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AST Reygar has been shortlisted for the Innovation of the Year Award at the International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards 2026, recognising advances in technology that improves efficiency, safety, and performance across the global tug sector.

The nomination highlights the company's BareFLEET vessel monitoring platform, which combines remote monitoring, digital twin technology, and AI-driven predictive maintenance to support more efficient and reliable tug operations.

The latest version of BareFLEET enables operators to achieve fuel savings up to 15%, whilst reducing unplanned downtime by around 20% through early identification of machinery issues. The system continuously monitors onboard equipment, analysing vibration levels and operational data to detect emerging faults before they become failures.

The platform enhances operational safety by tracking winch line tension during towage, as well as monitoring crew exposure to vibration, allowing operators to maintain safer working conditions and respond to risks in real-time.

Daniel Clark, Managing Director of AST Reygar, commented: “Being shortlisted for Innovation of the Year is a significant achievement for our team and reflects our continued investment in developing technology that delivers real operational value. BareFLEET is designed to give operators greater visibility of their vessels, enabling them to improve efficiency, reduce costs significantly, and enhance safety at sea. This recognition from the industry is something we are extremely proud of.”

The International Tug & Salvage Awards are held as part of the annual convention, which brings together industry leaders, operators, and technology providers from across the global maritime sector. Winners will be announced at the event in May 2026. This year, the awards will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 19-21 May 2026, and is widely regarded as one of the leading gatherings of the tug, towage, and salvage community.

The awards programme, now well established, celebrates businesses and technologies that are driving measurable improvements in the maritime sector. Being shortlisted reflects recognition not only of technical innovation, but also of real-world impact.

About AST Reygar
AST Reygar, is a leading provider of advanced remote monitoring and data-driven solution for the maritime and industrial sectors. It's flagship BareFLEET platform enables vessel operators to monitor performance, improve efficiency, and enhance safety through real-time data insights, digital twin technology, and AI-driven predictive maintenance.

ASTSPARC is AST Reygar's industrial telemetry solution, providing robust, flexible data acquisition and communication capabilities, enabling the remote monitoring of critical assets across industrial environments.

25 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has started the drilling phase for the Raia project in the pre salt of the Campos Basin, Brazil. This marks a key milestone for the partnership as the projects progresses towards planned start up in 2028.

The Valaris DS‑17 drillship started drilling operations, today 24 March. The drilling campaign includes six wells in the Raia area, located around 200 kilometres offshore the coast of Brazil in water depths of around 2,900 metres.

The campaign supports the development of one of Brazil’s most significant natural gas projects, with recoverable reserves exceeding one billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Once in operation, the project will have the capacity to export up to 16 million cubic metres of natural gas per day, which could represent 15% of Brazil’s natural gas demand, significantly contributing to Equinor’s international equity production and long-term cashflow and the country’s energy security.

The Raia project is operated by Equinor (35%), in partnership with Repsol Sinopec Brasil (35%) and Petrobras (30%). Drilling activities build on the companies’ combined competence in deepwater operations, including previous experience on the Bacalhau field, where the DS‑17 also took part in the drilling campaign.

“Raia is Equinor’s largest project under execution and marks the deepest water depth operation in our portfolio. Together with our partners and suppliers, we are applying world-class technology and decades of offshore expertise. While drilling takes place, integration and commissioning activities on the FPSO are progressing well putting us on track towards a safe start of operations in 2028”, Says Geir Tungesvik, executive vice president, Projects, Drilling and Procurement,

Innovative development concept and specialised suppliers

Raia’s development concept is based on production through wells connected to a floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO), which will treat produced oil/condensate and gas. Natural gas will be transported through a 200‑kilometre pipeline from the FPSO to Cabiúnas, in the city of Macaé, Rio de Janeiro state.

More gas for Brazil with low emissions in production

The project is Equinor’s largest international investment to date, totaling around USD 9 billion. The FPSO is expected to be among the most carbon‑efficient globally, with average CO₂ emissions intensity of approximately 6 kg per barrel of oil equivalent. The Raia development is estimated to generate up to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs over its 30 year-life cycle.

