Dr John Hewson OA

Dr John Hewson OA's Biography

Dr John Hewson is an economic and financial expert with experience in academia, business, government and the financial system.

Dr Hewson has worked as an economist for the Australian Treasury (Census and Statistics), the Reserve Bank, the International Monetary Fund as an advisor to two successive Federal Treasurers and the Prime Minister.

Dr Hewson has a B.Ec (Hons) from the University of Sydney; an M.A. from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada; and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the John Hopkins University in the USA. His academic career included 11 years as the Professor of Economics and 4 years as Head of the School of Economics at the University of New South Wales.

Dr Hewson's business career, before entering politics in 1987, was as a company director and business consultant and included roles as Executive Director, Macquarie Bank Limited and as a Trustee of a major private superannuation fund.

Dr Hewson's political career spanned eight years as a Member for Wentworth in the Federal Parliament. He was Shadow Finance Minister, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Leader of the Liberal Party and the Coalition in Opposition for four years.

Since leaving politics in early 1995, Dr Hewson has run his own investment banking business and is currently Member, Advisory Council of ABN AMRO. In addition, he is Chairman, Global Renewables Limited, Australian Bus Manufacturing Company Pty Limited, Strategic Capital Management, Belle Property and Osteoporosis Australia. He is Vice Chairman of GRD Limited and a Director of GRD Kirfield, Netra Services and the Positive Aging Foundation and President of the Arthritis Foundation. He is also a Director of a number of other public and private companies.

A principal focus of Dr Hewson's career has been in Asia, where he has a wealth of contacts and experience in both Government and business, having operated in Asia for the last 25 years in each of the areas mentioned above, as well as a consultant to business, government and international agencies such as the IMF, UNESCAP and ADB.

Dr Hewson's arresting presentations resonate with his specialist knowledge. His flexible presentations draw upon every facet of his experience, giving audiences a unique overview of economic, political and government policy.

Other Business Highlights

Government- Consultant, Australian Financial System Inquiry (Campbell Committee)

Member, Fraser Government Task Force on Final Report of The Australian Financial System Inquiry, to assess and advise on the implementation of the Report

Member and Consultant, NSW Government’s Whitlam Committee on Offshore Banking

Adviser to Tasmanian Government on banking, finance and related matters

Tasmanian Representative on Treasurer Keating’s Officials Committee on Offshore Banking

Member, Kyoto Protocol Ratification Advisory Group (formed by NSW, Victorian and South Australian Governments, 02/03)

Sporting -Member, Bid Team for Melbourne and Sydney Olympic bids

Olympic Attache- Netherlands Olympic Team Sydney 2000 Games

Chairman, Sydney United Soccer Club

Chairman, Investment Advisory Committee, Australian Olympic Foundation (current)

Patron, Australian Corporate Games (current)

Other- Chairman, National Business Leaders’ Forum on Sustainable Development (6 years)-currently on Steering Committee

Director, The Asia-Australia Institute, UNSW

Member, Australian Davos Connection Foundation Council

Member, National Advisory Board of Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC)

Member, External Advisory Group, Group Training Australia (current)

Hon. Trustee, Committee of Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)(current)

Member, Advisory Group, Australia Worldwide, Solutions for a Sustainable Future (current)

Member and Signatory, The Australian Multicultural Foundation (current)

Chairman, Positive Ageing Foundation

Chairman, The Leadership Foundation

Chairman, Foundation for the New England Regional Art Museum

Chairman, RepuTex Advisory Committee

Chairman, Carbon Economy Task Force 2009

Patron, Australians For Just Refugee Programs (current)

Director, The Southern Highlands Foundation

International- Member, Asia-Pacific Business Forum

Member, Eminent Persons Group on Current and Prospective Economic and Social Performance in the UNESCAP Region

Member, UNESCAP Expert Group on Development Issues and Policies: Infrastructure Development

The Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of the United Nations and the Executive secretary on Infrastructure Financing, UNESCAP (current)

Member, The Trilateral Commission (current)

Media

Economics Consultant and Author The Economist Column, Business Review Weekly, 1983-87

Editorial Advisor, Member Advisory Board and Columnist Triple A magazine

Australian Correspondent for International Reports (a Financial Times subsidiary based in New York)

Regular Columnist Australian Financial Review (more than 10 years and current)

Weekly Columnist The Southern Highlands News (current)

Weekly Commentator Sky News Agenda

Regular commentator widely, radio/ TV/ newspapers

A host of invited columns in Australian and overseas publications

Many Columns have led the public debate in areas such as RBA independence, inflation targeting, floating $A, monetary/fiscal/micro reform, privatization, tariff reform, labour market reform, the Future Fund, climate change/sustainability, opposition to Iraq war, traffic congestion/pricing of road space, and a host of others.

Member Gruen Nation ABC program 2010 Federal Election

Speaking Topics Include

Forging Ties between Asia and Australia

 Politics, Economics and Business

 Surviving in a Competitive Business Environment