Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Today we have issued more invitations to the Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable, this time for specific sessions of the agenda.
The Roundtable is all about building consensus on long term economic reform, with a focus on resilience, productivity and budget sustainability.
These invitees bring deep expertise in their respective fields. They include policy experts, economists, heads of key government agencies and leaders across business, institutional investors and the broader community.
We’re drawing on the experience and leadership of people who are well placed to engage with the challenges and opportunities across each of the Roundtable’s sessions.
Their insights will help sharpen the focus of our discussions and contribute meaningfully to the work ahead.
While not every group or organisation can be represented in person, our public submission process has seen almost 900 organisations and individuals have their say.
These contributions will inform the discussions at and beyond the Roundtable.
We are grateful for the widespread and meaningful engagement across the country.
The agenda for the Roundtable can be found on the Treasury website.
Roundtable invitations issued today by session:
International risks, opportunities and trade
David Jochinke, President, National Farmers’ Federation
Professor Shiro Armstrong, Australian National University
Dr Heather Smith PSM FAIIA, National President, Australian Institute of International Affairs
Skills attraction, development and mobility
Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia
Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor, Western Sydney University
Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Chancellor, Macquarie University
Capital attraction and business investment
Mary Delahunty, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia
Rebecca Mikula‑Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Investor Group on Climate Change and Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
Paul Schroder, Chief Executive, AustralianSuper
Shemara Wikramanayake, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie Group
Better regulation and approvals
Geraldine Slattery, President Australia, BHP
Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Conservation Foundation
Michael Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, e61 Institute
Competition and dynamism across the federation
Christine Holgate, Group Executive Chair, Team Global Express
Rod Sims AO, Former Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Professor Flavio Menezes, University of Queensland
AI and innovation
Robyn Denholm, Chair, Strategic Examination of Research and Development
Ming Long AM, Chair of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Efficient and high‑quality government services, spending and care
The Hon Victor Dominello, Chief Executive Officer, Future Government Institute
Dr Angela Jackson, Commissioner (Social Policy), Productivity Commission
Cassandra Winzar, Chief Economist, Committee for Economic Development of Australia
A better tax system
Dr Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute
Professor Bob Breunig, Australian National University
Chris Richardson, Economist
Rob Heferen, Commissioner of Taxation
Biographies
International risks, opportunities and trade
David Jochinke, President, National Farmers’ Federation
David is the President of the National Farmers’ Federation. He is a Victorian grain and livestock producer and was elected President of the National Farmers’ Federation in October 2023, after previously serving as Vice President. David has also served as President of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation.
Professor Shiro Armstrong, Australian National University
Shiro is a Professor of economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Shiro is also Director of the Crawford School’s Australia‑Japan Research Centre and East Asian Bureau of Economic Research, and sits on the East Asia Forum Editorial Board. He is a Visiting Professor, Non‑Resident Fellow and Research Associate at Keio University, Japan’s Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Columbia Business School, respectively. He is the recipient of the 2024 Nakasone Yasuhiro Award and a member of the Board of the Australia Japan Foundation.
Dr Heather Smith PSM FAIIA, National President, Australian Institute of International Affairs
Heather is the National President and a fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs. Heather has over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service at leadership levels, covering economic, industry, innovation, communications, resources, foreign affairs, national security, and intelligence matters. She has previously served as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts. She was the G20 Sherpa in 2014 during Australia’s Presidency and she co‑led the 2024 Independent Review of Australia’s National Intelligence Community.
Skills attraction, development and mobility
Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia
Barney is the Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia. Barney is a distinguished academic leader, having previously held positions as Vice‑Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University and Charles Darwin University, Chair of Universities Australia, and Deputy Vice‑Chancellor (Research) at the University of Newcastle.
