Malaysia Rising – A dynamic and trusted market for Australian business

On behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we invite you to express your interest in attending “Malaysia Rising – A dynamic and trusted market for Australian business”.

Join Tony Lombardo, Australia’s Business Champion for Malaysia and Group CEO & Managing Director of Lendlease and Danielle Heinecke, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, for an exclusive discussion on the growing opportunities in Malaysia’s economy.

As global markets face disruption and transformation, Malaysia is gaining fresh momentum — rising as a destination of choice for high-value investment, regional trade, and long-term partnerships. Strategically located in Southeast Asia, with a skilled, well-educated workforce, competitive operating costs, mature digital infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies, Malaysia is consolidating its position as a premier partner for businesses to enter and service the region.
 
The Malaysian Government has embarked on an ambitious program of economic reforms, designed to further boost its attractiveness as an investment destination and accelerate the country’s digital and energy transformation. Malaysia is leveraging major new investments in manufacturing, digital infrastructure and green energy to bolster its status as a hub for education, healthcare and professional services.

As Australia and Malaysia mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and with Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, Malaysia’s prominence will continue to rise.
 
Gain insights into emerging sectoral opportunities, the strategic advantages of Malaysia and access upcoming Australian Government-led initiatives.

Date:       Thursday 12 June 2025
Time:       Registration and lunch at 11.45am – 12.15pm. Event at 12.15pm – 2.00pm
Location: Melbourne CBD

To express your interest in attending, please complete the form below.

As this is an invitation-only event, we will review submissions and contact eligible organisations with further details. Places are limited and we are prioritising submissions from Australian businesses with an interest in Malaysia. Expression of interest does not guarantee attendance.

We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you. For any queries, please contact asialinkbusiness-events@unimelb.edu.au

Tony Lombardo, Australian Business Champion for Malaysia | Group CEO & Managing Director, Lendlease

Tony Lombardo has more than 28 years’ experience working across real estate development, investment management, finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and strategy in Australia and internationally.

Tony joined Lendlease in 2007 as Group Head of Strategy and M&A where he led a number of initiatives including refocusing the Group’s overall business strategy. In 2011, he was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and played a key role in enhancing the flexibility of the Group’s capital structure via a stapled structure as well as significantly broadening its funding and banking relationships. He also implemented a range of people focused initiatives including creation of the Young Indigenous Pathways program, which provides mentoring opportunities for young Indigenous students.

In 2016, Tony was appointed Chief Executive Officer Asia based in Singapore. As part of resetting Lendlease Asia’s growth strategy, Tony spearheaded a number of major initiatives to drive future growth. Recent successes include the completion of Singapore’s S$3.7 billion Paya Lebar Quarter mixed-use development, establishment of a US$1 billion data centres joint venture with a large institutional investor and the successful listing of S$1 billion global LREIT on the Singapore Exchange.

Danielle Heinecke, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, DFAT

Ms Heinecke is a senior career officer with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary Pacific Melanesia Division.

She has previously served overseas in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Ian Narev, Managing Director and CEO, Seek Limited

Ian is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEEK. He commenced both roles on 1 July 2021.

Ian joined SEEK in April 2019 in the dual roles of Chief Operating Officer and CEO of Asia Pacific and Americas. Before joining SEEK Ian spent 11 years at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He was CBA’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director from 2011 until 2018. Prior to joining CBA Ian was a partner of McKinsey and Company.

Ian is also the non-executive Chair of New Zealand Rugby Commercial Limited, and has non-executive board roles in education and medical research. Prior board roles include Sydney Theatre Company, where he was Chair from 2016 to 2023.

Ian holds a Bachelor of Arts and Law (Honours) from the University of Auckland, and Masters of Law from Cambridge University (International Corporate Law) and New York University (International Relations).

Peter Horn, General Manager, Investment, Austrade

Peter Horn is General Manager, Investment responsible for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission’s (Austrade) global investment activities.

Peter is also Chair of the National Investment Forum, the peak Commonwealth and State and Territory body overseeing Australia’s foreign investment program. Peter co-leads the Government’s Southeast Asia Investment Deal Teams initiative.

Peter joined Austrade in 2019 as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner and Head of UK, Europe, Russia and Israel based in Germany.

Peter has 25 years of investment experience and prior to joining Austrade was the Chairman and CEO of the Institutional Investor group of companies across Asia Pacific. Previously Peter was the founding CEO of JPMorgan Asset Management (Australia). Earlier in his career Peter was based in London with CBA (Europe) and Standard & Poor’s.

Leigh Howard, CEO, Asialink Business

Leigh Howard is the CEO of Asialink Business, Australia’s National Centre for Asia Capability, and one of Australia’s leading voices on international business. A passionate advocate for Australian business success in Asian markets, Leigh spent 20 years in Asia as a corporate leader and entrepreneur.

Leigh previously held senior executive roles with digital giant TradingPost.com and ASX-listed staffing company Talent2. He also served as Victoria's Deputy Commissioner to Southeast Asia. Leigh actively contributes to organisations shaping Australia-Asia business relations, including as a Founding Board Director of AustCham ASEAN, Advisory Board Member for the Australia-Vietnam Policy Institute and ex-Chair of the Malaysia Australia Business Council. Globally recognised, Leigh was invited to join the B20 Taskforce for Digital Transformation in 2023 and again in 2024.