Asia Society Australia and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will host two private CEO roundtable briefings with Jan Adams AO, Australian Ambassador to China in Sydney and Melbourne.

The event in Sydney is hosted by the Chairman of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Rick Holliday-Smith. The event in Melbourne is hosted by Kate Axup, Partner at Allens.

The briefings come at an important juncture in the bilateral relationship, following the meeting between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou on 4 September 2016.

As Australia’s trade, investment and people-to-people links with China continue to develop post ChAFTA’s entry into force, the Ambassador will discuss the challenges and opportunities for the relationship. The briefing is set to be a unique and impactful gathering at a crucial time in Australia’s relationship with China.

These briefings will run under Chatham House rule. Guests will have the opportunity to discuss Australia’s trade and strategic relationship with China.

SYDNEY

Date: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Time: 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start, conclude 2pm

MELBOURNE

Date: Friday, 7 October 2016
Time: 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start, conclude 2pm

This event is by invitation only, with limited places available. For more information please contact [email protected].

About our speaker:
Ms Jan Adams AO is Australia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and took up her appointment in February 2016.

Ms Adams is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She was appointed Deputy Secretary in April 2013 with responsibility for trade and economic issues. In this role she was chief negotiator overseeing conclusion of Free Trade Agreements with China, Korea and Japan. Previously, Ms Adams was First Assistant Secretary, Free Trade Agreement Division.

Ms Adams served as Ambassador for the Environment and Ambassador for Climate Change between 2005 and 2008, and as Minister Counsellor (Trade) in Washington from 2000 to 2004. From 1993 to 1996, Ms Adams worked as an Adviser to the Minister for Trade and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Senator Peter Cook. She also previously worked in the OECD Environment and Trade Directorates in Paris.

Ms Adams joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1999 as Assistant Secretary, APEC Branch.

Ms Adams was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in 2007 for outstanding public service in pursuing Australia's international objectives on trade and the environment. In 2016 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to international relations through the advancement of Australia's diplomatic and free trade relationships, particularly with the United States of America, South Korea, Japan and China.

Raised in Wodonga, Victoria, she holds Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and Bachelor of Law (Hons) degrees from Monash University, and is married with one child.

Asia Society Australia’s Executive Briefings are a curated series of meetings presented by diplomats, business leaders and subject matter experts from Asia and Australia. Designed to offer a deep dive into the critical issues of the day, to an audience of senior executives from the business, political, educational and cultural institutions that make up the Asia Society network.

The briefings are generously hosted by the ASX (Sydney) and Allens (Melbourne).