Professor Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor, Western Sydney University
Jennifer is the Chancellor of Western Sydney University. She also serves as a Non‑Executive Director for Wesfarmers Ltd, Canadian Utilities Ltd, the RBA Governance Board, ATCO Australia and is a special advisor to KPMG. She is Australia’s Business Champion to Indonesia; Chair of the Bradfield Development Authority, Studio Schools of Australia, and Future Generation Global; and a committee member of 2050 Point Parramatta. She has previously served as the CEO of the Business Council of Australia and held senior roles in the New South Wales and Victorian governments, focusing on areas such as housing, urban planning and social policy.
Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Chancellor, Macquarie University
Martin is the Chancellor of Macquarie University. He is an economist and policy expert, who has previously been a Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of the Treasury and the then Department of Climate Change. He has worked at the International Monetary Fund, served on the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and was Chair of the Board of the Australian Office of Financial Management and the 2023 Review of the Migration System.
Capital attraction and business investment
Mary Delahunty, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia
Mary is the CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). She joined ASFA in 2024 after founding Seven Advisory, an ESG and impact advisory firm. Mary was previously Head of Impact at HESTA and an executive at Link Market Services. Mary is a 2015 Churchill Fellow, sits on several boards across RegTech and education, and is a member of the Pensions & Investments’ World Pension Summit International Advisory Board.
Rebecca Mikula‑Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Investor Group on Climate Change and Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
Rebecca is the CEO of the Investor Group on Climate Change and the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change. Rebecca has worked in climate change, sustainability and investment banking for over 20 years. She also sits on the global Steering Committee for Climate Action 100+.
Paul Schroder, Chief Executive, AustralianSuper
Paul is the Chief Executive of AustralianSuper. During his time at AustralianSuper, he has held various senior executive roles and was appointed the fund’s first Chief Risk Officer in 2019, before his appointment as Chief Executive in 2021.
Shemara Wikramanayake, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Macquarie Group
Shemara is the Managing Director and CEO of Macquarie Group. Prior to being appointed as CEO in late 2018, Shemara was the Head of Macquarie Asset Management, a role she held for 10 years. Shemara was a founding member of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative and the World Bank Group’s Private Sector Investment Lab.
Better regulation and approvals
Geraldine Slattery, President Australia, BHP
Geraldine is President Australia of BHP. In this role, she leads BHP’s Australia business. In Geraldine’s 30 years with BHP, she has held a range of senior roles across Australia, the United Kingdom and the Americas, including most recently as President of the BHP Petroleum business.
Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Conservation Foundation
Kelly is the CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation. As CEO, Kelly established a Leadership Forum on Energy Transition for Australia, and has been involved in various Advisory Boards and Groups, including to the Net Zero Australia project. Prior to joining the Australian Conservation Foundation, Kelly was the CEO of Environment Victoria, where she oversaw the establishment of the Future Economy Group.
Michael Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, e61 Institute
Michael is the CEO of the e61 Institute. He is the previous Chair of the Productivity Commission. Michael is also a former Deputy Secretary of Fiscal Group at the Department of the Treasury, where he had responsibility for Budget, social and retirement income policy, and managing state and territory relations. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Secretary of Economic Division at the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance.
Competition and dynamism across the federation
Christine Holgate, Group Executive Chair, Team Global Express
Christine is the Group Executive Chairman of Team Global Express. She first joined the company in 2021 as CEO. Christine has more than 30 years of public board experience in non‑executive director and CEO roles, including as the previous CEO and Managing Director of Australia Post, a role she held for 3 years. Prior to this, Christine served as CEO of Blackmores Limited from 2008 to 2017.
Rod Sims AO, Former Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Rod is the previous Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Rod served in that role for over 10 years, working extensively on competition and digital platform matters. Rod is currently an Expert Advisor to the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority on digital issues, Chair of the Superpower Institute, Chair of the National Data Advisory Council and Chair of Australia’s largest performing arts company, Opera Australia.