Raia project

• Partners: Equinor 35% (operator), Repsol Sinopec Brasil (35%), Petrobras (30%)
• Location: Pre‑salt, Campos Basin, Brazil, ~200 km offshore
• Water depth: Up to approximately 2,900 metres
• The project is Equinor’s largest international investment of approximately USD 9 billion
• It contains recoverable natural gas and condensate reserves exceeding 1 billion boe.
• The gas export capacity is 16 MSm³/d, which could represent 15% of Brazil’s natural gas demand in 2028.
• The FPSO oil/condensate capacity is approximately 126,000 bpd.
• The field’s average CO2 intensity will be approximately 6 kg per barrel, compared to the current industry average of 17 kg per barrel.
• Up to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created over the field’s lifecycle.
• Production is expected to start in 2028.

Responding to a decision by a court in Kyrgyzstan to release investigative journalist and Temirov LIVE editor-in-chief Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy from custody and subject her to a travel ban pending a retrial, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:

“While Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s release from prison is a long-overdue step towards justice that allows her to reunite with her son, it does not erase the human rights violations she has already endured and those she faces with possible retrial.”

“The Kyrgyzstani authorities should immediately drop all charges and lift the travel ban against Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and provide her with an effective remedy for the violations she has already suffered.

“The targeting of Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and earlier, of her colleagues from Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese media projects, sends a chilling message to investigative journalists across the country. No journalist should be prosecuted solely for reporting on matters of public interest. The authorities must abide by Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights obligations and provide a safe environment for independent journalism and ensure full respect for the right to freedom of expression.”

Background

On 23 March, the Lenin District Court of Bishkek ordered Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s release after more than two years’ detention, replacing her custodial measure with a travel restriction. The decision followed a ruling by the Supreme Court on 10 March to overturn her previous conviction and retry her case.

Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy was arrested in January 2024 along with other journalists and media workers associated with Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese, two independent media projects that have investigated alleged corruption in Kyrgyzstan. She and her colleague Azamat Ishenbekov faced trumped up charges of “inciting mass unrest,” and were sentenced to six and five years’ imprisonment respectively, on 10 October 2024. Makhabat’s husband, prominent investigative journalist Bolot Temirov, had previously been stripped of his Kyrgyzstani citizenship and forced into exile. Azamat Ishenbekov was released on 9 April 2025 by presidential pardon.

24 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has acquired the ready to build 230 MW Esquina do Vento onshore wind complex from Vestas. With this investment Equinor expands its broad energy offering in Brazil, further strengthening its integrated power portfolio for long-term growth in one of the company’s core markets.

The 51 turbine complex is located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The acquisition, conducted by Equinor’s fully owned subsidiary Rio Energy, supports Equinor’s power strategy to build market-driven, multi-technology portfolios. By combining renewable generation, operational capabilities and energy trading, these portfolios will further enhance value creation. The Esquina do Vento complex is expected to deliver double digit project returns.

“Brazil is a key market for Equinor’s long-term growth. We have a solid and diversified portfolio of oil and natural gas in the country. With this acquisition, we are expanding in renewable energy and strengthening our integrated power portfolio, where wind, solar and trading work together to deliver competitive and reliable power,” says Helge Haugane, executive vice president for Power in Equinor.

Expanding Equinor’s onshore renewables platform

Together, onshore renewables and battery energy storage systems constitute a core building block in Equinor’s power strategy, offering competitive generation and scalability. The acquisition of Esquina do Vento adds to Equinor’s onshore renewables portfolio in Brazil. The complex will be developed and operated through Equinor’s subsidiary Rio Energy, which serves as the company’s vehicle for growth in onshore renewables.

“We are ready to build the Esquina do Vento complex that comprises 51 Vestas wind turbines and will add around 230 MW of installed capacity in Rio Grande do Norte. With potential annual generation of about 1 TWh, the complex represents a substantial addition to wind power production in the region. Together with Serra da Babilônia, our 363 MW hybrid wind/solar complex in Bahia, Esquina do Vento increases Rio Energy’s onshore wind footprint and reinforces a strong operational platform for long-term renewable energy delivery in Brazil,” says Roberto Colindres, CEO of Rio Energy.

This investment is in line with Equinor’s strategy of building an integrated power business, combining wind and solar assets in the same market, reducing intermittency, optimising grid utilisation and improving the overall value of the power portfolio.

Integrated value chain and route to market

Power produced from Equinor’s onshore assets in Brazil will be traded in the local power market by Danske Commodities, Equinor’s wholly owned energy trading house.

