The event aims to advance digital transformation and resilience initiatives across Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
A COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT ON DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
The event aims to advance digital transformation and resilience initiatives across Pacific Island Countries (PICs). It will focus on fostering partnerships between governments, development partners, and the private sector to enhance digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital public services in the Pacific.
The event will feature knowledge sharing, digital ecosystem showcases, and brainstorming sessions, with a focus on the transformative potential of digital technologies in enhancing digital resilience in the region.
Data X Blue Pacific seeks to build momentum toward sustainable digital growth and greater regional cooperation in the Pacific aligned with 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy and Lagatoi Declaration.
It is organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) with funding support from New Zealand Pacific Partnership Fund (NZ PPF).
You can download a full PDF of the conference program by clicking here.
You can Register Here.
Time | Session Title | Speakers and Topics | Presentations | Video | |
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9:00am–10:00am | Opening Remarks |
Shane Rosenthal, Regional Director, PLCO, ADB |
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10:00am – 10:30am | Introduction of Participants |
ADB CO Staff introduce themselves and their respective Country delegates. PRIF Partners introduce their delegates. |
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11:00am – 12:30pm | Setting the Scene for Digital Transformation in the Pacific |
Framing presentation. Widespread access to mobile telephone networks and the internet came late to the Pacific, compared to many parts of the world. There have been many changes and improvements in the past decade or two. Nonetheless, access to, and uptake of, telecommunications vary between Pacific Island nations. This brief presentation sets the scene by outlining the digital connectivity status of the Pacific region. It identifies key challenges and points to efforts being made to strive for ubiquity of access. The term ‘digital transformation’ has become popular in the Pacific in recent years and the presentation will summarize opportunities such as e-government and e-commerce. Dr. Amanda Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU Overview of the Digital Economy and AI relevant to the development of Pacific Island Nations. This session will introduce the current landscape of the digital technology and how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive transformative economic development in Pacific Island nations. It will cover the fundamental concepts of AI, explore global trends in AI and digital transformation, and discuss practical applications that can support Pacific Island nations' development objectives. Following the presentation, a facilitated discussion will explore key opportunities and challenges for AI adoption in the Pacific, with a focus on capacity building, infrastructure, and policy frameworks. Dr. Stefan Hajkowicz, Principal Scientist in Strategy and Foresight, CSIRO |
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13:30pm – 14:30pm | Hard Digital Infrastructure: Submarine Cables |
This panel discussion provides a comprehensive overview of the Pacific Islands’ digital infrastructure. Digital infrastructure is an essential driver for economic growth, innovation, social development, and digital transformation. The panel discussion convenes experts to discuss the infrastructure required to support an open, interoperable, secure, and trusted digital ecosystem. The panelists will discuss opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions that might accelerate the growth and advancement of the region's digital infrastructure, ultimately contributing to economic growth and the priorities Pacific Island Countries have identified. Dr. Amanda Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU (Moderator) |
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2:30pm – 3:30pm | Hard Digital Infrastructure: Data Centers, Telecommunications, & Private Sector Investment |
This panel discussion provides a comprehensive overview of the Pacific Islands’ digital infrastructure. Digital infrastructure is an essential driver for economic growth, innovation, social development, and digital transformation. The panel discussion convenes experts to discuss the infrastructure required to support an open, interoperable, secure, and trusted digital ecosystem. The panelists will discuss opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions that might accelerate the growth and advancement of the region's digital infrastructure, ultimately contributing to economic growth and the priorities Pacific Island Countries have identified. David Lloyd, Senior Investment Executive, Pacific Private Sector – Suva, Fiji; Consultant, PSOD, ADB (Moderator) |
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4:00pm – 5:30pm | Data Governance and Management |
The panel will bring together experts to discuss domestic, regional, and global efforts to promote consistency and interoperability in data transfers. This panel will aim to capture some of the data privacy and international data transfer developments across the Pacific Islands and discuss the path forward for data governance and management. Dr. Ian Oppermann, Co-Founder ServiceGen; Former NSW Government Chief Data Scientist |
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Time | Session Title | Speakers and Topics | Presentations | Video | |
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9:00am – 10:00am | Financing Opportunities to Support Digital Transformation in the Blue Pacific |
During this panel, PRIF partners will provide an overview of their respective organization’s funding mechanisms in support of the Blue Pacific’s digital transformation vision. Said Zaidansyah, Country Director, Papua New Guinea Resident Mission, ADB |
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10:30am – 11:00am | Capacity Building and Adapting to Change - Practical Multi- Stakeholder Collaboration in the Pacific |
