The 2021 Arab-Australian International Business & Corporate Law Conference, convened by Associate Professors Vivienne Brand and Hossein Esmaeili, enjoyed significant international reach through livestreaming – attracting over 150 delegates from around the world.
The event, held on Tuesday 20 April in Flinders Victoria Square, featured input from four Arab nations’ Ambassadors in Australia – from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt and Oman – who addressed the conference, which was followed by Keynote and feature talks by distinguished Australian and Middle Eastern business executives, consultants, legal practitioners, legal scholars, judges and academics.
Flinders University Vice President and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Sebastian Raneskold introduced the Ambassadors at the event, while Professor Michael Gilding, Executive Dean of BGL, delivered the welcome address to the delegates.
Featured speakers included the Honourable Wayne Martin AC, QC, Judge at Dubai International Financial Centre; Rita Jaballah, Partner and Head of International Litigation Group Al Tamimi &Co (which has offices in 12 Arab countries); Dr Kieren Moffat, CEO and Co-Founder of Voconiq Engagement Science Insights; Professor Susan Karamanian, Dean of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar; and Soufiane Rboub, Board Member, Council of Arab-Australian Relations at Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Chair of Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Associate Professor Tania Leiman acknowledged Country and delivered a paper on the “Legal Implications of Automated Vehicles: Arab Australian Regulatory Response”. Professor Chris Kee was also a keynote speaker, talking on “Educational Development of Arbitration in the Arab Region and Australia”.
The Conference organisers, including Project Manager Kerri Thomas, will produce additional outcomes and outputs in coming months, including exploring further international collaboration on the themes of the conference.
The conference was funded by the Council of Arab-Australian Relations (DFAT) and was also supported by the College of Business, Government and Law, and Flinders University.