David Michael grew up in Tuart Hill and is dedicated to serving the community. He has lived locally his entire life and went to Tuart Hill Primary School and Servite College. He is a life member of the Tuart Hill Cricket Club, a board member of Tuart Hill Primary School, and a patron of the Osborne Park Bowling Club.

David studied Economics at the University of Western Australia and while at University he joined both the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Republican Movement.

At 25 years old, David was voted in as the youngest Councillor the City of Stirling has ever had. He held that role for 12 years, including two years as Deputy Mayor, before being elected to State Parliament as the Member for Balcatta in March 2017.

In 2021 David was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier after previously serving as the Government Whip in the Legislative Assembly for his first term of Parliament.

Fernando Guerra Alves is the Director of the Industry and Technology Departments at the French Embassy, Trade Commission for Australia and New Zealand.

In this role, he advances French collaborations and corporate interests across key sectors such as mining, and advanced manufacturing. Fernando brings his extensive experience in international cooperation, development in key sovereign sectors with a focus on mining industry expansion. He oversees all official industry and tech related business missions to Australia and has facilitated the growth of over 300 space companies in the region.

Fernando has worked in France, England, Argentina, Brazil and speaks French, English and Portuguese. He holds a double master’s degree in science from the University of Leeds & Business Management from the University of Sydney.

Rohan Watts is an experienced senior project and operations leader in iron ore, alumina and aluminium smelting. He has extensive experience in major project development, industrial operations line management, HSEC, maintenance, lean manufacturing and engineering. A leader in driving innovation, Rohan has led large multi-disciplined study teams on all project development phases through to board approval with significant results in project cost reduction.

In his current role as WA Marketing Leader – Mining for global consulting firm, GHD, Rohan is focused on engagement with GHD’s existing and prospective mining clients, providing him with a broad view of the challenges and opportunities across the industry.

Dr Yves LAFOY completed a PhD in Pacific Marine sciences in France and worked in Japan and Fiji before being recruited by New Caledonia in 1991. As a France – New Zealand dual national and a New Caledonian citizen, he held senior positions with the Department of Industry, Mines and Energy and, since 2005, with the Department of Regional Cooperation and External Relations.

Yves LAFOY has represented New Caledonia at numerous technical and political fora in the Pacific region, and has a specialized knowledge and experience of the region’s geopolitical landscape. From 2009 to 2017, Yves LAFOY oversaw New Caledonia’s role and activities with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and its member countries, being instrumental in New Caledonia’s admission as a full member of the PIF in 2016.

In 2009, he was seconded for 3 years to New Zealand’s Ministry of Research and Technology (MoRST) and to the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), to investigate and implement avenues of bilateral cooperation with New Zealand in the field of environmental sciences.

In November 2012, Yves LAFOY was appointed “Official Representative of New Caledonia to New Zealand” when New Caledonia opened its first representation in the Pacific, within the French Embassy in Wellington. From 2012 to 2018, in his capacity as New Caledonia’s permanent representative to New Zealand, Yves LAFOY has implemented the Joint cooperation Plan signed in 2016 between the governments of New Caledonia and New Zealand.

On January 14, 2019, Dr LAFOY was appointed “Official Representative of New Caledonia to Australia”, to head the New Caledonia Delegation based at the Embassy of France in Canberra. His role and attributions aim at reinforcing the political dialogue between New Caledonia and Australia, and to growing cooperation in economy and trade, science and innovation, and culture and education.

Jerome is the President of the French Australian Chamber of Commerce, Western Australia Chapter, and the Managing Director at Profluid.

Over 12 years of experience in Project Management, Business development, Sales and Management roles abroad and in Australia for global reach group of companies. With a background in Engineering and Project Management, Jerome has been responsible for implementing and nurturing new business lines for international companies. He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical manufacturing & Industrial Systems and a Master Degree of Mechanical Engineering.

Stephanie Morley is Trade and Investment Commissioner for the French Trade Commission, Business France, for Australia.
She leads a team of senior business development experts to facilitate trade, research and development collaboration and investment opportunities in Australia.

Business France is the government led agency supporting the international development of the French economy. Based in Sydney, Business France provides support to assist 150+ French companies each year.

Stephanie has 25 years’ experience in economic diplomacy, international trade and investment and project management with government bodies.

Prior to joining Australia, Stephanie has gained an extensive multi-sectoral knowledge, with a key focus on the technology sector, in assisting French companies to evaluate and identify business opportunities in Europe.

Stephanie Morley has spent several years working in the UK, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia and speaks French, English and Russian.

Warren is an experienced leader with a proven record of achievement working in both the public and private sectors. He has held a number of senior advocacy positions including at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, the WA Local Government Association, and prior to joining AMEC was the Chief Executive Officer of Local Government Professionals WA. Before his career in advocacy, Warren served as a Senior Adviser in the Gallop and Carpenter WA Governments.