Organisers said the conference would provide strategic directions for the 2003/4 price negotiations with papers from industry leaders outlining the key challenges ahead.

Confirmed speakers for this event include:

Gerard McCloskey, chairman, The McCloskey Group

Grant Thorne, managing director, Pacific Coal

Gary Goldberg, managing director, Coal and Allied

Tom Kuzman, managing director, Wesfarmers Curragh

Peter Demura, chief ecomomist, BHP Billiton

Neil Bristow, chief analyst – carbon steel materials, BHP Billiton

Rod Beddows, chairman, Hatch Consulting

Jim Lennon, commodity strategist, Macquarie Bank

Allan Davies, director, Excel

Richard Gibbs, chief economist, Macquarie Bank

Chris Baker, senior resources analyst, Colonial First State Investments

Ugo Cario, managing director, Austral Coal

Ken Talbot, managing director, Macarthur Coal

Bob Cameron, managing director, Centennial Coal

Peter Winder, general manager coal, Pacific National

David George, group general manager coal & freight services, Queensland Rail

Professor Don Barnett, managing director, Minec

David Brewer, general manager, Port Waratah Coal Services

Leo Zussino, general manager, Gladstone Port Authority

David Price, director, The McCloskey Group

For further information see: www.ibcoz.com.au/coalforecast03