Energy Prices and Regional Order in Transition
VIEW EVENT DETAILSNot since 1997, when Asia experienced rapid shifts in capital flows and falling energy prices, has there been the likelihood of a major transition to the regional order and energy markets. The impact of these transitions during 2015 will extend far beyond East Asia and have repercussions for the Indo-Pacific and wider world. Following the Asian Financial Crisis; Indonesia left OPEC; China became the world’s largest oil importer; and relationships between National Oil Companies (NOCs) and International Oil Companies evolved. While this change in order occurred through stock exchanges, as was the case in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation's bids for Unocal and Nexen; it can also provoke other responses. Resource nationalism and national strategy linked to control of key inputs has historically resulted in conflict.
Will the current period of low prices trigger another wave of mergers between energy companies with NOCs leading the pack? Conversely, could low energy prices allow a period of gradual evolution which reduces the security tensions before the next price spike? Join us for a panel discussion with professor Peter Hartley, economic analyst Andrew Pickford, and Energy Management Institute director Mark Stickells. Perth USAsia Centre's L. Gordon Flake will moderate the program.
About the Speakers
Peter Hartley attended Australian National University (ANU) where he completed a degree in Pure Mathematics, with Applied Mathematics and Statistics as minors. He joined the Priorities Review Staff and then the Economic Division of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet while working on a Master’s Degree in Economics at the ANU. After completing his PhD at the University of Chicago, he obtained an Assistant Professor position at Princeton University. He moved to Rice University as an Associate Professor of Economics in 1986 and was awarded the George & Cynthia Mitchell Chair in Economics in 2007. Peter served as Chair of the Department of Economics from 2000-2005. He has also held visiting positions at Monash University, the University of Melbourne and the ANU. He also worked for the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash University and the Tasman Institute in Melbourne, and the NZ Business Roundtable.
Andrew Pickford works between Australia and Canada in the areas of strategy, economic analysis and natural resources with a range of organizations. He has particular expertise with electricity utilities, commodity trends, industry-driven applied research and the reform and transformation of businesses and governments during periods of turbulence. Andrew has written and commentated on a range of issues from agricultural and energy markets to Asian economic trends and the impact of elections on business conditions. Mr Pickford was the inaugural Managing Director of ISSA Indo-Pacific and has sat on a number of Australian boards including Horizon Power and Australia Day WA. During 2011, he was selected to attend the prestigious US Government’s International Visitor and Leadership program entitled “US Foreign Policy and Energy Security”. In 2012, he was invited to participate in the Australia India Dialogue in India for his expertise in the electricity sector.
Mark Stickells is the Energy Management Institute's incoming director after close to four years in the role of EMI’s Deputy Director. During his time as deputy director, Mark’s focus has been on the delivery of major EMI strategic initiatives, financial and HR management, and marketing and promoting the EMI - both internally and externally. He plays a central role in liaising with multidisciplinary networks across UWA, nationally and internationally to create opportunities for collaboration and valuable partnerships. Prior to starting at UWA, Mark was the CEO of the WA: Energy Research Alliance. He has extensive experience in joint-venture R&D management, major infrastructure and collaborative research programs.
About the Moderator
L. Gordon Flake is the founding CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre. He was previously Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, a Senior Fellow and Associate Director of the Program on Conflict Resolution at The Atlantic Council of the United States, and Director for Research and Academic Affairs at the Korea Economic Institute of America. He has edited and authored numerous books and chapters on policy issues in Asia and is a regular contributor to the press on Asia issues. He serves on the Board of the United States Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (USCSCAP) as co-Vice Chair of the Board of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea on the Advisory Council of the Korea Economic Institute of America, and on the International Advisory Board of the David M. Kennedy Center at Brigham Young University.
Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines are presenting sponsors of Business & Policy programs, with lead support from BP America, and East West Bank. Generous funding also provided by the Friends of Business & Policy at Asia Society Texas Center, a premier group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.
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Event Details
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