Annual Australia Africa Conference (AAC 2015)

Enhancing strategic engagement and partnership between government, academia and business

AAUN is co-hosting the annual Australia Africa Conference (AAC) running 26-28 August in Canberra. AAC will focus on the existing challenges that Africa face and observe opportunities where Africa and Australia could initiate joint projects to influence policies that can create wealth and improve quality of life in both continents. AAC is an initiative promoted by business, academia and governments through involvement of African diplomat missions and with support from DFAT. The primary themes for AAC are:

• Investment and business promotion
• Education
• Science and Technology
• Health, Nutrition and Food Security

Conference Objectives The objective is to facilitate information sharing between the continents and develop strategic partnership and capacity to undertake practical outcome including project proposals between business, academia and governments. The main themes are as follows:

1. Investment and business promotion: the role of private sector/businesses, researchers and governments

• Entrepreneurship development for youths and women;
• Infrastructure Investment/contracts in Africa (roads, railways, telecom and ports);
• Renewable Power Generation Investment in Africa (wind, solar, geothermal, biomass)
• Tourism investment in Africa

2. Education, Science and Technology in Africa: focus on customisation of education, science and technology to meet actual local needs to get optimal returns of spent resources.

• Education infrastructure/facilities, systems and quality to meet local needs
• Science and Technology incubation centres for Africa, Regional centres of excellence for research and education through Governments and universities
• The promotion of Education science and technology as a link between Africa and Australia

3. Health, Nutrition and Food Security: focusing on long term strategies for improving local capacity and independence on supplies and services in Africa.

• Improving capacity building in the area of medical sector
• Enhancing agricultural research, improving  nutrition and food security at household level
• The Potential of Agriculture and Agribusiness in Africa
• Deepening understanding linkages between health, nutrition agricultural production and human development

The above sub themes will be integrated into speaker topics at plenary sessions. Workshop sessions will focus on coming up with real project ideas considering the following:

1. Exploring common priorities across Australia and Africa countries and identify priority programs and projects for taking strong partnerships forward;
2. Getting feedback on last year (AAC 2014) that are currently under study to see whether there are things to learn that could be considered for any new project ideas;
3. Reviewing last year unfunded project proposals or ideas to see whether they could be improved for study funding;
4. Identifying potential business and academic partnerships between participants from the two continents; and
5. Identify Public Private Partnership opportunities.

Conference details

Date: 26–28 August 2015 Venue: Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, Canberra Contact: Mr Simba Kippaya mail@subsaharaconsulting.com   Conference Sponsors AAUN ACIAR The African Heads of Mission Group in Australia Australia Africa Business Council NSW and ACT Chapters Crawford School of Public Policy Department of Education Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) South African Airways    Conference Program View the program here.

AAC Presentations:

Session 1 Mr Deon Herbst Prof Adnane Remmal Mr Benoit Le Bars Mr Grey Johnson Session 2 Ms Catherine Gill Dr George Odhiambo Mr Kofi Osei Bonsu Prof Chika Sehoole Session 3 Dr Nick Austin Prof Kadambot Siddique Dr Peter Johnston Associate Prof Robyn Alders Associate Prof Robyn McConchie Prof Mavis Mulaudzi   Opening Presentation: View AAC opening presentation by the Hon Steven Ciobo MP here.   Conference Highlights: