CEDA is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Porter as in-house Research Director.

"We are delighted to have an economist of Dr Porter’s stature and reputation as our Research Director," said CEDA's Chief Executive, David Byers.

"CEDA has an enviable reputation for providing independent research into public policy issues for over 45 years. Dr Porter's appointment will boost our capacity to contribute to the public policy debate and offer clear and incisive analysis of issues fundamental to Australia’s economic development," Mr Byers said.

"Dr Porter will have a hands-on role in shaping CEDA's research agenda, and continuing to access the best contributions from Australia's academic, business and government communities," he added.

"Dr Porter's knowledge, experience and involvement in a range of economic, fiscal, infrastructure and governance reform issues both here and abroad, make him exceptionally well suited for the role."

Dr Porter is Founder and Executive Chairman, Tasman Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, the Tasman Institute and Tasman Economics. His most recent role is with the CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory Group (a Standard & Poor's company) which is working with the IFC and the Ministry of Finance in Indonesia to establish an Infrastructure Investment Financing Facility. His previous experience includes senior roles with Macquarie Bank's infrastructure group in 1998–2002 on projects across Australia, New Zealand and a number of Asian countries, and on the Project Victoria reform process between 1991 and 1996.

Dr Porter was Professor and founding Director of the Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS), Monash University, between 1979 and 1990. Under Dr Porter, CoPS received a Commonwealth Research Centre of Excellence Award in 1982, one of 10 centres so designated across all disciplines in Australia and the only such grant in Economics.CoPS lead a major reform program covering taxation, environment, resources and the financial sector. CoPS in the 1980s, and its successor the Tasman Institute in the 1990s, played a lead role in preparation of reform strategies for Victoria under the banner of Project Victoria in 1991–92. These strategies covered electricity and gas, ports, water, transport and general reform of state enterprises, environment policy and taxation.

He has also taught at leading universities including Yale (where he was Irving Fisher Professor from 1978–79) and Stanford in the US, and Monash and the ANU in Australia.

Dr Porter said he was looking forward to building on CEDA’s substantial contribution to ideas and policy on economic and governance reform.

"The challenging domestic and international economic and environment situation called for a major rethink of key policies and institutions," Dr Porter said.

"The application of the best possible ideas from Australia and beyond is crucial to the continued strong performance of the Australian economy and society."

CEDA Research includes four key themes:

• Foundations for economic growth: trade and international relations, infrastructure, energy, technology and innovation, regulation and federal/state relations.
• Building human capital: education and learning, ageing, health and healthcare, workforce participation and indigenous affairs.
• Sustainable development: water issues and climate change.
• Emerging issues: the Big Issues project.

Dr Porter's appointment is effective from 14 July 2008.