2007 Australian Sister Cities Association Conference Darwin

Speakers and Presenters

From December 1988 to September 1997, Mr. Mbamba was Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan. Mr. Mbamba joined the United Nations in New York in 1983 as an Information Officer in the Department of Public Information after a career as a broadcast journalist for the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) in London, and with the Voice of America in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Mbamba holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Labour Studies from the State University of New York. Mr. Mbamba was born on the island of Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania. 

Keith has an extraordinary mind and extensive knowledge; his expertise covers International Affairs, Law, Society, Leadership, Business, and the Future.

Keith is a member of the most prestigious global think tank in the world, The Club of Rome - comprised of only 100 members including people such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Gates, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter. The Club of Rome meets regularly to discuss and analyse the social, political, economic, and environmental issues of the day and how those issues impact on us now and into the future.

He has had over three decades of experience in chairing organisations such as the United Nations Association of Australia, and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr Suter is a leading Australian Academic, he holds university qualifications in international politics, international law, international economics and ethics, and currently holds a teaching position at the University of New South Wales.

His latest book is the international best seller "Global Notebook: an Introduction to World Affairs" - which was described by The Australian Financial Review as one of the Top 10 Best Books of 2005. He is author of several other books including "In Defence of Globalisation", "Global Change: Armageddon and the New World Order", Global Agenda: Economics, the Environment and the Nation-State", and "Indonesia, East Timor and West Iran". Dr Suter also writes HSC and VCE material for the Year 11 and 12 Legal Studies curriculums.

Dr Suter was a recipient of the prestigious Australian "Peace Medal" during the International Year of Peace in 1986. He was also voted "Australian Communicator of the Year" in 1994.

Mr Elliot Arthur McAdam Minister for Local Government and Housing, NT Government   Elliot McAdam was born at Elliott in the Northern Territory in 1951 and educated at schools in the NT and Western Australia before gaining a Diploma of Community Development at the South Australian Institute of Technology.    He worked extensively in the public sectors of both South Australia and the Northern Territory, most recently playing a pivotal role in combating alcohol abuse in Tennant Creek through work to develop sustainable social and economic development in the belief that more jobs means less anti-social behaviour.

Elliot was elected to the seat of Barkly at the General Election in August 2001, which brought Labor to power for the first time in the NT.  The Barkly electorate covers nearly 382 000 square Kilometres and has a population of just over 8200 with 3803 electors enrolled at the 2001 election.

Elliot’s Parliamentary duties have included being Government Whip, chaired Standing Committees including Public Accounts, and Legal and Constitutional Affairs, has been a chair or member of the Estimates and Substance Abuse select committees and co-Chair of the NT Statehood Standing Committee.  He has also been a member of the Environment and Sustainable Development sessional committee and Deputy Chairman of Committees.  

In August 2005, Elliot was elected to the Ministry with portfolio responsibility for Local Government and Housing and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs.

On 1 September 2006, Elliot was elected to three new Ministries, namely Minister for Corporate and Information Services (DCIS), Minister for Central Australia and Minister for Communications.  He retained the Ministries of Local Government and Housing and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Policy.

Elliot McAdam and his partner, Barb Shaw, have three children.

Ms Fiona O’Loughlin Working mother, comedian and ABC radio presenter   Fiona O’Loughlin is the funniest working mother in Australia today. Based in Alice Springs, Fiona has spent the past ten years working as a stand-up comedian and a columnist as well as a writer and presenter for ABC Radio. She has performed many television comedy spots including popular guest appearances on ABC TV’s Spicks and Specks, produced her own shows for Australian and UK comedy festivals and earned acclaim at Montreal’s invitation-only Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.

Currently Fiona is playing to packed houses at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in her 2007 show Fiona O’Loughlin, having just completed her most successful season at Adelaide’s Fringe. This caps an excellent year so far, which has seen her taking part in local and overseas festivals. After making her Hobart Comedy Festival debut she was invited to London to join the international cast of the show The World Stands Up, shot in London for broadcast in the US and UK as well as Australia. On the strength of her London appearance, Fiona was invited to participate in the Leicester Comedy Festival, UK’s longest-running. This follows on from a full comedy calendar in 2006, which, in addition to local festival appearances, saw Fiona undertake her third season in Hong Kong, her third appearance at the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival and further critically acclaimed performances in Los Angeles. She was also the ‘Feature Act’ in the Melbourne Comedy Festival Road Show, playing sell-out shows in Queensland and Tasmania.

