Australian Grains Industry Conference Program
Weathering Risks: Creating Opportunities
The 2011 Australian Grains Industry Conference will again gather leaders from industry, government and international markets to address global commodity and consumer trends, explore technological advances and identify opportunities for the grains industry.
The 2011 Australian Grains Industry Conference has a number of high profile international speakers and local identities.
Related Events
The Australian Grains Industry Conference will once again host a number of related events. These include:
- Grain Trade Australia Common Interest Forum
- Australian Oilseeds Federation Standards Meeting
- Australian Oilseeds Federation General Meeting
- Pulse Australia Crop Reference Forum
Note: these events are not included in the conference registration. Contact the relevant organisations directly for information about these meetings
Social Events
Welcome Drinks
Monday 25 July 2011
The Welcome Drinks has established a reputation as a fun way to kick off the conference and a valuable networking tool. The Welcome Drinks function will be held at the Crown Promenade Hotel in the exhibition area.
Conference Dinner
Tuesday 26 July 2011
The Conference Dinner has been a sell out event for the past two years. It is the key social event of the conference, an important networking event and an opportunity for delegates to relax and enjoy the company of colleagues and friends.
This year the dinner has moved to a new and larger venue – AAMI Park. The Conference organisers encourages you to invite customers, suppliers, colleagues and partners to attend the dinner.
MC - Ian Cover
Ian Cover is a member of ABC Radio's Coodabeen Champions, now in their 23rd year of broadcasting. The Coodabeens present a football show on Saturdays (noon-1pm) and a national talk/music program on Sundays (7-9pm).
Throughout his journalist career, Ian has written for all Melbourne's daily and weekend papers as well as writing columns for sports magazines.
As an author, Ian has written two books with the Coodabeens and a best seller about the 1993 Ashes series with former Australian Test cricket star Merv Hughes. Apart from his radio work with the Coodabeens, Ian has worked in breakfast radio in tandem with John Blackman on 3UZ and with John "Sam" Newman and Darren James on 3AW.
A long-time unofficial ambassador for his hometown Geelong, Ian formalised that role in 1996 when he was elected as the Member for Geelong Province in the Victorian Parliament. As a Liberal member, Ian served in the Kennett Government for three years before moving to the Opposition benches in 1999 where he served as Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs and as Shadow Minister for Racing. Following his defeat in the November 2002 election, Ian has returned to media and public speaking work.
He is into his 15th year as resident compere of the Pivots coterie at the Geelong Football Club as well as hosting the Cats' major functions. For 10 years he was the Victorian Cricket Association's in-house MC playing a key role in establishing the Lindsay Hassett Club as Melbourne's premier corporate sports lunch.
Dinner Speaker - Anh Do: The “Inspirational Comedian”
Anh Do is one of Australia’s most popular and well- loved comedians. Recently you’ve seen Anh on Thank God You’re Here, Spicks and Specks and Rove Live. Many of you might also have seen Anh in any of his 5 feature film roles, including starring opposite Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving.
Anh’s immense popularity and suitability as a corporate entertainer probably has to do with his dark and shameful past. Anh started out as a lawyer. After studying law and commerce for 5 years Anh got job offers from both law and accounting firms. He could’ve been Australia’s funniest accountant or even Western Sydney’s most charismatic Lawyer. He turned down both to become a comedian and has since won every comedy award in NSW – Anh is the only comedian to have ever achieved this feat.
The story begins in the Indian Ocean - 1980. An 8 metre fishing boat with 47 Vietnamese Refugees cramped in like sardines. A two year old boy is sick from de-hydration, his desperate mother can do nothing to help him – water ran out days ago, and so far one person has died. Fast forward to Australia - 2008. The little boy is 30 years old and has been voted Comedian of the Year.
The ups and downs, trials and tribulations, difficulties and successes of a refugee during those 2 decades makes for an incredible and amazing inspirational tale that will have you gripped with emotion one minute and then howling with laughter the next.
Dinner Entertainment - Masquerade
Australia’s freshest corporate cover band. Fun, energetic and with a passion for delivering the hottest live shows in town, Masquerade sets a new standard for Australian entertainment.
Combining the talents of 6 of Australia’s most sought-after musicians, it’s members boast global experience, having performed worldwide and in support of a massive range of internationally acclaimed artists. Masquerade is quality musicianship at its finest, fronted by the charismatic one-two punch of Andy Grant and Shay Liza on vocals.
Think MJ, Eurythmics, Queen and Madonna. Add everything through to Beyoncé, Robbie Williams and Sneaky Sound System – and you’re in for just a small taste of the energy of this band. Masquerade turn up the heat with classic dance floor hits of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s as well as an ever-expanding list of today’s hottest hits.
