The event aims to advance digital transformation and resilience initiatives across Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

A COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The event aims to advance digital transformation and resilience initiatives across Pacific Island Countries (PICs). It will focus on fostering partnerships between governments, development partners, and the private sector to enhance digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital public services in the Pacific. 

The event will feature knowledge sharing, digital ecosystem showcases, and brainstorming sessions, with a focus on the transformative potential of digital technologies in enhancing digital resilience in the region. 

Data X Blue Pacific seeks to build momentum toward sustainable digital growth and greater regional cooperation in the Pacific aligned with 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy and Lagatoi Declaration.

It is organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) with funding support from New Zealand Pacific Partnership Fund (NZ PPF). 

You can download a full PDF of the conference program by clicking here.

You can Register Here.

Time Session Title Speakers and Topics Presentations Video
9:00am–10:00am

Opening Remarks

Shane Rosenthal, Regional Director, PLCO, ADB
Antonio Zaballos, Director, CCDT, ADB (online)
Dr. Robert Guild, Team Leader, PRIF Coordination Office
Tanya Morjanoff, Director, Infrastructure Policy and Engagement Section, DFAT
Katherine Halliburton, Lead Advisor - Digital; Pacific and Development Group, MFAT
Kim Tuminaro, Deputy Director, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s Office of International Information and Communications Policy, US Department of State



10:00am – 10:30am

Introduction of Participants

ADB CO Staff introduce themselves and their respective Country delegates. PRIF Partners introduce their delegates.



11:00am – 12:30pm

Setting the Scene for Digital Transformation in the Pacific

Dr. Amanda Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU
Dr. Stefan Hajkowicz, Principal Scientist in Strategy and Foresight, CSIRO



13:30pm – 14:30pm

Hard Digital Infrastructure: Submarine Cables

Dr. Amanda Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU (Moderator)
Susanne Bent, Director, Telecommunications Unit, AIFFP, DFAT AIFFP submarine cable projects
Kim Tuminaro, Deputy Director, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s Office of International Information and Communications Policy, US Department of State
Shirshendu Bhattacharya, Global Submarine Product & Service Innovation Lead, Google
Sonia Jorge, Founder and Executive Director, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership



2:30pm – 3:30pm

Hard Digital Infrastructure: Data Centers, Telecommunications, & Private Sector Investment

David Lloyd, Senior Investment Executive, Pacific Private Sector – Suva, Fiji; Consultant, PSOD, ADB (Moderator)
Simon Fletcher, Managing Director, Prima Ltd
Tahani Iqbal, Digital Development Specialist, ADB
lvan Fong, CEO, ATH Group (Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Ltd)
Jacques-Samuel Prolon, Executive Vice President - Corporate Development, Kacific



4:00pm – 5:30pm

Data Governance and Management

Dr. Ian Oppermann, Co-Founder ServiceGen; Former NSW Government Chief Data Scientist
Mohammad Chowdhury, Long Street Advisors (DFAT Consultant)
Kim Tuminaro, Deputy Director, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s Office of International Information and Communications Policy, US Department of State
Mr. Jonathan Palmer, Consultant, Data Governance for Digital Transformation, APCICT



Time Session Title Speakers and Topics Presentations Video
9:00am – 10:00am

Financing Opportunities to Support Digital Transformation in the Blue Pacific

Said Zaidansyah, Country Director, Papua New Guinea Resident Mission, ADB
Jung Ho Kim, Principal Operations Coordination Specialist, Pacific Department, ADB
Tanya Morjanoff, Director, Infrastructure Policy and Engagement Section, DFAT



10:30am – 11:00am

Capacity Building and Adapting to Change - Practical Multi- Stakeholder Collaboration in the Pacific

Paul Twomey, PRIF (Consultant) (Moderator)
Bruce Tonkin, COO, auDA
Jane Smith, Chief People and Culture Officer, auDA



11:00am – 11:45am

Regional Lessons from implementation of the PALM scheme

Jordan Duffy, CIO of Pacific Labour Facility (Consultant)



11:45am – 12:30pm

Stocktake of Regional initiatives in Digital Transformation

Paul Twomey, PRIF (Consultant)



1:30pm–2:30pm

Soft Infrastructure progress in PICs (Digital ID, eGovernment, etc.)

James Neumann, World Bank (Moderator & Presenter) 
Jeff Montgomery, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Adviser for the Pacific Community (SPC) 
Krisstina Rao & David Eaves, DPI Map Project



2:30pm – 3:30pm

Brainstorming – Identifying country needs and aligning with 2050 Strategy and Lagatoi Declaration

The Pacific ICT Ministerial Dialogue 2023 brought together ICT Ministers and Heads of Delegation from across the Pacific Island Countries and Territories to foster collaboration, discuss challenges, and chart a course for the digital future of the region. The highlight of the event was the signing of the Lagatoi Declaration on Digital Transformation of the Pacific.

Pedro Tavares, Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation), CCDT, ADB



4:00pm – 5:30pm

IoT, Digital Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Initiatives in the Pacific

Mohan Baruwal Chhetri, Data 61 CSIRO

Luke Slattery, Director, Telecommunications Policy, Connectivity and Infrastructure Policy
Branch, DFAT
Mitchell Dunn, Director, Pacific Cyber Cooperation, Internation Security Division, DFAT
Hayley Kim, Policy Officer – Digital and Cyber Security, Development Economy and Prosperity (DEVECO) Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Kim Tuminaro, Deputy Director, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy’s Office of International Information and Communications Policy, US Department of State
Anju Mangal, Chief of Party, USAID Pacific Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity
John Avila, Senior Economic Growth Specialist, Office of Economic Development and Governance, USAID Philippines Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP)



Time Session Title Speakers and Topics Presentations Video
9:00am – 10:30am

Climate services and ICT linkages

Paolo Manunta, Senior Digital Technology Specialist (Earth Observation), CCDT, ADB (Moderator & Presenter “Geospatial ADB initiatives and opportunities”)
Mahesh Prakash Data 61, CSIRO
Patricia Mallam, Knowledge Broker, Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications Programme, Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Bruce M. Howe, Research Professor, Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering (ORE), School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)
Dulip Tillekeratne, Strategic Partnerships Director, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation GSMA & EW4All



11:00am - 12:30pm

Digital Capacity Building and Skills Development

Sajib Azad, Digital Governance Specialist, Digital Democracy Manager, UNDP
Ali Akram, Regional Programme Manager (IDE), UNCDF 
John Jack, Deputy, CIO, OGCIO, Vanuatu
Dalsie Green Baniala, National Project Manager, Smart Islands
Sarah Sloan, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, ANZ and Indonesia Palo Alto Networks “Pacific Island Cyber Preparedness Series: Lessons from the Cook Islands".
Dulip Tillekeratne, Strategic Partnerships Director, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation GSMA Capacity Building Initiatives



1:30pm–2:30pm

Sharing of Highlights & Actions for Next Steps



2:30pm – 3:00pm

Plenary: Concluding Remarks



3:30pm - 5:30pm

Opportunity for Bilateral meetings at ADB Pacific Liaison Coordination Office

Directions to ADB PLCO