Industry Policy Challenges and the 2007 Federal Election - forum series

All forums will be held in the Public Policy Lecture Theatre, 2nd Floor, 234 Queensberry Street, Carlton. Click here for more venue information.

> click here to download series press coverage

Tuesday 31st July, 5:30pm

Australia: more than a beach and a quarry
with Senator Kim Carr

Senator Kim Carr is the federal Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research and was appointed to the Senate in 1993. Kim was re-elected in March 1993. Kim Carr graduated with a BA (Hons), MA and Dip Ed (Melb) and worked as a teacher from 1979 to 88 and 1992 to 93 at the former Glenroy Technical College. Between 1988 and 1992 he worked as Policy Analyst and Advisor for Joan Kirner who was then the Victorian Minister for Conservation Forest and Lands, and Minister for Education. He also worked as a Policy Advisor to the State Minister for Planning and Housing, the Hon. A. McCutcheon.

Strategic Actions to Boost Australian Manufacturing
with Bob Herbert

Until February 2004 Bob Herbert was Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) - having had 43 years with that organisation including 30 years as a Director. Bob has an impressive reputation with government, government agencies, trade unions, and community organisations and is recognised as one of Australia's most influential professionals in industrial relations.

Tuesday 7th August, 5:30pm

Industry Policy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
with Dr David Charles

David Charles has a longstanding interest in issues relating to economic growth, industrial development, innovation and international trade and investment. After completing a PhD in economics at the London School of Economics he worked for two years at UNCTAD in Geneva prior to taking up a position at the then Tariff Board in Canberra. Subsequently he held senior positions in a number of Commonwealth Government departments. From 1985 to 1990 he was the head of the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce and was directly involved in a number of significant industry and trade policy initiatives. David was the Australian Consul-General in Berlin from 1990 to 1993 and observed the process of economic transformation in the former Eastern Germany and Central European countries. From 1993 to 2006 David was a Director and Co-Chairman of the Allen Consulting Group. Since 2006 he has been the Chairman of Insight Economics which in December merged with Deloitte to form Deloitte Insight Economics. David works on a range of issues associated with industry policy in a knowledge economy.

A Trade and Industry Development Strategy to Re-position Australian Manufacturing in the Global Economy
with Nixon Apple

Nixon came to Australia from Canada in 1978 to do post graduate work. Today he works for the ACTU as an industry and investment policy advisor. He has worked for the trade union movement since 1984 and been a leading contributor to the union movements approach to trade and industry development policies. Nixon served as a member of the board of Directors of Austrade for 15 years (1986-2001) and is a member of the board of the Industry Capability Network. For the past 10 years Nixon has been a a director and member of the investment committee of Australia's largest industry superannuation Fund, Australian Super with some $28 billion in investments. Nixon is also a member of the Manufacturing Industry Council of Victoria, a past member of the Manufacturing Leaders Group of Queensland and a member of the National Manufacturing Forum whose report Strategic Actions to Boost Australian Manufacturing was released in late 2006.