Craig Emerson
Dr Craig Emerson is an eminent Australian economist with 40 years of experience in public policy, politics and public service.
A former senior Cabinet Minister, he served as Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Asian Century Policy.
He also held earlier portfolios including Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Deregulation, and Small Business, leading landmark reforms such as introducing into Parliament the Competition and Consumer Act (2010) and chairing national regulatory initiatives towards a Seamless National Economy through COAG.
Dr Emerson was economic and environmental adviser to Prime Minister Bob Hawke from 1986 to 1990.
He held senior executive roles across government and international institutions, including Assistant Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Director-General of the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, CEO of the South East Queensland Transit Authority and Economic Analyst at the United Nations.
He is now Managing Director of Emerson Economics, providing independent economic and strategic advice to governments, peak bodies and businesses.
He also serves as Executive Chair of the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University, is a Distinguished Fellow at The Australian National University, and an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University.
Recent appointments include independent reviewer of the Wine and Grape Industry (2024–25), the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (2024), and the Payment Times Reporting Scheme (2023), alongside his roles on the National Competition Council, the Bradfield Development Authority, and Co-Chair of the Australia–China High-Level Dialogue.
Dr Emerson holds a PhD in Economics from The Australian National University, where he studied under Professor Ross Garnaut, as well as a Master of Economics and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from The University of Sydney.
Widely published on trade, taxation and reform, he continues to shape public policy through research, high-level advisory work and national commentary.