Delegates from 20 Pacific nations, including East Timor, will gather in Australia from tomorrow to discuss joint security, health and development in the region.
Australia's former governor-general, Sir William Deane, will chair the Emerging Pacific Leaders' Dialogue at Queensland's parliament house in Brisbane.
The conference, themed Navigating Our Future Together, is the first of its kind held in the region.
More than 120 emerging leaders from business, government, union and community groups from Pacific Island nations are expected to attend.
The conference will be followed by a week of study tours to 10 different Pacific locations, including Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands.