Impressive achievements for any comedian, certainly, but remember that Fiona spent considerable time “doing housework and having babies” before she took to comedy, making her festival debut in Adelaide in 2000 in a show entitled Fiona And Her Sister (And Some Weird Guy). O’Loughlin took the show to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival the following year, returning with the Barry Award for Best Newcomer before making her Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut with it a few months later, again, to sold out houses. Fiona’s glowing national UK reviews included a four-star write-up in the respected industry bible The List.

After a sell-out return festival season in Melbourne in early 2002 (with the show From Here To Maternity – extra shows failed to satisfy demand for tickets!), Fiona received her first invitation to appear at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. Her triumphant performances in July that year immediately led to headline appearances at the world-renowned Improv Comedy Club in Los Angeles. In subsequent years Fiona has continued to enjoy sell-out seasons at Australian comedy festivals. She has also branched out, taking her comedy to print and broadcast media. As with her comedy, Fiona’s foray into other media was significantly successful. In 2003 Fiona wrote and starred in a series of Heinz television commercials that contributed to extraordinary growth in sales for those products. It was, of course, merely the first of a long list of television appearances, since Fiona is as natural a guest and raconteur, as she is a host and comic.

Mr Craig Goodrich Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department   Craig Goodrich is Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) managing all of the department’s internal and external activities.   A 59-year-old life long Alaskan Chief Goodrich was born and raised in Anchorage. His public-safety career began in 1962 with teaching swimming for the American Red Cross.  In 1966 he went to work for the City of Anchorage managing their aquatics safety and instructional-swimming programs.  In 1969 he moved on to the State of Alaska serving variously as a Fish and Wild Life Protection enforcement officer, Judicial Services officer, and in Aircraft Crash-Fire-Rescue at Anchorage International Airport before finally re-entering the arena of structural fire fighting and safety in 1974 with AFD.

He retired as the Director of Training and Safety in 1994 to take an appointment from the Governor to serve as a Director for the Department of Public Safety, and served as Alaska's State Fire Marshal before assuming the duties of Corporate Director of Occupational Safety and Health for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in April of 1999.

Chief Goodrich returned to the Anchorage Fire Department in May of 2001 where he has applied his skills and experience in planning, program development and implementation, training, safety and accident/injury prevention, budget, personnel services, labor relations, loss control and risk analysis to fill a critical roll as occupational safety and health mission as Deputy Fire Chief-Administrative Services.  Anchorage Mayor Begich appointed Craig to Fire Chief in November of 2005.

He lists his greatest assets as his family, “especially my wife Suzanne and children.”   The Goodrich’s live in the suburb-community of Eagle River and their hobbies are community service, skiing, music, hockey, and history.

The Hon. Jim Lloyd MP Member for Robertson Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads   Jim Lloyd was born in Sydney in July 1954.  He is married to Kerry; they have two married sons and two grandsons. Jim and his wife of 31 years Kerry, reside at Mooney Mooney on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, NSW.   In March 1996, Jim was first elected to represent the residents of the Central Coast seat of Robertson in the Federal Parliament and he has since been re-elected in 1998, 2001 and 2004.

During this time he has served on numerous Parliamentary committees including:

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Standing Committee; 
• Public Works Standing Committee
• Employment and Workplace Relations Standing Committee

In March, 2001 Jim was appointed to the position of Government Whip and, following his re-election in November 2001, was appointed to the senior role of Chief Government Whip. This position involved the scheduling of legislation in the House of Representatives and maintaining the Government’s numbers in the Parliament, which is essential in ensuring the Parliament functions efficiently.

On 18 July, 2004 Jim was appointed Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads by the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, and following the successful outcome of the 9 October 2004 Federal election, Jim was re-appointed to that role on 26 October 2004.

Prior to entering Parliament, Jim Lloyd was involved in small business for over 20 years.  He operated a service station at Mooney Mooney until nominating as a candidate for Federal Parliament and is a qualified Ferry Master.  He worked for many years in that capacity on the Hawkesbury River. 

Community groups have long benefited from Jim’s involvement.  Jim has the honour of being Patron to a significant number of Central Coast community groups covering many activities.

Jim played a major role in the re-opening of the old Pacific Highway and has a special interest in the employment needs of young people.  Jim is a keen sporting enthusiast and successfully lobbied the Federal Government for over $12 million dollars to build the Central Coast Stadium. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Central Coast Business Incubator and is very involved in attracting businesses and more local jobs to the Central Coast. Jim, with the support of Central Coast residents, successfully gained over $80 million in Federal Government funding to ‘Widen the F3’, (the major transport corridor from Sydney to Newcastle). This made way for a safer and easier access to the Sydney CBD for Central Coast commuters.

