The Pacific Tropical Building Forum will be held from Thursday June 7, 2018 at James Cook University, Townsville.
The Forum brings together regional representatives, government agencies, technical experts and industry to explore the challenges and issues facing the Pacific region. In particular, the Forum will address the challenges and opportunities faced by governments and businesses in building community resilience across the Pacific and explore ideas and innovations with the potential to support risk reduction.
Registrations for this event are now open. We encourage you to book now to ensure you don’t miss out on a place.
All information and registration details are housed on the event website, which we will keep up to date as we move towards this event.
essag. fromofessor Sag, Vice Chanclor at James Cook University.
I am pleased to welcome you to the inaugural Tropical Building Forum.
This Forum brings together regional representatives, government agencies, technical experts and industry to explore the challenges and issues facing the Pacific region and is designed to identify common issues across the region and to foster a better understanding of the key issues facing individual Pacific nations. In particular, the Forum will address the challenges and opportunities faced by governments and businesses in building community resilience across the Pacific and explore ideas and innovations with the potential to support risk reduction.
The Forum features opportunities for informed discussion among the participants on the physical aspects of Tropical Buildings including resilience, rebuilding, building standards and codes, building products and risk and insurance, as well as non-physical aspects such as the human aspects of compliance and capacity building. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore potential solutions and approaches to these challenges and assist in establishing a direction that begins to address them.
The program has been developed in consultation with Pacific Island governments and businesses, which expressed a desire to increase their knowledge of building standards that would be applicable in their local environments. While Australia is a world leader in cyclone building standards, the development of suitable local standards is critical to their adoption and widespread application.
As well as leading-edge keynote addresses, panel sessions are a feature of the program. These are designed to allow companies and governments from across the Pacific to share their knowledge and experiences and share insights about their specific local needs.
Adapting or adopting building standards for local everyday implementation will deliver approaches that are practical, affordable and enforceable. Indigenous building solutions in Australia will also be explored to highlight the policy, design and construction standards used for remote housing in northern Queensland and the processes used for community consultation in driving their uptake.
The Forum is presented in partnership by Australia Pacific Island Business Council, Austrade, Trade and Investment Queensland, Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, James Cook University and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The rewards from collaboration are immense and I am sure this Tropical Building Forum will reflect the regional expertise and capabilities that can be brought together to assist in building productive relationships and, importantly, solutions. Professor Sandra Harding
Vice Chellor and Presidnt
Speakers
The Pacific Tropical Building Forum brings together an excellent array of speakers from government, industry and NGO sectors. Please note some speakers are still to be confirmed. Click this link for more detail: http://events.apibc.org.au/event/PTBF18/speakers.html
Professor Sandra Harding Vice Chancellor, James Cook University
Mr Frank Yourn Executive Director, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council
Mr Damian Fisher Senior International Engagement Manager, Standards Australia
Mr Ron Pulido Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Standards Australia
Dr Geoff Boughton Adjunct Associate Professor, James Cook University. Geoff has a PhD in Structural Engineering for work on wind loads on housing at the Cyclone Testing Station.
Mr Michael Dorval PCO Technical Manager, Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF). Michael is a veteran of infrastructure development projects.
Dr David Henderson: Adjunct Professor and Chief Engineer, Cyclone Testing Station, James Cook University
Mr Denis Etournaud: Chief Executive Officer, BlueScope Steel New Caledonia. Denis has been the Managing Director of BlueScope Acier New Caledonia since 1986.
Mr Ashley Finn: Managing Director, Pacific Islands International. Ashley Finn combines his passions of PNG, Construction and Logistics to grow Pacific Islands.
Mr Zahid Iqbal: Regional Manager - Pacific SMEC,
Luc Bataille:Chef da la Cellule Koniambo: Luc Bataillé spent about 30 years of his professional life in overseas territories.
Mr Simon Ernst: Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnership division
Dr Anne Swinbourne: Psychologist, James Cook University. Dr Swinbourne is a psychologist with experience in population level health promotion.
Professor Marcus Sheaves: Head of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University. Marcus Sheaves is a Professor in the College of Science and Engineering.
