Manila, Philippines; and Washington, D.C., where she worked in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and in the State Department’s Human Resources Bureau.  Ms. Nair has a Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and degrees in Political Science and Biology from Wellesley College.  She is married to Jai Nair, a fellow Foreign Service Officer, and they have four children.  

Moderator

Prof Gordon Flake, CEO

Perth USAsia Centre

Professor Flake is one of the world’s leading authorities on strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific. Having spent twenty-five years in the US foreign policy community focused on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and now nine years in Australia’s Indian Ocean capital he is an expert on key strategic relationships in the broader Indo-Pacific. He has authored many scholarly and policy studies on security developments in the region, and their policy implications for the US and its regional partners.

Since establishing the Centre in 2014, Professor Flake has worked to build stronger international relationships between Australia, the US and the broader Indo-Pacific. He has led the growth of several major international conferences in Australia and the region; and established a range of high-level diplomatic and policy dialogues on issues of shared concern for the Indo-Pacific. Professor Flake is a sought-after media commentator, particularly on strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific and change order issues to do with US politics and foreign policy. His work has appeared in many leading international outlets, including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, as well as across the Australian media landscape.

Professor Flake holds a number of strategic leadership roles. He is a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) and serves on the board of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He is a member of the Australian “Friends of Vietnam” group and a member of the international advisory board of the David M. Kennedy Centre at Brigham Young University. Prior to joining the Centre, he was the Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, an Associate Director of the Program on Conflict Resolution at The Atlantic Council of the United States, and Director for Research and Academic Affairs at the Korea Economic Institute of America.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Korean) and Master of Arts (International and Area Studies) from Brigham Young University. He speaks both fluent Korean and Laotian.

Invitation Transferrable

Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone within your organisation or networks who you think might be interested in this event. 

AmCham Australia is committed to data privacy and protecting your personal information. By registering for this event, you agree that AmCham and its event partners may send you relevant information. 

Pricing

Member: Single $199 / Table of 10 $1990
Non-Members: Single $249 / Table of 10 $2490