“Brazil is a core market for Equinor, and Esquina do Vento strengthens our long-term commitment to building a robust and competitive power business in the country through our subsidiary, Rio Energy. By investing in this renewable complex, we are expanding our energy offering and future opportunities for integration and trading across assets and energy sources. This integrated approach supports Brazil’s growing demand for reliable, renewable energy while creating long-term value locally,” says Veronica Coelho, senior vice president and country manager for Equinor Brazil.

Equinor has a long-standing presence in Brazil, with a broad portfolio spanning oil and gas, renewables and power trading.

Esquina do Vento

• Location: State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
• Seller: Vestas
• 51 Vestas V163 wind turbines
• Estimated annual production: potential to generate 1 TWh per year when in commercial operations, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 520,000 Brazilian households
• Installed capacity: 230 MW
• Start construction Q2 2026
• Commercial operations planned for 2028
• Vestas will be the WTG O&M responsible, with a 30-year Service and Energy-Based Availability Agreement.

Equinor’s power portfolio in Brazil

The power portfolio in commercial operation today totals around 600 MW in equity capacity to which the Esquina do Vento complex will add 230 MW of installed capacity:

The Serra da Babilônia 1 onshore wind complex (223 MW) and the Serra da Babilônia Solar complex (140 MW) in the state of Bahia are operated by Equinor’s subsidiary, Rio Energy, and are fully owned by Equinor.
Equinor is also a partner in the Apodi solar complex (162 MW) in the Ceará state and the Mendubim complex of solar plants (531 MW) in the Rio Grande do Norte state. The assets are operated by Scatec, with Equinor holding respective shares of 43.5% and 30%.

Additionally, there is a pipeline of onshore renewable opportunities being matured by Rio Energy.

Equinor’s wholly owned trading arm, Danske Commodities, through its trading office in São Paulo, supports Equinor’s market-driven approach to building a value creating power portfolio in Brazil.

March 23 2026 – UK government bonds are sliding sharply, with yields surging past levels last seen during the fallout that toppled former Prime Minister Liz Truss, raising fresh concerns that an energy-driven shock is rapidly evolving into a broader problem for the government and UK households and businesses.

This is the stark warning from Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group, as UK PM Keir Starmer convenes an emergency COBRA meeting on the Iran war fallout, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey set to attend.

The focus will be on energy security, inflation, and economic resilience.

Nigel Green comments: “What we are witnessing is the early stage of a dangerous chain reaction. A spike in oil and gas prices is feeding directly into inflation expectations, and bond markets are responding fast.”

The numbers underline the scale of the shift.

UK 10-year gilt yields have surged above 5% for the first time since the global financial crisis, while a benchmark index tracking conventional gilts has dropped nearly 5% this month alone, which is its worst performance since the turmoil that forced Liz Truss from office in 2022.

More than £100 billion has been wiped from the market value of UK government bonds in a matter of weeks.

Nigel Green says the comparison with the Truss-era crisis is not about policy missteps, but about how quickly markets can reprice risk when confidence is tested.

“Under Liz Truss, it was a credibility shock triggered by fiscal decisions. Today, it's an external shock coming from energy markets.

“But the outcome is similar with investors demanding higher yields, and that pushes borrowing costs higher across the entire economy,” he explains.

The UK's structural exposure is a key factor.

“Heavy reliance on imported gas leaves it particularly vulnerable to global price surges, especially as tensions in the Middle East threaten critical energy infrastructure and supply routes.

Nigel Green warns that inflation “could now climb back toward 5%” if elevated energy prices persist, forcing a reassessment of interest rate expectations.

“There's growing pricing for a more hawkish Bank of England stance. This adds another layer of pressure, because higher rates reinforce higher yields, and the cycle feeds on itself.”

For Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the policy choices are narrowing.

“Rising borrowing costs increase the strain on public finances at the same time as political and economic pressure builds to support households and businesses facing higher energy bills.

“Support measures may be needed, but they come with a cost. The more the government spends, the more markets scrutinise sustainability. That tension can escalate quickly.”

The implications extend far beyond Westminster. Higher gilt yields ripple through the financial system, raising mortgage rates, increasing corporate borrowing costs, and tightening conditions for consumers.

Nigel Green stresses that the current situation illustrates a broader and often underestimated dynamic.