Professor Flavio Menezes, University of Queensland
Flavio is a Professor of economics and Director of the Australian Institute for Business and Economics at the University of Queensland. Flavio is also Chair of the Queensland Competition Authority, a member of the Australian Competition Tribunal and a member of NDIA’s Pricing Arrangements Reference Group. Flavio has wide range of experience in advising governments and private organisations on competition and regulatory matters. This includes advising the Australian and New Zealand governments on regulatory barriers to the net zero transformation.
AI and innovation
Robyn Denholm, Chair, Strategic Examination of Research and Development
Robyn is the Chair of the Australian Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development. She has extensive experience in the subject matter of R&D, as well as technology and innovation. Robyn is also currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Telsa Inc., a role she has held for over 6 years, and a Board Member at Blackbird. Robyn is on the Tech Council of Australia’s Board of Directors and is its previous and inaugural Chair.
Ming Long AM, Chair of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Ming is the Chair of the CSIRO. She has significant experience across funds and investment management, financial services, real estate, infrastructure, and telecommunications. She is currently on the board of Telstra, IFM Investors, QBE Australia Pacific, and CEDA. Ming was previously Chair of AMP Capital Funds Management and Diversity Council Australia.
Efficient and high‑quality government services, spending and care
The Hon Victor Dominello, Chief Executive Officer, Future Government Institute
Victor is CEO of the Future Government Institute. He also advises governments worldwide on modern service reform via ServiceGen. A former NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, he led reforms such as the Service NSW app, the Digital Restart Fund and NSW’ digital driver’s licence. Victor currently chairs the Minister for Government Services’ Independent Advisory Board, is Director of the UNSW/UTS Trustworthy Digital Society Hub, and was Chair of the Minister for Finance’s Digital ID Expert Panel.
Dr Angela Jackson, Commissioner (Social Policy), Productivity Commission
Angela is the Commissioner (Social Policy) at the Productivity Commission. Her career as an economist spans roles working on taxation, fiscal policy and social policy, including on National Health reform, aged care, disability and housing. Angela was previously a Commissioner at the Commonwealth Grants Commission and a member of the Government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee. Angela is the current National Chair of the Women in Economics Network and is an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania.
Cassandra Winzar, Chief Economist, Committee for Economic Development of Australia
Cassandra is Chief Economist at CEDA. In this role, she leads CEDA’s research agenda focused on building a strong economy and a strong social compact. Cassandra has authored CEDA’s research on delivering better human services and has been an economist with the Western Australian Government and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
A better tax system
Dr Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute
Aruna is the CEO of the Grattan Institute. She leads a team of policy experts across economic and tax policy, energy, health, education, disability and housing. Prior to joining the Institute, Aruna worked at NSW Treasury for over 5 years, where she led the 2021–22 NSW Intergenerational Report, and headed up the Revenue, Commercial Assets and Macroeconomy groups.
Professor Bob Breunig, Australian National University
Bob is a Professor of economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Bob was previously the Crawford School’s Director between 2015 and 2016, and is currently Director of its Tax and Transfer Policy Institute. He is also currently on the CEDA Board and the Government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee. Bob has been published in over 75 international academic journals on economics and public policy, and his research is characterised by careful empirical study and appropriate use of statistical technique.
Chris Richardson, Economist
Chris is an Australian economist, commentator and columnist with the Australian Financial Review. He has previously worked for Deloitte Access Economics (and Access Economics as it was known until 2011), the International Monetary Fund and the Department of the Treasury. During his time at Deloitte and Access Economics, he was the lead author of its Business Outlook and Budget Monitor publications for over 25 years, and was on the Deloitte Australian Board for 7 years.
Rob Heferen, Commissioner of Taxation
Rob is the Commissioner of Taxation. He has over 35 years of experience in the Australian Public Service, including in policy development and program delivery roles at the Australian Taxation Office. Rob has also previously worked at the Department of the Treasury, where he led the Secretariat for the Australia’s Future Tax System Review, and had responsibility for tax policy, tax legislation and revenue forecasting, including as Deputy Secretary of Revenue Group between 2011 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner of Taxation, he was CEO of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.