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Western Australia's premier forum on questions of regional significance, In the Zone, extends the zone narrative beyond Perth today with its first venture into Asia to commence this year's discussions on Capital Ideas for the 21 ^st Century.

In launching the In the Zone ‘15 at the headquarters of Google Asia Pacific in the heart of Singapore this morning, The University of Western Australia Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Johnson said Australia was committed to "enhancing our thinking, understanding and knowledge about our region, our future and our interdependence."

"In the Zone reminds us that we share the same four-hour time horizon within the Asian region - an area that encompasses 60 per cent of the world's population; a region that in total has a Gross Domestic Product output of $23 trillion, which represents one third of the world economy," Professor Johnson said.

"For Australia and the Asian region to take the lead globally in the energy and minerals sector, we must look outward, not inward, and we must engage with our neighbours."

Professor Johnson said Singapore's reputation as a global hub for investment and trade and its expertise in finance and energy trading made it an ideal destination for In the Zone's first venture into Asia.

The Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Colin Barnett, will headline this international event attended by 80 prominent business, government and academic leaders from the zone.  Moderators and panelists at the half-day forum include Ms Guthrie, Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor of the Australian, the head of Rio Tinto Marine Bold Baatar and the Hon Stephen Smith.

UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute will also launch its inaugural State of Mind publication, a data-journalism report presenting a holistic view of Western Australia's minerals and energy story.  It places the State's achievements as a world leading diversified minerals and energy province in a global context, and recasts the narrative of Western Australia, moving from a ‘state of mining' to a ‘state of mind'.

Discussions of regional significance will continue following Singapore, at Perth's In the Zone Leadership Forum on 1 May where His Excellency Professor Doctor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Former President of the Republic of Indonesia will be a keynote speaker.

In the Zone is presented by The University of Western Australia in partnership with Rio Tinto, the Perth USAsia Centre and the Government of Western Australia.

For more information about In the Zone '15 or to register: www.zone.uwa.edu.au

Editor's Note:

In the Zone is The University of Western Australia's premier forum on regional affairs.  Our ambitious conference series aims to engage stakeholders in Australia and in key Asian cities directly, to encourage networking and collaboration between decision makers across the zone and to share our vision of Perth and Western Australia's place in this dynamic region.

THE ZONE / ~ noun the time zone shared by Perth, 60 per cent of the world's population, and the nations that promise the greatest economic growth of the twenty-first century.

In the Zone Facts:

• Western Australia is the economic powerhouse of Australia with a critical role to play in the development of this region in the world.
• As the principal Australian supplier of natural resources to its partners in time and trade including China, India, Japan, South Korea and much of South-East Asia, Western Australia's diverse inventory of mineral, petroleum and agricultural products place the state at the nexus of the economic transformation taking place in the twenty-first century.
• In the Zone is Western Australia's premier forum for dialogue on issues of significance to our region.
• The In the Zone Conference was launched in 2009 as an initiative of The University of Western Australia (UWA). Over the past five years, In the Zone has engaged a number of leaders from countries including Japan, China, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, representing governments, industry and the community. Together with many of Australia's most strategic thinkers, policy makers, scientists and business leaders, the In the Zone conference series has challenged, informed and stimulated new ways of seeing the opportunities presented by the Asian Century.
• The University of Western Australia is a leading Australian research university with an international reputation for excellence, innovation and enterprise. UWA has the highest quality undergraduates of any university of Australia, many of whom graduate to become leaders in their chosen profession. UWA is one of the top 100 leading universities in the world.
• In the Zone ‘15 was developed through the guidance of the Editorial Committee: Dr Mark Barnaba; Hon Julie Bishop; Hon Colin Barnett; Hon Kim Beazley; Dr Susan Boyd; Dr Michael Chaney; Mr Andrew Forrest; Professor Paul Johnson; Mr Paul Kelly; Mr John Langoulant; Professor Barry Marshall; Dr Richard Smith; Hon Stephen Smith.

Media references

Sonia Nolan (Media Manager, In the Zone ‘15)  (+61 4) 01 034 103
David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716