“Commodity shocks don't stay contained. They move into inflation, then into bond markets, and then into the real economy.

“By the time it reaches borrowing costs, everyone feels it—governments, businesses, and households alike.”

There is also a growing risk of spillover into global fixed income markets. As investors reassess inflation and interest rate trajectories, moves in one major bond market can quickly influence others, particularly in an environment already shaped by geopolitical uncertainty.

“The UK is at the sharp end of this shift right now, but it's unlikely to be the only one,” Nigel Green adds.

“If energy prices remain elevated, we could see similar pressures building elsewhere.”

The emergency COBRA meeting underscores the urgency of the moment. Policymakers are facing a rapidly evolving situation in which an external geopolitical crisis is feeding directly into domestic economic stress.

Nigel Green concludes: “The lesson is clear—what starts as an oil and gas shock can very quickly become a financial shock. The surge in gilt yields is an early warning sign.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Chișinău, Moldova – April 22, 2026 – Startup Moldova Summit, the Republic of Moldova's flagship event dedicated to startups, technology, and innovation, returns to Chișinău this April, bringing together founders, investors, and technology leaders from across Europe and beyond.

Now in its sixth edition, the Summit highlights Moldova's rapid evolution as an innovation hub in Eastern Europe. Held at Arena Chișinău under the theme “Born in Moldova. Built for the World.”, the 2026 edition is set to be the most ambitious yet, expecting over 2,000 participants, 150 startups, 60 speakers, and more than 50 active investors.

The Summit will feature international speakers from leading technology companies and investment networks, including Sacha Michaud (Glovo), Bill Reichert (Pegasus Tech Ventures), Jaïr Halevi (Miro), Vasile Tofan (Horizon Capital), Guillermo Sohnlein (Humans2Venus), and Massimo Caterino (Microsoft), Laurent Koerge (Bolt), among others.

The event is designed to connect ideas with capital, ambition with expertise, and local founders with international markets, reinforcing Moldova's increasing integration into the global startup ecosystem.

Moldova is now home to more than 300 technology startups, with women representing 30% of co-founders. In 2025 alone, startups generated over $43 million in revenue and created more than 1,200 jobs. They also raised $16.3 million in funding – double compared to the previous year –  bringing the total investment attracted by Moldovan startups to $60.7 million.

Notably, 2025 marked two major startup exits – Planable and Parkopedia –  a clear signal that the ecosystem is entering a new stage of maturity.

“In recent years, we have witnessed a clear shift from potential to performance. As Moldova advances towards EU accession, the startup ecosystem is being strengthened by targeted support mechanisms and improved access to capital: from the launch of a Fund of Funds attracting investments into startups and high-growth companies, to new co-matching grant programmes and the development of Moldova HiTech Park as a bridge between academia, startups, and corporates,”

said Olga Melniciuc, CEO of Startup Moldova Foundation.

“Startup Moldova serves as a gateway to the Moldovan startup ecosystem, connecting founders with capital, expertise, international markets, and policymakers to help build a more competitive, innovation-driven economy.”

The 2026 Startup Moldova Summit edition sends a clear message: globally competitive companies with regional roots are built in Moldova.

Startups database: https://www.startupmoldova.digital/startup-database

About Startup Moldova Foundation

Startup Moldova is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing Moldova's startup ecosystem by supporting founders, connecting them with capital, expertise, diaspora mentors, and international markets, and fostering collaboration between startups, investors, corporates, academia, and public institutions. Through flagship initiatives like the Startup Moldova Summit, investment readiness programs, international demo days, and partnerships with local and international stakeholders, the Foundation plays a key role in transforming startups into scalable businesses and positioning Moldova as a hub for technology and innovation.

March 23 2026 – Oil is surging as geopolitical tensions escalate, but the assumption that the US will remain shielded from the fallout is now being tested, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.

Brent crude has climbed above $113 a barrel as threats to energy infrastructure and key shipping routes intensify.

Global equity markets have fallen sharply in response, with Europe and Asia leading declines. US benchmark WTI has risen more modestly, reinforcing the view that America is less exposed to immediate supply disruption.

Yet the growing divergence between global and US oil prices may be masking a deeper vulnerability.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, warns: “While the US appears more protected at first glance, it's far from immune if the crisis escalates further.

