FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER & PODCAST HOST

The Hon John Anderson AC FTSE is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from North- West New South Wales, who spent 19 years from 1989 in the Australian Parliament. This included six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister as a member of the reformist government led by John Howard. The Liberal-National Party coalition oversaw enormous economic reform, including taxation modernisation and the maintenance of a string of budget-surpluses, which resulted in the Australian government leaving a cash surplus when it left office in 2007.

John’s recent contributions to public debate have included his Conversations YouTube and podcast series, where he interviews various thought leaders from around the world (johnanderson.net.au). His interviews have now been viewed and listened to millions of times and the influence they have on the wider debate is growing all the time.

John is also active in the not-for-profit sector and has been a sought-after speaker in both Australia and abroad. On leaving politics, Anderson, known as a man of simple Christian faith, was saluted by figures on both sides with overflowing praise; the then Prime Minister John Howard extolling: “I have not met a person with greater integrity in public life”.

OPINION COLUMNIST

Whether she’s piercing pomposity or forensically analysing politics, business and law Janet Albrechtsen is The Australian newspaper’s peerless commentator on modern life.

She has previously also written for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Quadrant, The Spectator and Canada’s National Post, Vancouver Sun and Calgary Herald and The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to that, Janet worked as a solicitor at Freehills, has a doctorate in law from the University of Sydney Law School, and also taught at that Law School.

Janet was a director, then chairman of the world’s oldest free market think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs, and has served as a director on boards of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the Australian National Museum, and she was a member of federal government’s four-person ABC & SBS Board Appointments Panel.

CHIEF POLITICAL WRITER

Brendan O’Neil was Spiked magazine’s editor from 2007 to 2021 and is currently their chief political writer. He also hosts the weekly podcast "The Brendan O’Neill Show" where he discusses the big ideas and the bad ideas with an esteemed guest.

His journalism has been widely published on both sides of the Atlantic, including in the Spectator, the New Statesman, the Guardian, the Catholic Herald, the American Prospect, Reason, Slate and Salon magazines, and the Christian Science Monitor.

His previous collections of essays include A Duty to Offend and Anti-Woke. He is the author of Can I Recycle My Granny and 39 Other Eco-Dilemmas – a satire on the green movement. His latest book The Heretic’s Manifesto, a collection of original essays, Brendan remakes the case for heresy - and commits a few heresies of his own along the way.

CEO OF THE ATLAS SOCIETY

Jennifer Anju Grossman -- JAG -- became the CEO of the Atlas Society in March of 2016. She shifted the organisation’s focus to engaging young people with the ideas of Ayn Rand in creative ways, such as animated videos, graphic novels, and social media, while also expanding into international markets.

Prior to joining The Atlas Society, JAG served as Senior Vice President of Dole Food Company, launching the Dole Nutrition Institute—a research and education organisation—at the behest of Dole Chairman David H. Murdock. Previously, JAG served as Director of Education at the Cato Institute, and worked closely with the late philanthropist Theodore J. Forstmann to launch the Children’s Scholarship Fund. A speechwriter for President George H. W. Bush, JAG has written for both national and local publications. She graduated with honours from Harvard College.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Scott is the Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs. He joined the IPA staff in 2015 having been a member of the IPA for over twenty years prior to that. During that time he gained experience in a range of private and public organisations, including periods as a political adviser, consulting, in corporate affairs, and managing small businesses.

Amongst other roles he is Editor of the IPA Review and was co-host of the IPA's Looking Forward Podcast (2019-2020). As can be seen from his publication record at the IPA, he is (for instance) for smaller government, individual freedom, and western civilisation, and against the infusion of post-modernism into our education system, climate catastrophism, and government waste.

As Executive Director he provides direction and coordination of planning and operations across the IPA, taking a particular interest in corporate and governance functions. He works closely with the climate change research team, including in the production of the Climate Change: The Facts series.

He has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Economics, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy, an MBA from the Melbourne Business School, and a Master of Commercial Law.

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Stephen Wilson is an energy economist with 30 years’ experience on assignments in over 30 countries. During that time, he has been involved in most parts of the wider energy sector along the value chain from primary energy to end users, in electricity, gas and the transport sector.

Over 20 years of his experience is in consulting, providing commercial and policy advice, drawing on economic analysis and strategy in energy and resources for financial, corporate and government clients. Stephen spent five years leading energy industry and market analysis for a large corporation.

For the past four years he has been involved in academia, in research and teaching. Stephen is now continuing his involvement in research supervision on a part-time basis, while his main focus now is on advisory work, including commercialisation of new technology and startup ventures.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL COMMENTATOR

Gemma Tognini is an influential social and political commentator, columnist, writer, broadcaster and award-winning business owner.

The unique road on which she has walked over a 30-year career makes her a highly relevant and engaging speaker for a range of audiences. Gemma is also a seasoned MC and has appeared on countless panels as both a moderator and presenter at a very senior level.

