Sponsored by the Law Society of New South Wales, in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Australia), Jones will address diploma participants and members of the University of New South Wales' faculty of law in his last speech as president.

Amongst the dinner attendees will be NSW Law Society president Stuart Westgarth, Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland and the Honourable Sir Laurence Street KCMG AC.

"My term of office ends at the end of the calendar year so this is effectively the last event at which I'm speaking. It's good to be doing it on home turf because the job has involved a fair amount of travel," said Jones.

Jones said he would take the opportunity to discuss the development of international arbitration in Australia and its future, given his travels around the world in his role as CIArb president this year.

"I'm going to say that I am convinced - as I was before the beginning of the year, but more convinced - from my travels, that Australia has a real opportunity to play a part in the resolution of international disputes in the Asia-Pacific region; that the process of international arbitration is continuing to enjoy a large degree of support from trading parties around the world; and that the opportunity will be very significant in coming years for Australia," said Jones, noting the "influential people" who will be attending the dinner, including a number of judges.

"Therefore we should all continue to invest as we have been in the effort to promote Australia. It is something that won't happen overnight but I think the potential is very clear."