Emerson Economics provides expert economic and strategic advice to businesses, peak bodies and governments.

Managing Director, Dr Craig Emerson, has 40 years’ experience in policy, politics and public service. He holds a PhD in Economics.

Dr Emerson is Executive Chair of the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University. He is also Adjunct Professor at Victoria University’s Centre of Policy Studies and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University.

He was Reviewer of the Payment Times Reporting Scheme (2023), the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (2024) and the Australian Grape and Wine Industry (2024-2025).

Dr Emerson is a former Australian Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research. Prior to that, he was Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Minister for Small Business.

As Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Dr Emerson introduced the Competition and Consumer Act (2010) into the Australian Parliament, replacing the outdated Trade Practices Act (1974).

In the Rudd Government, Dr Emerson chaired the regulatory reform group of the Council of Australian Governments and developed a program of reform in 27 areas of business regulation towards a seamless national economy.

Dr Emerson was a member of an Expert Advisory Panel on Deregulation during the period of the Morrison Government.

Dr Emerson was Economic and Environmental Adviser to Prime Minister Bob Hawke. He has also worked as a senior public servant, heading the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage and the Southeast Queensland Transit Authority.

Dr Emerson’s early career was as Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Economic Adviser to Finance Minister Peter Walsh, and Economic Analyst at the United Nations.

Dr Emerson has a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University.