The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council (APIBC) is pleased to announce that at its 23rd Annual General Meeting, held in Brisbane on 21 November 2024, Mr Simon Gorman was re-elected by members for a further term as President of the Council. Mr Gorman, who is Managing Director of Reeves International/CCB Envico based in Melbourne, has served as President since 2023.
The APIBC, established in 2000, is an independent association of Australian businesses with interests in the Pacific. It serves as the peak body for business relations between Australia and the smaller Pacific economies. The Council’s mission is to provide a platform for the private sector to engage with both Australian and Pacific Islands governments at the highest political and policy levels, addressing trade and investment challenges and fostering stronger business linkages. Additionally, the Council offers a critical network to support members in achieving their business objectives in the Pacific.
The Council has Memoranda of Understanding with several national Chambers of Commerce in Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia, as well as Trade & Investment Queensland, enabling collaboration between Australian and Pacific Islands businesses. In September 2023, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the APIBC hosted the inaugural Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane, bringing together businesses, governments, and donors to explore sustainable infrastructure development in the Blue Pacific. Plans are underway for a second Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane in 2025.
The APIBC holds annual bilateral business conferences between Australia and Melanesian countries such as Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and aims to resume similar engagements with New Caledonia in 2025. The Council is also exploring opportunities for increased engagement in Polynesia, including its participation in the Commonwealth Business Forum held in Apia, Samoa, alongside a Trade & Industry Queensland delegation in October 2024. In July 2024, the Council arranged the first Australian business mission to Micronesian countries.
Re-elected President Simon Gorman said, “I am honoured to have been re-elected President and to have continuing opportunity to lead the Council’s dynamic work. I acknowledge the active support and commitment to the Pacific of the office-bearers and executive committee of the Council, and our friends in the Chambers of Commerce in the Pacific. This is an exciting time to be in business in the Pacific for Australian and Pacific businesses. There are many challenges, but challenges bring opportunity and members of the Council are keen to work with their Pacific business colleagues to address these challenges.”
Mr Gorman further said, “I welcome the incoming newly elected joint Vice President Sophie Boucaut and also thank the other members of the executive for re-nominating to their positions in the Committee. Today, I presented a President’s report that highlighted some wonderful achievements championed and led by the Council. The ones for special mention were the Solomon Islands Forum held in Honiara in association with SICCI (Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry), and the formal signing of MOUs with the Micronesian, Palau and Kiribati Chambers of Commerce. We are trying to play a strong advocacy role for our members with our own Government and to provide effective communication between Pacific Island partners, and I believe there has been good progress on this.
“I’d also like to congratulate and thank the Executive Director Frank Yourn and his team for the significant work program he has worked tirelessly to put together and organise for our members and look forward to a packed and exciting 2024-25 year. I particularly look forward to hosting the bi-annual Infrastructure Conference as well as working with our members, Government, and business partners.”
Photo: The new APIBC Executive Committee at the AGM in Brisbane on 21 November. (Sitting from left): Sophie Boucaut, William Blank, Simon Gorman, Andrew Morris, Frank Yourn (Executive Director). (Standing L-R): Jeremy Grennell, Danielle Bailly, Steven Hillyard, Luke Jackson. Picture: Dev Nadkarni
