Introducing CEDA's new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Media release issued Monday, 29 November 2010

Mr Geoff Allen, National Chairman of The Committee for Economic Development of Australia, today announced the appointment of Professor the Hon Stephen Martin as CEDA's new Chief Executive Officer, to commence on 1 January, 2011.

"As we celebrate CEDA's 50^th year of contribution to policy research and debate in Australia, we are delighted that Stephen will join CEDA at a time when there is a great thirst for contributions to the quality debate on public policy and the big issues facing Australia that CEDA exists to provide," Mr Allen said. Stephen's background in politics and public policy, strong links to the University sector, and close engagement with business and economic reform issues, makes him well equipped to lead us as we embark on an ambitious program to explore longer term reform through policy research and expand our platform of national thought leadership."

Professor Martin said: "Naturally I am delighted to be appointed to such a prestigious role with Australia's foremost public policy organisation. I am very much looking forward to making a substantial contribution in developing coherent, workable policies that will enrich Australia and contribute to its continued economic and social development."

Professor Martin was a Member of the Commonwealth House of Representatives for 18 years. In Government, he was Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Banking, Finance and Public Administration and led several specific parliamentary committee inquiries, including into banking deregulation and telecommunications.

He was also Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For three years, Professor Martin was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In Opposition, he was a member of the Shadow Cabinet in various portfolios including Defence, Trade and Tourism, Sport, Small Business and Customs.

He complemented his Master's degrees in Arts and in Town and Country Planning with a PhD. in Economics at the University of Wollongong. His thesis explored financial deregulation in Australia in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Since leaving politics in 2002, he has held the positions of Professorial Fellow and Director, Corporate and Executive Education in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Wollongong; CEO and President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai; Pro Vice-Chancellor International at Victoria University; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Strategy and Planning at Curtin University.

Professor Martin was awarded the Centenary Medal and is an Honorary Professor at Hebei University of Economics and Business in the People's Republic of China.

In addition to this announcement, a staff restructure has led to Peter Fitzgerald assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer with particular oversight and support for State operations, the National conferences / forums and membership.

About CEDA

CEDA was formed in 1960 by Sir Douglas Copland to undertake objective research on economic development and to provide a forum where fresh policy approaches and thinking can be debated and discussed among government, business and academic institutions at the highest levels.

It is funded by members and sponsors committed to a deeper, broader and more insightful public policy discourse on economic development. It is not aligned with any political group or ideology. It offers an independent voice by:

• Publishing independent research and policy options,
• Providing a forum for debate ,discussion, and thought leadership, and
• Offering a membership network to people and organisation that value participation in the important debates that will shape Australia's economic future.