“The gap between Brent and WTI suggests the US is less directly exposed to supply shocks, and that's true to a point,” he says. “But investors should not mistake relative insulation for immunity.”

The US remains the world's largest oil producer, with much of its supply produced and stored domestically. This reduces reliance on seaborne imports and limits exposure to choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the chief executive of deVere stresses that the US economy is deeply tied to global demand and capital flows. These factors could quickly override any domestic energy advantage.

“A significant portion of US assets are owned by overseas investors, and the economy depends heavily on global trade. If the shock spreads and global growth weakens, the US will feel it.”

The current market reaction reflects a fragmented shock, with energy-importing regions facing the most immediate pressure. Higher oil and gas prices are already weighing on European and Asian markets, raising inflation risks and threatening growth.

But the second phase of the crisis, Nigel Green suggests, could be more broadly felt.

“If this turns into a deeper global slowdown, the idea that the US can remain untouched is far less convincing,” he explains.

“Demand weakens, capital moves, and financial conditions tighten across borders.”

Rising US yields are another emerging concern. As borrowing costs increase, they add pressure to an economy already navigating elevated inflation expectations and geopolitical uncertainty.

“Higher yields reflect tightening financial conditions at a time when risks are building. This combination can become a problem quickly if confidence starts to shift.”

Currency markets, often a source of strength during periods of stress, may also become more complex.

“While the dollar typically benefits from safe-haven flows, sustained global disruption could alter capital allocation patterns, particularly if overseas investors reassess exposure to US assets.”

At the same time, geopolitical dynamics remain highly unpredictable. US President Donald Trump has warned of further escalation, including potential strikes on Iranian infrastructure, while Iran has signalled it will respond by targeting critical facilities across the region.

This creates a strategic standoff with significant market implications.

“The US administration needs a resolution to stabilise markets, but Iran understands the pressure,” he says.

“This dynamic increases the risk of prolonged tension rather than a quick de-escalation.”

The focus for investors is no longer solely on where the initial impact is strongest, but on how far the shock can spread.

Nigel Green concludes: “Early resilience in the US should not lead to complacency.”

“This is a global system, and if the stress intensifies, the effects will be shared more widely.

“The question is not whether the US starts from a stronger position, it does, but how long that advantage can, realistically, last.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Geneva, Switzerland, 23 March 2026 – The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 152nd Assembly in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 15 to 19 April 2026. Hosted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the overall theme of the event is Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations.

Against a backdrop of unfolding and ongoing wars, with severe humanitarian consequences, in the Middle East and elsewhere, this statutory Assembly will offer an opportunity to hundreds of lawmakers for parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy to advance peaceful solutions for the people they represent.

Key highlights:

·     Meetings of all the IPU's parliamentary bodies including its four Standing Committees, the Forums of Women and Young Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions and the Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine.

·     Expected adoption of resolutions on parliaments' role in establishing robust post-conflict management mechanisms and restoring peace; and in combating protectionism, reducing tariffs and preventing corporate tax avoidance.

·     The 50th anniversary of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, a unique mechanism which defends parliamentarians' rights worldwide.

·     Workshops and side events for parliamentarians on empowering people with disabilities, interfaith dialogue, the two-State solution for Palestine, and climate change.

·     The election of a new IPU Secretary General to replace Mr. Martin Chungong, whose third term ends on 30 June 2026.

·      Adoption of a new IPU Strategy for 2027-2032.

·     Nominations open for the 2026 Cremer-Passy Prize, named after the IPU's founders, to honour a parliamentarian's exceptional human rights record, in line with the IPU's priority theme of the year.

Practical details:

Venue: Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, Istanbul, Türkiye

Registration: Media representatives are invited to register here https://152ipuassembly.vfairs.com/en/

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 183 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

An impressive line-up of leading international and Australian refugee advocates will headline this year's second Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) National Conference.

Iranian Kurdish journalist, human rights defender and writer Behrouz Boochani and former UNHCR Assistant Commissioner, former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Dr Gilian Triggs and human rights advocate Nyadol Nyuon, OAM, are among the keynote speakers at the conference held at the Adelaide Festival Centre on March 25 and 26.

Mr Boochani was held in the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea between 2013 and its closure in 2017. He now lives in New Zealand where he is a research fellow at the University of Canterbury.

