Appointment of Productivity Commission Chair

The Albanese Government will recommend to the Governor General that Danielle Wood be appointed as the next Chair of the Productivity Commission for a term of five years.

The previously announced candidate for the position, Chris Barrett, has informed the Government he is not proceeding with the appointment and has decided not to take up the role.

Ms Wood is an outstanding economist who will bring exceptional public policy expertise to the Productivity Commission. Her track record of leadership and innovative research at the Grattan Institute will greatly contribute to the PC’s mission.

Ms Wood will be the first woman to lead the Productivity Commission or any of its predecessor agencies that stretch back for more than a century.

Ms Wood was previously Principal Economist and Director of Merger Investigations at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, a senior economist at NERA Economic Consulting, and a senior research economist at the Productivity Commission.

She was the President of the Economic Society of Australia and – as a passionate advocate for women in economics – was the co‑founder and first Chair of the Women in Economics Network.

Ms Wood, originally from Adelaide, has an honours degree in economics from Adelaide University and Masters degrees in both economics and competition law from Melbourne University.

Her appointment follows a merit‑based process involving interviews with two departmental secretaries and the APS Commissioner.

Subject to the Governor General’s approval, Ms Wood will take up her position as soon as possible. Until then, the standing acting arrangements will apply.

I thank Mr Barrett and wish him well with future endeavours. He is a talented and experienced public policy professional who will continue to make a meaningful contribution.

In a rapidly changing global economy, the Productivity Commission is more important than ever in providing world‑class advice on productivity as well as prosperity and progress more broadly.

I look forward to working closely with Ms Wood on the Albanese Government’s agenda to renew, refocus and renovate this core economic institution.