Gemma writes a leading opinion column each Saturday in the Weekend Australian, which is read by an average 4 million people across print and digital platforms each month. She has a unique ability to tap into the conversations taking place around boardrooms and breakfast tables all around Australia, with her writing making her one of the paper’s most popular columnists.

Day to day, Gemma is the founder and executive director of GT Communications, a boutique corporate affairs, and consumer PR firm with offices in Sydney and Perth, that specialises in building, growing and protecting the reputations of its client partners. The company recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and partners with clients here, nationally and around the world.

Gemma and her team advise CEOS, boards and companies in a range of sectors. From banks to breweries, privately owned to listed entities, government and not for profit organisations, Gemma leads a team that is one of the most sought-after in their field.

As a writer, Gemma has become known for sharp, insightful and fearless commentary on a wide range of issues affecting everyday Australians. Be it politics and policy, social issues or topics others are not brave enough to tackle, Gemma brings a sharp view, a deft touch and a unique insight to the issues she writes about. Her columns drive debates and influence conversations. She is a sought-after contributor to a range of programs on Sky News Channel and a contributing broadcaster on radio stations across the country.

Gemma is a previous winner (2014) and finalist (2017) in the prestigious Telstra Business Awards. She has served as a non-executive director of Surf Life Saving WA, The Salvation Army (WA) and the Starlight Childrens’ Foundation.

FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Gary Banks is best known as founding Chairman of the Productivity Commission, serving under both Coalition and Labor Governments from 1998 to 2012. He led many public inquiries in key reform areas as well as chairing COAG’s Review of Government Services. He also headed the PM’s Regulation Taskforce, which produced its influential report ‘Rethinking Regulation’ in 2006.

On leaving the Productivity Commission, Gary was appointed Dean of the Australia New Zealand School of Government and a Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne Institute. For several years, he was on the Board of the Macquarie Group and chaired the OECD’s Regulatory Policy Committee. He was also a member of the PM’s Business Advisory Council. Gary’s early career was spent at the GATT/WTO in Geneva and at the Trade Policy Research Centre, London. He continues to consult internationally on structural reforms.

Gary is currently a Senior Fellow with the Centre for Independent Studies and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia. He has received various awards for his contributions to public policy, including the Economic Society’s ‘Distinguished Public Policy Fellows Award’ and the Order of Australia. In August last year he gave the Shann Memorial Lecture in Perth on ‘Australia’s productivity malaise’.

DIRECTOR, FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILISATION PROGRAM

Dr. Bella d’Abrera is the Director, Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs. She has BA in History and Spanish from Monash University, an MA in Spanish from the University of St Andrews, and a PhD in History from the University of Cambridge.

She has written and illustrated a children’s book, is the author of The Tribunal of Zaragoza and Crypto-Judaism 1484-1515 and a trilogy on the English Reformation. She is currently on the Advisory Committee for the National Archives and is also member of ‘History Reclaimed’ a counter-offensive against “fake history” comprising a group of more than 40 senior UK and Anglosphere academics.

Bella is a regular contributor to The Spectator Australia, the Herald Sun, the Daily Telegraph and The Australian., and appears regularly on Sky News.

CEO OF THE RAMSAY CENTRE FOR WESTERN CIVILISATION

Professor Simon Haines has been the founding CEO of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation since 2017. He is a distinguished scholar, teacher and author, and lifelong advocate for the humanities. Educated in Iraq, England and Australia, with a BA from the Australian National University and a DPhil from the University of Oxford, Simon Haines began his career as a banker in London and then served as a diplomat and analyst with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of National Assessments. He led the OECD Budget Committee as Chairman from 1985-1987. He was Reader in English, Head of English and later Head of Humanities at the Australian National University, where he taught from 1990 to 2008. From 2009 to 2020 he was Chair Professor of English at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he also served as Director of the Research Centre for Human Values. He is a founding member of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities. Currently Adjunct Professor at the Australian Catholic University, he is the author or editor of five books and many articles on aspects of Western literature and philosophy.

FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NERO RESOURCE FUND

Mr Delroy is the Founder and Managing Director of Nero Resource Fund. His Fund has delivered sector leading returns of ~25% p.a. (+981% absolute return) since its inception in 2013. With over 20 years’ experience in funds management, corporate finance and executive management Mr Delroy has a proven track record in unlocking shareholder value through active company engagement. Examples include Carnarvon Energy (2023 Board renewal), Capricorn Metals (2019 Board renewal), Warrego Energy (acquired 2023) and Talon Energy (acquired 2023).

PRESIDENT OF THE PASTORALISTS & GRAZIERS ASSOCIATION OF WA (PGA)

Tony Seabrook is the current President of the Pastoralists & Graziers Association of WA (PGA) having been elected in February 2014 and has been actively involved with the PGA for more than 40 years.