Paul Twomey, PRIF (Consultant) (Moderator) Now that we have the Cables: Capacity Building and Adapting to Change - Practical Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration in the Pacific for a Better Internet. The Wellington Forum was a high-level discussion on approaches to improve multi-stakeholder contributions to the practical development of the Internet in the Pacific Islands. The two-day Forum brought together donors, technical community and PIC Internet coordination organisations forum to share what they are doing and their needs. The Country Code operators for Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Cook Islands participated; as did a number of cybersecurity experts. The Wellington Forum was a rich environment for consulting stakeholders and mapping present efforts and needs. Bruce Tonkin, COO, auDA |
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11:00am – 11:45am | Regional Lessons from implementation of the PALM scheme |
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from 9 Pacific islands and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available. Jordan Duffy, CIO of Pacific Labour Facility (Consultant) |
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11:45am – 12:30pm | Stocktake of Regional initiatives in Digital Transformation |
Summary of reports over last decade issues/opportunities lessons learned so far, Criteria for decision-making, Opportunities. Paul Twomey, PRIF (Consultant) |
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1:30pm–2:30pm | Soft Infrastructure progress in PICs (Digital ID, eGovernment, etc.) |
James Neumann, World Bank (Moderator & Presenter) |
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2:30pm – 3:30pm | Brainstorming – Identifying country needs and aligning with 2050 Strategy and Lagatoi Declaration |
The Pacific ICT Ministerial Dialogue 2023 brought together ICT Ministers and Heads of Delegation from across the Pacific Island Countries and Territories to foster collaboration, discuss challenges, and chart a course for the digital future of the region. The highlight of the event was the signing of the Lagatoi Declaration on Digital Transformation of the Pacific. Pedro Tavares, Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation), CCDT, ADB |
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4:00pm – 5:30pm | IoT, Digital Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Initiatives in the Pacific |
Mohan Baruwal Chhetri, Data 61 Recent developments in Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and the digital infrastructure needed Luke Slattery, Director, Telecommunications Policy, Connectivity and Infrastructure Policy Digital infrastructure, digital development, cloud solutions, cybersecurity matters and policy concerns Hayley Kim, Policy Officer – Digital and Cyber Security, Development Economy and Prosperity (DEVECO) Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) |
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Time | Session Title | Speakers and Topics | Presentations | Video | |
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9:00am – 10:30am | Climate services and ICT linkages |
Showcase digital applications in effectively disseminating climate services in the region. Paolo Manunta, Senior Digital Technology Specialist (Earth Observation), CCDT, ADB (Moderator & Presenter “Geospatial ADB initiatives and opportunities”) Mahesh Prakash Data 61, CSIRO Data-driven and AI-enabled approaches for climate and hazard forecasting. This session will delve into the use of data science and AI for climate and natural hazard forecasting. It will demonstrate how cutting-edge AI models can predict extreme weather events, such as cyclones and floods, and their potential impacts on Pacific communities and infrastructure. Real-world case studies wil show how these technologies have been applied in other regions to improve disaster preparedness and resilience. Patricia Mallam, Knowledge Broker, Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications Programme, Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme |
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11:00am - 12:30pm | Digital Capacity Building and Skills Development |
Sajib Azad, Digital Governance Specialist, Digital Democracy Manager, UNDP UNDP, UNCDF & PDEP John Jack, Deputy, CIO, OGCIO, Vanuatu Lessons from ITU Smart Island Smart Village pilot South Malekula and Next Steps The Smart Villages and Smart Islands model is based on a whole-of-government approach and is demand-driven, user-centric, flexible, and focused on sustainability, scalability, and multi-sector collaboration. It is designed to manifest digital transformation at the community level, to leave no one behind. The approach focuses on four key pillars (i) improving broadband connectivity Sarah Sloan, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, ANZ and Indonesia Palo Alto Networks “Pacific Island Cyber Preparedness Series: Lessons from Cook Islands.” This program represents the inaugural phase of a comprehensive cybersecurity improvement initiative for the region, laying the foundation for ongoing discussions and progress. Pacific participants will gain a high-level understanding of cybersecurity issues and imperatives, effective approaches to manage cyber risk, the global cyber threat environment as well as key Dulip Tillekeratne, Strategic Partnerships Director, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation GSMA Capacity Building Initiatives |
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1:30pm–2:30pm | Sharing of Highlights & Actions for Next Steps |
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2:30pm – 3:00pm | Plenary: Concluding Remarks |
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3:00pm | Hard Stop at Collider Venue |
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3:30pm - 5:30pm | Opportunity for Bilateral meetings at ADB Pacific Liaison Coordination Office |
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Time | Session Title | Speakers and Topics | Presentations | Video | |
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9:00am – 10:30am | ADB Reflection and Ideation |
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11:00am – 12:30pm | Way forward (business development, technical assistance, P2P Learning, etc.) |
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2:00pm – 3:30pm | Wrap up and farewell |
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