The City of Cockburn has announced the appointment of a new CEO, who will quickly be put to the test hosting a number of dignitaries, government and industry representatives, and local businesses, at an international conference.
Less than ten days after his official start, Daniel Simms will be called upon to host representatives from across South-East Asia at the annual Cockburn Global conference on 11 October.
Building on the success of the City of Cockburn’s Indonesia-focused Digital Exchange Forum in December 2022, and a subsequent trade delegation, the Cockburn Global conference expands its scope to include the key export markets of Singapore and Vietnam.
Held at the AMC Jakovich Function Centre, the one-day event will provide an opportunity for businesses in Cockburn’s industrial hubs to explore bilateral trade and investment prospects across a range of sectors, including, health and medical, education and vocational training, sustainability, digital innovation, financial services and the blue economy.
In more than two decades with the City of Wanneroo, Mr Simms drove business investment to support a strong local economy and deliver major infrastructure projects.
Mr Simms said that the conference represented an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the City of Cockburn’s future.
“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are members, is projected to be the world’s fourth-largest global economy by 2050,” Mr Simms said.
“The City of Cockburn already generates almost $6 billion in domestic and international exports, but we have the infrastructure, innovation and assets for that figure to grow significantly.
“The Cockburn Global conference offers rare access to the expertise and insights of the ASEAN government and business leaders who can help take Cockburn’s economy into the future.”
Mr Simms will be presenting at the conference alongside Nguyen Thanh Ha, the Consul General of Vietnam in Western Australia and Northern Territory; Listiana Operananta, the Consul General of Indonesia to Western Australia in Perth; and Rochelle Yap, Second Secretary (Political) of the Singapore High Commission.
City of Cockburn Mayor, Logan Howlett, who will also be a speaker at the event, said Cockburn Global was a perfect opportunity to introduce Mr Simms to the local business community.
“Cockburn Global is an important step in our region’s continued expansion into south-east Asia,” Mr Howlett said.
“We’re thrilled to have a chief executive officer as well credentialed as Daniel Simms to help lead us into the next stage of the City of Cockburn’s economic future.”
As well as government figures, the conference will feature representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, the ASEAN Business Alliance, the Australian Indonesian Business Council, Indonesian Investment Promotion Centre and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce WA.
The conference will add to the momentum generated by increased attention on Asian engagement from both the State and Federal Governments.