Also speaking at the conference will be the Co-Executive Director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network Noor Azizah, Co-Secretary General Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network Hafsar Tameesuddin, Chief Executive Officer, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth Carmel Guerra OAM, CEO of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia Melinda Collinson, Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation Hass Dellal AO and CEO of Refugee Legal David Mann.

Also, among the speakers from South Australia are Mr Muzafar Ali, CEO of Cisarua Learning, Ms Mirsia Bunjaku, CEO of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre, Mr Sebastian Geers, Manager of Welcoming Cities, Ms Blur Abdulla SA Manager of AMES Australia, Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos OAM, CEO of the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia (MCCSA), Dr Natasha Elsley, GP Consultant, South Australia Refugee Health Service, and many prominent academics, heads of organisations and advocates.

The Second RCAA National Conference 2026 is supported by a grant from the “Department of the Premier and Cabinet”, Multicultural Affairs, Government of South Australia.

The conference will focus on facilitating conversations, sharing knowledge, and increasing awareness of the lived experiences of new and emerging communities, migrants, and multicultural communities as well as highlighting their contributions to Australia.

Under the theme “Empowering Refugees and Multicultural Communities Together”, the conference will explore how refugee communities move beyond initial settlement to multicultural leadership, ensuring their voices actively influence policies, services, and decision-making at all levels.

The long-term goal of RCAA is to establish a framework fostering a self-reliant, progressive, and culturally inclusive approach, strengthening refugee leadership through policy, advocacy, support, capacity building, and working with all stakeholders.

The conference is expected to bring together more than 250 delegates, representing more than 50 organisations. Attendees will include new and emerging communities, multicultural communities, refugee organisations, service providers, policymakers, academics, businesses, and representatives from all levels of government.

The conference will serve as a platform for meaningful engagement, collaboration, and innovation in multicultural leadership and integration. The conference will provide an opportunity to:

Advance multicultural leadership and amplify their voices within Australian society
Promote awareness of the contributions of refugee communities to the social and economic wellbeing, and rich cultural fabric of Australia
Foster dialogue that encourages the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and solutions between new and emerging communities, service providers, and policymakers
Strengthen the advocacy capacity of 'lived experience' led organisations and build a stronger, more cohesive network
Develop a foundation of lived experience and evidence-based insights to shape policy and service delivery

RCAA Chair Parsu Sharma Luital said the conference would also feature case studies of successful multicultural sector led initiatives and examine how their approaches can be adapted and implemented by other agencies to enhance their leadership and support systems.

“It will also celebrate the role of lived experience in shaping service provision, employment pathways, and community programs and explore opportunities for partnerships between new and emerging communities, service providers, businesses, and government agencies,” Mr Sharma Luital said.

Kamal Dahal, RCAA Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, said, “I am sincerely thankful to the Government of South Australia for generously supporting our RCAA conference. We are delighted to welcome delegates from across Australia and beyond borders, joining a large contingent of our South Australian delegates. South Australia is proudly a multicultural state, which is home to people from over 200 countries, speaking over 250 languages and practising more than 125 faiths and beliefs”.

“As a member of the inaugural Multicultural South Australia Ambassador Program, established under the South Australian Multicultural Commission, I see this conference as a strong reflection of our state's commitment to meaningful engagement and purposeful representation of our multicultural community,” said Mr Dahal.

A conference dinner will honour the rich cultural diversity of South Australia and celebrate the contributions of multicultural communities from across Australia.

Bringing together delegates, community leaders, and stakeholders, the dinner will be a night of connection, recognition, and cultural appreciation, reflecting the strength and resilience of our diverse communities.

The Second RCAA National Conference 2026 is being supported by a grant from the Government of South Australia.

Conference website and registration link: https://rcaaconference2026.com.au/registration/

About RCAA

The RCAA is Australia's first membership-based, refugee-led organisation (RLO), distinguished by its strong grassroots foundation and extensive reach with refugee communities and key stakeholders. RCAA unites over 70 member organisations nationwide and thousands of individuals, each embodying the resilience, strength, and rich diversity of refugee communities.

Together, RCAA forms a collective force that amplifies diverse voices, advocates for systemic change, and strengthens the already rich fabric of Australia's multiculturalism. With leadership drawn directly from those with lived experience, RCAA ensures that policies and programs impacting these communities are shaped by those with lived experience.