The social, economic and civil implications of the past two months have been profound, forcing a reassessment of our daily lives – from how and where we work, to how we access healthcare, our leisure activities and how we shop. 
 
Those of you following my weekly updates will know that CEDA has been exploring these issues and more over the past two months in our series of public livestreams, virtual roundtables, blogs and podcasts. We have heard from expert speakers on the opportunities for transformation and innovation across health, regional economies, resources, technology, cybercrime, supply chains, global relationships and the impact on Australia and the wider global economy.
 
We will continue this work through our broader program of activity, but our annual State of the Nation, coming up in two weeks, will shine a bright light on some of the most important issues and opportunities before us.
 
Over two half-days, more than 20 leading speakers, including the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison and Federal Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Anthony Albanese, and CEDA Chairman Diane Smith Gander AO, will discuss Australia’s economic recovery and policy landscape. They will also examine critical issues that will shape our path to recovery, from workplace relations, to trade and supply chains, critical services and the implications of the COVID-19 crisis for vulnerable communities. It is a packed program and I hope you can join us. 
 
You can register for our 15-16 June State of the Nation here. It is free for CEDA members.

Continuing with the theme of transformation and innovation, we have a busy program of activity in the week ahead.
 
Watch: Next week on Friday 12 June we pose the question, Does disruptive technology require disruptive regulation? Our panel of experts will be exploring what the next leaps in AI are and whether traditional and existing regulatory frameworks can protect individuals, communities, businesses and governments.
 
Speakers include:

• The Ethics Centre Executive Director, Dr Simon Longstaff AO;
• Microsoft Senior Legal Counsel, Clayton Noble;
• The University of Queensland, Professor, Social Data and Analytics, Professor Rhema Vaithianathan

You can register for that event here.
 
Read: As the world moves towards recovery, CEDA Chief Economist, Jarrod Ball, offers four key lessons Australia should take out of the COVID-19 experience to ensure our trade and supply chains bounce back better in part three of CEDA's three part series, ​Trade and supply chains: pressure points in perspective. You can read more here.
 
To coincide with the release of this final piece in the series last week, CEDA has published an information paper on the challenges facing world trade following the pandemic, prepared by Melbourne Business School, Professor of International Trade; and former Director at the GATT and WTO, and Senior Counsellor to the WTO Director General, Professor Gary Sampson. You can read that paper here.
 
Listen: New on The lowdown, Advisian global lead of energy transition and sustainability and Senior Vice President, Tasman Graham, talks with CEDA State Director, Queensland, Kyl Murphy, about how COVID-19 has affected the outlook for renewable energy and the promising developments he sees occurring in this space. You can hear more here.
 
Also last week, on The greater good podcast, University of Adelaide Head of School of Public Health, and Professor of HTA & Director, AHTA, Professor Tracy Merlin, joined CEDA Chief Economist, Jarrod Ball, to discuss the Group of Eight's COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery report, and what difficulties a COVID-19 vaccine presents. You can hear more on that here.
 
Each week I close by thanking our new and renewing members and this week is no exception. But when I saw this week’s particularly long list (see below) I did want to take the opportunity to state the obvious: we can’t do what we do without your support and seeing so many new and renewing members is a real encouragement to the team and I. Thank you again. 
 
New members

National
 
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) (NAT)
 
State

Aspire (VIC)
Fremantle Ports (WA)
Business Events Perth (WA)
Queensland Productivity Commission (QLD)
 
Renewing members
 
National
 
Arup
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Ashurst
 
State
 
Anglicare WA (WA)
Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (VIC)
Brisbane Girls Grammar School (QLD)
CGM Communications (WA)
City of Joondalup (WA)
City of Swan (WA)
City of Sydney (NSW)
Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (NSW)
Diabetes NSW/ACT (NSW)
Edith Cowan University (WA)
Fairbridge WA Inc (WA)
GESB (WA)
Landgate (WA)
Newgate Communications (NSW)
NSW Ports (NSW)
NT Department of the Chief Minister (NT)
Queensland Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs (QLD)
Queensland Rail (QLD)
QUT (QLD)
Scope Global (SA)
TAE Aerospace (QLD)
Toowoomba Regional Council (QLD)
University of Melbourne (VIC)
University of Southern Queensland (QLD)
Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VIC)
WA Department of Training and Workforce Development (WA)
 
Melinda Cilento