Resources and METS Opportunities in Mainland Southeast Asia

On behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we invite you to express your interest in attending Resources and METS Opportunities in Mainland Southeast Asia.

Join Louise Adams, Australia’s Business Champion for Vietnam and Incoming CEO of Aurecon, to explore the growing opportunities in Mainland Southeast Asia’s Resources and METS sector.

Southeast Asia possesses substantial mineral reserves, presenting emerging opportunities for Australian resources and METS companies. This event will focus on the burgeoning industries across Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.

Come and learn how Australian businesses can leverage their sectoral and technical expertise to contribute to sustainable resource development, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen regional partnerships. 

Date: Wednesday 14 May 2025
Time: Event at 12.15pm - 2.30pm
Location: Melbourne CBD

To express your interest in attending, please complete the form accessible via the button above.

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 Resources and METS in Mainland Southeast Asia. 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

Louise Adams, Australian Business Champion for Vietnam | Incoming CEO, Aurecon

Louise Adams is Aurecon’s incoming Chief Executive Officer (effective 1 July 2025), leading 7,500 people across 31 locations in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Louise is also a member of the National Advisory and Fiduciary Boards of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, Consult Australia’s Champions of Change Group, an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (ATSE), and a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW).

In March 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed Louise as Australia’s Business Champion to Vietnam, expanding the role she has held since 2021 to further trade and investment opportunities between Vietnam and Australia. Louise is also part of the Australian Government’s Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, and an Advisory Board Member of the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI).

Leah Barlow, President - SHES, Discrete Manufacturing and Supply
Leah was appointed President - SHES, Discrete Manufacturing and Supply in July 2022. Previously, she held the role of Senior Vice President Discrete Manufacturing and Supply Chain since April 2021. She has more than 19 years of operational experience with Orica, most recently as Vice President for Initiating Systems and Packaged Emulsion Global Manufacturing. Leah has also held a range of senior management roles in both Discrete and Continuous manufacturing in Australia and Canada, with accountabilities across more than 20 countries globally.
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.