The Idea and the Reality – Lessons on the Conditions for Economic Reform

The Economic Society of Australia Young Professionals is pleased to present our next breakfast event – The Idea and the Reality – Lessons on the Conditions for Economic Reform.

“Economic reform” is a much-used catch-cry by academics; talking heads; our politicians; and the Canberra Press Gallery. But the reality of economic reform has proven far more difficult to grasp than the idea. Lessons from history show that it has taken a unique set of political and economic conditions to realise this fraught concept.

At the next ESA Young Professionals breakfast, we are fortunate to have a speaker with vast experience in public policy to give an insight into what economic reform looks like and what it takes to bring it about.

Anna Cronin has been closely involved in policy development for 25 years, including as Chief of Staff to Jeff Kennett when he was Premier of Victoria; and as CEO of the National Farmers' Federation for five years.

Over her career, Anna has been at the coal face of some of the largest economic reforms in recent Australian history, including the privatisation of Victoria’s electricity assets into a competitive market; and streamlining mining approval processes in Western Australia, on the eve of the largest mining boom that the country has seen.

Anna is now Victoria's first Commissioner for Better Regulation, appointed by the Victorian government in 2015.

As Commissioner for Better Regulation, it's Anna's job to:

• advise the Victorian Government on regulatory and legislative policy and design;
• review policy impact assessments developed for government policy;
• Chair the Victorian Regulators' Forum; and
• undertake research and prepare advise on regulatory matters for the Victorian Treasurer.

Anna graduated from the Australian National University, majoring in economics and econometrics. She then worked as an economist in the Federal Government in Canberra. She has worked in executive and leadership roles in Federal and State governments around Australia.

She has also held a number of board positions in the government and not for profit sectors. She has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Melbourne School of Government at the University of Melbourne.

We hope you can join Anna and the ESA Young Professionals, for what is sure to be an engaging breakfast discussion.