In Conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong

In Conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong

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Friday, 21 August 2026

Description
Individual Ticket
Time
12:15 PM - 2:30 PM
21/08/2026 12:15 PM
Table of 10
Time
12:15 PM - 2:30 PM
21/08/2026 12:15 PM

In Conversation with Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong

Foreign Affairs Lunch
AmCham Business Series Lunch

 

Join AmCham for an important discussion that goes to the heart of one of Australia’s most important global partnerships between Australia and US.

We will hear from Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, in conversation with Belinda Heggen from Fluent Media on how government and industry are shaping shared opportunity. Pose the questions that matter to you and your industry and hear real insights from the Minister on the future of the Alliance, the geopolitical levers that are changing the world and the impact that diplomatic relationships have on South Australia’s economy.

Speakers

 

Senator the Hon Penny Wong

Minister for Foreign Affairs
Government of Australia
 

Penny Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide. She studied law and arts at the University of Adelaide. After university she worked for the trade union covering furniture industry employees, taking part in campaigns to improve pay and conditions for the union’s members, including poorly paid female migrants working in upholstery workshops.

She worked as an adviser to the NSW Labor Government where she helped develop forests policy, and then as a barrister, before being elected to the Senate for the Australian Labor Party in 2001. Senator Wong has been re-elected four times - in 2007, 2013, 2016 and 2022. With the election of the Rudd Government in 2007, she was appointed Minister for Climate Change and Water. In this position she significantly expanded the Renewable Energy Target, which has driven significant investment in wind and solar power. She also represented Australia in international climate change negotiations and developed the Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme, a market-based mechanism to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in the most economically efficient way. After the federal election of 2010, Senator Wong was appointed as Minister for Finance and Deregulation. As Finance Minister she worked with Treasurer Wayne Swan to deliver three Budgets in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis. She also implemented a policy to ensure women are considered for appointments to senior positions in government agencies and corporations. In 2013 Senator Wong was elected Leader of the Government in the Senate and, after the change of government in 2013, became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate – the first woman to hold either of these roles. She served as Shadow Foreign Minister for six years before the election of the Albanese Government in 2022, when she was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong seeks to rebuild Australia’s reputation as partner of choice - drawing on all elements of our national power – to build a stable and prosperous region, where sovereignty is respected and the rules of the road are upheld. As a proud representative of South Australia in the federal Parliament she has advocated for her State’s interests, including safeguarding the future sustainability of the Murray River and advancing the State’s economy.

Senator Wong lives in Adelaide with her wife and their daughters.

 

The Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP 

Premier of South Australia
Parliament of South Australia 
 

Peter Malinauskas is the 47th Premier of South Australia.

Adelaide born-and-bred, Peter studied commerce at the University of Adelaide and has dedicated his working life to raising the standard of living for everyday South Australians. He was elected to State Parliament in 2015, became Labor Leader in 2018 and was elected Premier of South Australia in 2022. Peter is leading a government which is getting things done for South Australia, with a strong focus on the state's prosperity for today and for the long term.

Beyond his official duties, the Premier's greatest loves are his wife Annabel, their four young children and the mighty Port Adelaide Football Club and the Adelaide Uni Blacks.

 

Belinda Heggen

Founder and Director
FLUENT Media 
 

Founder of FLUENT Media, Belinda Heggen is one of Australia’s most experienced and well-respected media and presentation trainers and executive media strategists, drawing her expert insights from more than 25 years as a news journalist and presenter across TV, radio and print (Network Ten, FIVEaa, The Advertiser), and as a media advisor to Cabinet Ministers and corporate leaders.

A trusted and effective advisor, she specialises in developing confident and inspiring leaders who seek to build their profile and elevate their personal brand to drive professional and business growth. Her clients include high-profile national industry leaders in defence, cyber and tech, energy, finance, health, law, property and construction, education and tourism.

Event Partners

 

Partnership opportunities available - please contact Sally Neville, GM SA & Tas, to enquire [email protected]
When
21/08/2026 12:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Cen. Australia Standard Time
Where
SkyCity Adelaide North Terrace ADELAIDE, SA 5000 AUSTRALIA
Registration
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Last day to register is 14/08/2026
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