Early Bird registrations are no longer available but standard registrations are still available.

According to APPEA, this year about 1200 participants are expected to attend and more than 85 companies and organisations will be exhibiting.

This year’s conference has the theme of “Exploring, Reforming, Performing” and will have a focus on exploration, policy and regulation, and using new approaches to optimise opportunities, production and business management.

The focus on policy is timely in 2007, a federal election year, as politicians, lobby groups and the voting public is becoming more interested in the changing landscape of Australia’s energy sector, according to APPEA.

“The 2007 event coincides with a sea change in high level interest by consumers and politicians, not just industry specialists and policy professionals, in the big energy questions – and they want answers,” says APPEA chairman Colin Beckett.

The conference program aims to help delegates develop some of these answers by providing a wide range of relevant topics and an extensive list of high-powered speakers.

“The 2007 program will be relevant, educational and a catalyst for new business opportunities,” Beckett says.

“Delegates will mix with chief executives, technical, commercial and legal professionals, business development and marketing managers, government representatives and consultants, from Australia and abroad.”

The conference’s technical and commercial program will cover such issues as new gas technologies; developments in geophysical and geochemical technologies; new approaches in reservoir modelling; investment challenges in exploration; improving regulatory terms; and sources of Australian liquefied natural gas.

Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources Ian Macfarlane, and South Australian Premier Mike Rann will address the conference, as will the Western Australian Government’s development approvals coordinator, Brendon Hammond.

Leading oil and gas industry figures such as Greater Gorgon Area general manager and APPEA chairman Colin Beckett and Santos managing director John Ellice-Flint will also present to delegates.

Academic and industry experts addressing APPEA 2007 include: veteran consultant Peter Gaffney of Gaffney, Cline & Associates; Rare Consulting principal Mark McKenzie, an expert on alternative fuels and natural gas for road transport; and Rockefeller University Program for the Human Environment director Jesse Ausubel.

Other speakers include WWF chief executive Greg Bourne, who is also a former chief executive of BP Australia; Productivity Commission head Michael Woods; National Native Title Tribunal president Graeme Neate; and Australian Industry Greenhouse Network chief executive John Daley.

The speakers program will end with a bang on Wednesday afternoon.

“We’ve revised the schedule for the final afternoon,” APPEA events director Julie Hood said.

“We axed the afternoon concurrent session and have put on more sessions in the morning. Delegates will have a later but longer lunch, from 1pm until 3pm. Then we will finish with two hard-hitting presentations from Belinda Robinson and Michael Economides.”

University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering professor and Energy Tribune editor-in-chief Dr Michael Economides, who is renowned as a provocative speaker, will speak on energy geopolitics.

He will be followed by APPEA chief executive Belinda Robinson who will give the closing address, an outline of industry perspectives and future directions.

The APPEA conference program also includes the widely attended annual acreage release and the lively small independents forum. In addition, the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA) farm-in seminar will be held on the morning of Sunday April 15.

Warm southern welcome sets congenial tone for APPEA 2007

APPEA 2007’s social and networking events kick-off with the Welcome Reception on Sunday April 15, which is based on the theme of “Southern Delights” and will offer fine South Australian foods and beverages.

Early in the day, delegates and their partners can undertake a full-day tour of the McLaren Vale wine region or a half-day “Dolphins and Kayaks” tour.

Once the conference proper begins, all delegates can also attend casual lunches and early evening happy hours on Monday April 16 and Tuesday April 17.

The event also offers a James Bond-themed conference dinner on the Tuesday night and a sit-down conference lunch on Wednesday afternoon, which has free seating to maximise opportunities to network and socialise.

The conference will wind up with the “Torrens at Twilight” event: farewell cocktails at the Adelaide Convention Centre overlooking the Torrens River.

Immediately after the conference, delegates can also participate in the Peninsula Paddle, a full-day sea kayaking excursion along the shores of the Fleurieu Peninsula, or play in the 2007 Australian Oilfield Golf Tournament (AOGT), which will be held at Flagstaff Hill on Thursday April 19 and Royal Adelaide on Friday April 20.

APPEA has also organised a varied partners’ program.

See the APPEA conference brochure or www.appea2007.com.au for details.