Western Australia: The Engine of Australia

Presented in partnership with the Australian Consulate General-Houston, the Government of Western Australia, and the Australian American Chamber of Commerce Texas

Schedule

Tuesday, May 30, 2023
6:30 p.m. Reception
7:30 p.m. Program

After the creation of the United States–Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2005, trade between the two countries flourished, and the U.S. is now Australia’s largest source of foreign direct investment and fourth largest trading partner. Trade and investment have also grown rapidly between the U.S. and the resource-rich Australian state of Western Australia.

Despite being only one-tenth of the subcontinent's population, the state comprises nearly one-third of Australia’s total land area and accounts for over half of all Australian exports, including many natural resources that power the global economy. The state is the world’s leading producer of iron ore and among one of the world's leading producers of liquified natural gas (LNG), lithium, bauxite, cobalt, and many other rare-earth elements.

Join us for a discussion on the important trade and investment links between the U.S. and Australia. The discussion will feature Roger Cook, Western Australia Deputy Premier; Dr. Kate O’Shaughnessy, Research Director Perth USAsia Centre; Benson Saulo, Australian Consul General; and Rebecca Tomkinson, CEO Chamber of Minerals and Energy, in conversation with Marty Goossen, JP Morgan Private Bank Vice-Chair, as they highlight the special connections that link Western Australia to Texas, and explore future opportunities for growth and partnership.

About the Speakers

The Honorable Roger Cook, MLA is the Deputy Premier of Western Australia. With oversight of the key portfolios of State Development, Jobs and Trade; Hydrogen Industry; Tourism; and Science, Roger has been a member of the Australian Legislative Assembly since 2008, representing the seat of Kwinana. Prior to entering politics Roger studied Arts and Public Administration at Murdoch University before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration at Curtin University. He was active in campus politics and established the National Union of Students as its first National President.

Dr. Kate O’Shaughnessy leads the Centre’s suite of research programs across the Indo-Pacific. Previously an Australian diplomat for 16 years, her public sector experience spans providing policy advice to government on Australia’s interests in the Indian Ocean, to supporting development of the Australian aid budget, to intelligence analysis. Immediately before joining the Centre in 2022, she was Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius and Seychelles, and Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros. She holds a PhD in Indonesian history from the University of Western Australia and speaks Indonesian and French.

Benson Igua Saulo, Australian Consul-General & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Australian Investment and Trade Commission (Austrade). Mr. Saulo is the first Indigenous person to be appointed an Australian Consul-General. He has a background in banking, investments and social impact. As Consul-General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, he is the Americas' industry lead for health across the US, Mexico and Canada. Prior to his appointment, he was the Head of Partnerships-Investments at Australian Unity, a wealth and capital markets business.

Rebecca Tomkinson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME), the peak resources sector representative body in Western Australia. Immediately prior to joining the CME, Rebecca was the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in WA. In her early career, Rebecca worked in local, state, and federal government before transitioning to executive roles in the corporate and community benefit sectors. Raised in regional WA, Rebecca is deeply committed to the social and economic development of the state and the promotion of its unique and critical role nationally and globally. Rebecca is a current board member of Infrastructure WA, Crown Perth, and the Perth USAsia Centre.

About the Moderator

Martyn E. Goossen is Vice Chairman of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Marty has over 40 years of experience in financial services, nearly all of which has been in the wealth management field. The majority of his career was spent working in Asia. Marty and his wife, Kathy, moved to Hong Kong with Citibank in 1978 and transferred to Tokyo in 1984. Marty joined JPMorgan Chase in Tokyo in 1988 and remained in Asia until 2006, when he moved to Houston to take the position as head of the Houston Private Bank and President of the Houston Region. In 2017, Marty was appointed to Vice Chairman of the J.P. Morgan Private Bank focusing on the south region of the United States. Marty has undertaken a number of civic responsibilities in Houston. He serves on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Asia Society Texas Center, Central Houston Inc., and the Houston Zoo. He is also a member of the Council of Overseers at Rice University’s Jones School of Business and is a Director of the Singapore American School Foundation. Marty received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1977 and a B.S. in Economics from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

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Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as The Brown Foundation, Inc. and Houston Endowment. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Asia Society Texas Center, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

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About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.

At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.

See the 2023 Calendar

Sponsors of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Asian American Bar Association of Houston
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Past APAH Month Calendars

2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.