Confirmed Plenary Speakers

Andrew Stoler (moderator) - A former Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Andrew Stoler is currently Executive Director of the Institute for International Business, Economics and Law and holds the title of adjunct Professor of International Trade at the University of Adelaide. He is also a former senior official of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President (Washington, DC) and Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Mediterranean as well as Director for Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Michael Leir - The Canadian High Commissioner to Australia, Michael Leir was the lead lawyer acting on the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Currently based in Canberra, Mr Leir has held a number of roles in his native Canada including Assistant General Counsel, Trade Negotiations Office and Director and Legal Advisor, Legal Advisory Division. He has also served as Canada’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.

Salil Singhal - Salil Singhal is Chairman and Managing Director of PI Industries Ltd, one of India's leading agrochemical companies. Mr Singhal is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Chairman of FICCI's Environment Committee, a national trade association with over 240,000 members.

Jaime Irarrazabal - Jaime Irarrazabal is a partner with the firm of Philippi,Yrarrazaval, Pulido & Brunner based in Santiago, Chile. Mr Irarrazabal was the Chief Legal Counsel advising the Chilean government in its negotiations on numerous Free Trade Agreements including with Canada, the European Union and the US.

Stephen Deady - Stephen Deady took up the position of First Assistant Secretary, Trade Development Division at the end of 2004.

In the three years prior to his current appointment Mr Deady was the Special Negotiator in the Office of Trade Negotiations in the Department.

In this role Mr Deady was Chief Negotiator on both the Australia/United States Free Trade Agreement and the Singapore/Australia Free Trade Agreement.

Between 1990 and 1994 he was involved in the Uruguay Round agriculture negotiations and between 1995 and 1997 headed the Trade Branch of the Australian Embassy in Washington.

Mr Deady was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Australia Day 2006 Honours List for his outstanding work in developing and promoting Australia’s trade policy, and particularly as Chief Negotiator for Australia on the Australia/United States Free Trade Agreement.

Mr Yasushi Masaki

Yasushi Masaki is the Director of Economic and Social Treaties Division, International Legal Affairs Bureau, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1984 he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, thereafter serving at several posts in Tokyo and abroad (France and Iran).

In 2000 Yasushi was appointed as Director of WTO Dispute Settlement Division He participated in several case proceedings, such as 1916 AD law case, Byrd Amendment case, US safeguard case and in consultations with China regarding the Japanese SG measures.

In 2004 he was appointed as Director of Economic and Social treaty division and has been involved in the FTA/EPA negotiations with Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and other countries.

An invitation has been extended to the Prime Minister of Australia to attend the IPBA Conference in 2006.

Committee Program Chairs have been confirmed as follows:

AEROSPACE - Vi Ming Lok, Rodyk & Davidson, Singapore
BANKING, FINANCE & SECURITIES - Gerhard Wegen, Gleiss Lutz, Stuttgart, Germany
CROSS-BORDER INVESTMENT - Hans-Erik Ahman, Advokatfirman Vinge KD, Sweden
EMPLOYMENT & IMMIGRATION LAW - John N West, Australia
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES - Ian K Lewis, Johnson Stokes & Master, Hong Kong
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - Janet Lai Heng Looi, Skrine, Malaysia
INSOLVENCY - Sarjit Singh Gill, Shook Lin & Bok, Singapore
INSURANCE - Dhinesh Bhaskaran, Shearn Delamore & Co., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - Sebastian G Kuehl, White & Case LLP, Germany
TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS - Dennis Unkovic, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP, USA
TAX LAW - Ada Ko, Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP, USA