John Hewson

Dr John Hewson is one of Australia's most experienced economists, financial experts and company directors. He is also a former politician and was Leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1990 to 1994. In 2001 he was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia. John is Professor and Chair of the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the ANU, and is an adjunct professor at five other universities.

Dr Hewson has been a climate activist since the late 80s, and took a significant climate commitment, as part of his Fightback package, to the ’93 election. He chaired the National Business Leaders’ Forum for Sustainable Development, that brought former Vice President Al Gore to Australia in 2003, and chaired the Asset Owners Disclosure Project that surveyed, rated and ranked the world’s top 500 asset owners on their management of climate risk. He is currently Chair of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, and a Patron of the Smart Energy Council.

Dr Hewson has been involved with a range of bio-energy projects in Australia and offshore, ranging from household garbage recycling and several waste to energy projects – electricity, biodiesel and ethanol, as well as several solar, thermal storage, and energy efficiency projects.