Cr Kevin Hill, Bankstown City Council National President of the Australian Sister Cities Association President of Bankstown Frail Aged Care Ltd. Managing Director of the K&C Agencies Group.   I was first elected to Council in 1977 and have represented East Ward for the past 30 years. I served a term as Deputy Mayor before becoming Mayor in 1985 through 1988, in 1992/3, from 1996 till 1998 and then 2000/2001.

I am a local businessman and resident, who has lived in Greenacre for almost 50 years. I am married to Cheryl and we have three children who all attended local schools. Both our families have a long association with Bankstown. Cheryl's grandparents and my grandparents both settled onto Bankstown properties almost 100 years ago.

I believe the volunteers of our society are the heart and soul of our community. Sporting bodies, service clubs, licensed clubs, P&C groups, church groups, progress associations and community groups are the backbone of Bankstown.

My vision is to be able to offer a better Bankstown to future generations with a greener and leafier City offering a healthier lifestyle plus a safer, more tolerant community. This will ensure the adults of tomorrow will be as proud of Bankstown as I am.

Japan Local Government Centre

Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) Forum

Program at CLAIR website

Mr Hiroshi Ueda

Senior Managing Director, CLAIR Tokyo

Mr Ueda attended Tokyo University where he studied law before entering the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 1976. He worked for Mie Prefectural Government as the Vice Governor from 1999 to 2002 and then returned to the Ministry as Director of the Local Public Service Personnel Bureau. He was seconded to CLAIR Tokyo in August 2007.

Mr Kazutoshi Inadome

Deputy Consul-General of Japan, Sydney

Mr Inadome joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and has held overseas posts in New Zealand, India, Denmark, New York and Australia. He has been Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Sydney since June 2007.

Mr Mitsuhiro Oriuchi

Director of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Division, Niseko Town Office

Mr Oriuchi joined Niseko Town Office in 1977 and has been engaged in the Tourism section as an Assistant Director of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Division since 1995.

Alderman Kerry Moir

President, NT Local Government Association

Ald. Moir was elected to Darwin City Council in 1992 as representative for the Chan Ward. Currently the Director of the International Branch in the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training, she has worked extensively across the Education and Human Resources fields. Her interests include good governance and she has chaired various technical, community and corporate services committees for council.

Mr Ryuichi Sato

Mayor of Niseko

Mr Sato joined Niseko Town Office in 1972 and has been engaged in the establishment of hiking trails in the Annupuri wilderness area and Tourist Information Centres. In order to ensure the maintenance of tourism beyond the winter snow-sports season, he has taken leadership in supporting the launch of Outdoor Sports Companies. In 2005 he was elected Mayor and has since worked with farmers and business to promote local production for local consumption and regional branding.

Mr Ross Findlay

Managing Director, Niseko Adventure Centre

Mr Findlay is Managing Director of Niseko Adventure Centre, Japan. The Centre houses a climbing wall, café and outdoor equipment shop and runs outdoor activities throughout the year including rafting, mountain biking and back country ski tours. Through his unique adventure centre and very popular programs, Ross has been a leader in Niseko’s development as an outdoor adventure tourism destination.

Mr Gary Smith

Managing Director, Tourism Leisure Corporation Pty Ltd, QLD

Mr Smith has been actively involved in the development of King Fisher Bay resort as a leader in the field of eco-tourism since its inception in 1987 and is currently a Board Member of Ecotourism Australia. From 2003 to January 2007 he was an independent director of the tourism company S8 Limited. He is currently Chairman of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and a Member of Queensland Tourism Strategy Steering Committee.

Mr Richard Doyle

Director, Asia/Japan Aviation & Cruise, Tourism NT

Richard Doyle is State Tourism Organisation representative to the Australian Tourism Export Council’s Japan Policy Panel and Chairman of Cruise Down Under.

Mr Haruhiko Niihori

Tourism Tropical North Queensland General Manager Japan/Guam

Haruhiko Niihori has been involved in the full range of Australia-Japan tourism marketing activities including destination marketing for Australian Government State and Regional Tourism Organizations.

Mr Allan McGill

Chief Executive Officer, Darwin City Council

Mr McGill has extensive experience in NT Local Government, previously as CEO of Katherine and Alice Springs Councils, and as Town Clerk of the Milikapiti Community Council on Melville Island. He has also acted as Chairman of the Local Government Industry Training Committee and as Convenor of the Northern Territory Local Government Association Industrial Relations Committee. He is currently a member of the Ministerial Advisory Board on Employment and Training.

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