Daily Program

Friday, 23 May 2025

On Friday morning, in Manila, Her Excellency the Governor met Mr Eric Francia, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr Patrice Clausse, Chief Investment Officer, ACEN International. Also present were Her Excellency Ms HK Yu PSM, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, and Mr Taliessin Reaburn and Ms Natalya Twohill, Department of State Development.  

Afterwards, at the Presidential Palace, the Governor met The Honourable Lucas P. Bersamin, Executive Secretary of the Philippines. The Governor was accompanied by the Ambassador, Ms Jane Johnston, Chief Executive, StudyAdelaide, Commissioner Cameron Baker, Chair of the South Australian Skills Commission, Mr Reaburn, and Ms Twohill.

Afterwards, at Makati Shangri-La, the Governor met Dr Prospero ‘Popoy’ De Vera, Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Atty Fatima Lipp Panontongan, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Education (DepEd); Ms Georgina Ann Yang, Assistant Secretary for External Partnerships and International Cooperation, DepEd; and Ms Corinna Frances Cabanilla, Office of Student Development Services, CHED, followed by a working lunch. Also present were the Ambassador; Professor Romy Lawson, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Flinders University; Professor Jessica Gallagher, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adelaide University; Mr Andrew Williamson, TAFE SA; Ms Narelle Slivak, Department for Education; and Ms Johnson, Commissioner Baker, Mr Reaburn, and Ms Twohill.

In the afternoon, the Governor, who is patron of StudyAdelaide, addressed the guests at an Agent Briefing for Education Counsellors, hosted by StudyAdelaide. Also in attendance were Professor Lawson, Professor Gallagher, Ms Johnston, Commissioner Baker, Mr Williamson, and Ms Slivak.

Afterwards, at the Asian Development Bank, the Governor, accompanied by Professor Gallagher, officially opened the seminar ‘AI Modernisation and Sustainability’, and, afterwards, met Mr Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson, Board of Directors, Asian Development Bank. Also in attendance were Mr Reaburn and Ms Twohill.

In the evening, the Governor departed Manila for Adelaide on the conclusion of her official visit to Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.