At Doltone House, Australian Technology Park, Exhibition Hall
2 Locomotive Street (Bay 10 - 14) Eveleigh NSW

09:00 – 10:00 REGISTRATION

10:00 – 11:30 PANEL 1: LEBANITY BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT

THE LONG-STANDING LEBANESE PRESENCE IN OCEANIA HAS TAKEN SHAPE THROUGH SEVERAL WAVES OF MIGRATION FROM LEBANON STARTING DURING THE LAST FEW DECADES OF THE 19TH CENTURY. HAVING MEMBERS OF THE LEBANESE DIASPORA IN THE WORLD FAR AWAY FROM THE LAND OF THEIR FOREFATHERS, DOES NOT EXEMPT LEBANON FROM WELCOMING AND FACILITATING THEIR RETURN OR NURTURING CLOSE BONDS WITH THEM. THIS PANEL AIMS TO GIVE INSIGHT INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT LEBANESE NATIONALITY LAW AND EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING LEBANESE EMIGRANTS FIND THEIR ANCESTRAL ORIGINS AND RECLAIM THEIR CITIZENSHIP. IN ADDITION, THE PANEL FEATURES YOUTHS OF LEBANESE BACKGROUND AND GIVES THEM THE FLOOR TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS, NEEDS, CONCERNS, AND EXPECTATIONS, IN A BID TO BRIDGE GAPS BETWEEN THEM AND LEBANON AND DEVELOP THEIR ATTENTION TO THE HOMELAND OF THEIR ANCESTORS.

• Moderator: Mr. Zaher Al Aridi-Diplomat At The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And Emigrants
• Panelists:
  • Professor Fadia Ghossayn AM-President, Australian Lebanese Foundation
    The Achievements Of The Lebanese Maronite Foundation In Preserving The Lebanese Identity
  • The Supreme Islamic Shiite Council Of Australia
    Assisting The Lebanese Community In Australia
  • Islamic Charity Projects Association
    Social And Cultural Activities
  • Mrs. Henriette Nakhle; Honorary Consul Designate Of Lebanon In New Zealand
    The Role Of Lebanese Honorary Consuls In Promoting The Concept Of Lebanity
  • Mr. Khaled Alameddine; Lebanese Muslim Association
    The Lebanese Presence In Australia, Problems, Development And Communication
  • Mrs. Roula Moussa; Founder And Managing Partner Of Netways
    Connecting Diaspora-Power Of Diaspora ID Project
  • Mrs. Hilda Clune; Chief Information Officer At PWC Australia
    The Technology And Digital Experience In The Promotion Of Lebanity
• Motivational Speaker: Ms. Bianca Elmir-Youth Worker, Australia Champion In Boxing And Kickboxing, Oceania Champion In Boxing

11:30 – 13:00 PANEL 2: SHEDDING LIGHT ON INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN LEBANON AND OCEANIA

THE COMMUNITIES OF LEBANESE BACKGROUND IN OCEANIA PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN LEBANON’S RELATIONS WITH THE REGION. YET, SPECIAL CARE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE FIELD OF INVESTMENT IN ORDER TO DRAW ADDITIONAL FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS LEBANON IS SET TO START THE PHASE OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, THE EFFORTS RESULTING FROM THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT’S ATTEMPTS TO MAINTAIN POLITICAL STABILITY AND THE DEVELOPMENTS WITNESSED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, DEMONSTRATE THAT LEBANON IS STILL AN ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT. THIS PANEL PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR BUSINESSMEN, ENTREPRENEURS, AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS FROM BOTH SIDES TO EXPLORE BOUNDLESS MUTUAL OPPORTUNITIES.

• Moderator: Mr. Rick Mitry-Mitry Lawyers Co-Founder And Partner, Practises In International Law And Human Rights Law As Well As In Criminal And Commercial Litigation.
• Panelists:
  • Dr. Nabil Itani; Chairman Of IDAL
    Creating Linkages Between Lebanon And Its Diaspora
  • Mr. Fawaz Sankari; Executive General Manager Of Bank Of Sydney
    Banking Beyond Borders
  • Dr. Anthony Hasham; Founder And Managing Director Of Australian Consulting Engineers
    The Position Of The Lebanese Diaspora In The Construction Industry Within Sydney, Australia
  • Fouad Deiri; Founder Of Deicorp Construction Development
    Investment And Trade Relations Support Between Australia, Lebanon And The Middle East
• Keynote Speaker: The Hon. Ray Craig Williams; Minister For Multiculturalism And The Minister For Disability Services In New South Wales

13:00 - 14:30 LUNCH