In addition, more than 85 companies will be exhibiting at the event, which is to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on April 15-18.

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.

APPEA 2007’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.