Pacific Priorities and Private Sector Solutions

As U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Asia, Diane Farrell is the principal advisor to the assistant secretary for global markets on all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia. She also oversees planning and execution of Department of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States missions in Asia. Most recently, Ms. Farrell worked at the U.S. India Business Council (USIBC). As executive vice president, she oversaw business advocacy policy and government relations. Prior to joining USIBC, Ms. Farrell served on the Board of Directors at the Export Import Bank of the United States voting on the transactions in excess of $10 million as well as on significant policy matters.

At the new Office of the Pacific, Pablo Kang is charged with designing and implementing the new Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). Other positions in Canberra have included assistant secretary, Pacific Bilateral and New Zealand Branch; assistant secretary, International Organisations Branch; executive officer, People Smuggling, Refugees and Immigration Section; and senior adviser, International Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Overseas, Mr. Kang has served in London (second secretary), Manila (deputy head of mission and counsellor), Port Vila (high commissioner), and Abu Dhabi (ambassador).

Since 2015, James Lynch has held the role of deputy director general, Pacific Department at the ADB. In this role Mr. Lynch has responsibility for the strategic planning and management of ADB’s operations in the Pacific region. Mr. Lynch has more than 25 years of international experience in infrastructure finance, project development, regional cooperation, and engagement with government counterparts, development partners, and the private sector.

Ms. Carolyn Blacklock is the acting managing director of fully integrated power authority PNG Power Ltd (PPL). Ms. Blacklock has 25 years’ experience in private sector finance, development, and infrastructure with the last 15 years in the Pacific. Following a successful corporate banking career working with Australian top tier banks, in 2009, she moved permanently to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to establish the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, where she led the office for the next 4 years. Following a stint overseeing key projects for Hawkins Infrastructure, New Zealand, Ms. Blacklock has been engaged by the government of PNG in Treasury as their specialist adviser with a specific mandate to accelerate infrastructure development and create a pipeline of bankable projects to attract high quality developers and investors to PNG. She is a key member of the PNG Treasury team and provides high level advice on infrastructure and development with a focus on power and health. She is known for her strong track record of taking large, complex projects through to successful delivery.

Mr. Jone Usamate was the chief executive officer of the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji and the director for technical and vocational education and training at the Fiji National University. He returned as a government minister and left the Labour and Industrial Relations Ministry to become the minister for health. In September 2016, he was part of a cabinet shuffle and was moved to the Ministry of Employment Opportunities, Productivity, and Industrial Relations. He studied at the University of the South Pacific and earned a bachelor of arts degree in administration and economics as well as a masters of arts in management from Southern Cross University.

Sioban Hartwell leads the GHD water business in New Zealand. She is a fellow of Engineering NZ with over 25 years’ experience supporting projects in New Zealand, the UK, Australia, and the United States. Her project experience covers a wide range of “three waters” infrastructure, servicing small-scale rural systems through to urban areas and irrigation systems. In her role, she provides oversight to all water related work undertaken by GHD teams in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Fiji. Of relevance to this conference, GHD has been working to deliver the Te Mato Vai water project and Mei Te Vai Ki Te Vai wastewater projects for the Cook Islands government for over 3 years, providing support in project management, master planning, community consultation, environmental investigations, and design and construction support for these important water supply and wastewater improvements.

Mr. Maresh has more than 15 years of experience working in a range of corporate affairs and government relations roles in the private sector and within several government portfolios including energy, resources, and commerce. His experience covers a broad range of policy areas including industry policy, taxation, climate and energy policy, regulatory approvals, and competition policy reform. He was previously the chief advisor, government relations for Rio Tinto where he had responsibility for Rio Tinto’s national strategy and engagement with Australian government stakeholders. He has served as a director of peak industry associations and a range of Rio Tinto subsidiary companies.

Mr. Harris is a leading business development and account manager for the Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority, University of Melbourne, and other federal government agencies and social infrastructure clients. He is experienced in pursuing opportunities with private and public clients concerned with the built environment, including architectural and engineering design, contaminated land assessment and remediation, defense infrastructure, social infrastructure, urban growth and master planning. Mr. Harris also has a focus on bilateral Australia-U.S. collaboration for major opportunities.