Tony commenced his farming career at York in 1968, having completed his education at a Perth boarding school and operated both a contract harvesting and an earthmoving business in conjunction with farming over a 25 year period.

Over the past 20 years Tony has also been heavily involved in an import and retail operation AGIMPORTS PTY LTD, sourcing large agricultural, earthmoving and transport equipment from the USA and China. This business is ongoing and has required extensive travel throughout China.

Tony has been active in agricultural education with time spent on the Board of Muresk Institute of Agriculture, has a passion for agri-politics and for advancing prosperity in Agriculture.

Tony continues to live in York and farm their “Seabourne” property with his family, producing wheat, barley, canola, wool, red meat and export hay. He is a vehement opponent of unwanted bureaucratic interference in industry and has spent his adult life fighting Government over-regulation.

BARRISTER

Steve Whybrow SC graduated from the ANU in 1989 with a science/law degree. After working as a Crown prosecutor with both the Commonwealth and ACT DPPs for 12 years he was called to the Bar in 2002.

With 30+ years experience, Steve is an experienced advocate with a wide practice compassing criminal and common law, inquiries/inquests, commercial and work health and safety matters. He has appeared in numerous high profile, confronting or controversial matters including the Clarke Inquiry into the case of Dr Muhamad Haneef, the Implosion of Royal Canberra Hospital, the inquest into the 2002 Canberra Bushfires, the Montara Oil Rig spill and the Dreamworld Tragedy.

Steve is reserve member of the RAAF, appearing in various Military Tribunals both as prosecutor and defending officer, and represented a number of individuals in the Brereton Afghanistan War Crimes Inquiry. He has deployed to the Middle East to undertake sensitive inquiries as part of his reserve service.

Steve was President of the ACT Bar Association from 2018-2020 and acted as pupil master to nine readers before his appointment as Senior Counsel in 2022.

Most recently Steve represented Bruce Lehrmann at both the criminal trial and in the recent Federal Court defamation proceedings. Having (so far) survived that ever evolving and seemingly never ending saga, Steve recently relocated to Perth to continue practice.

Steve is an outspoken advocate for the Rule of Law and regularly speaks at legal conferences on issues such as civil litigation, criminal law, advocacy (especially cross examination) and evidence.

RESEARCH FELLOW, NATIONAL MANAGER FOR GENERATION LIBERTY

Brianna McKee is a Research Fellow and National Manager for Generation Liberty at the Institute of Public Affairs.

Prior to joining the IPA in 2022, she worked for two years at Sky News Australia, first as a Digital Producer before being promoted to Digital Reporter.

During her time in journalism, Brianna engaged with complex political events on a daily basis, writing news stories about matters of domestic and international significance. Her stories were regularly among the most read each week for the network.

She has also written articles for The Spectator and contributed to publications like the Herald Sun and the Daily Telegraph. Sydney born and bred, Brianna was home schooled and studied at Campion College Australia from 2017-2019 and received a bachelor’s degree in the Liberal Arts, graduating top of her class.

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR YOUTH POLICY

Freya Leach is the Director of the Centre for Youth Policy. She is completing a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney. She began her career working in Macroeconomics research at UBS . She has written opinion pieces for the Australian, appeared on the ABC's Q&A and SkyNews. Freya was a vocal advocate against the Voice, producing TikToks which amassed over 2.5 million views. She has a broad range of policy interests and is focussed on restoring young peoples' faith in Australian values through better policy and engagement.

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SERICA LEGAL & ADVISORY

Dan Ryan is a lawyer who has been involved in the think tank world in the Asia Pacific for over 20 years. For over a decade he served with Ron Manners as a board member of Hong Kong's leading free market think tank, The Lion Rock Institute. He has been published in the opinion pages of The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, and The Wall Street Journal, amongst others.

He has particular expertise in China. For almost 15 years he worked in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai with leading international law firms and as general counsel to technology companies. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and was appointed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop a board member of the Australia-China Council. He is Executive Director of the newly-created The National Conservative Institute of Australia.

CHAIRMAN OF MANNWEST GROUP PTY LTD

Ron Manners AO Prospector & Poet Ron Manners AO is Chairman of Mannwest Group Pty Ltd (est. 1895) . Between 1972 & 1995, Ron floated several ASX-listed mining companies, before joining the board of a Canadian company with operations in Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey. Ron is also the founder and a director of the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation (est. 1997), which sponsors students to receive internships and attend conferences across the globe. This gives them the opportunity to learn about policy from international think tanks – and bring new ideas back to Western Australia. Mannkal is a free market think tank promoting voluntary cooperation, personal rights, responsibility, and resourcefulness. The Foundation’s Leadership Development Program is now a celebrated education initiative, benefiting more than 2,000 Western Australian students.