Chair’s Message

I am delighted to welcome you to Partnerships 2022.

Twelve months ago, we came together to discuss Government’s and industry’s response to the major domestic and global themes impacting the Australian infrastructure sector.

Now, we look to how the sector can Refocus its proven innovation and resilience as the nation continues to contend with uncertainty in economic outlook, geopolitical instability, surging labour demand pressures, and supply chain insecurity, delivering the challenge of our generation as we decarbonise the sector.

Over the course of the day, Australia’s leading political, public service, and business figures will share their insights on how the infrastructure sector can contend with these major themes to deliver a record infrastructure pipeline and provide ongoing economic and social benefits to Australians.

To open the conference New South Wales Infrastructure Minister, the Hon Rob Stokes MP, will provide an overview of his vision for infrastructure in the State and the role industry can play in delivering the substantial pipeline.

Our annual Respected Leaders panel, featuring Jim Miller, Chair, Infrastructure Victoria, Tony Shepherd AO, Chair, Infrastructure SA, and Nicole Lockwood, Chair, Infrastructure WA will then discuss the state of infrastructure governance and reform in Australia, and the role of independent infrastructure advice.

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, Chief Executive, Adrian Dwyer will once again sit down with CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake to discuss the outlook for the Australian economy, evolving ESG calculations, and the infrastructure investment landscape following a major boom in mergers and acquisitions.

Through today’s program the newly appointed Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP, will provide one of her first significant addresses to the sector as the new Government sets its forward agenda.

Over the course of the day, leaders of the sector will discuss the increasing volume of investment and scale of superannuation in Australia, how to deliver a pipeline under pressure, and consider the role of private capital in the pipeline asking; do PPP’s need a rebrand?

The challenges and opportunities we face in infrastructure are not unique to our sector, which is why I am delighted that the Property Council’s Chief Executive, Ken Morrison, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew McKellar join us to discuss common themes and the critical role of collaboration.

I hope over the course of the day we provoke and challenge your thinking about how we can Refocus our approach and innovate as a sector to generate positive outcomes for Australians.

Thank you again for joining Partnerships 2022.

Yours sincerely

Sir Rod Eddington AO Chair, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia