Today I announce the appointment of Ms Karen Chester as a full-time Commissioner of the Productivity Commission (Commission) for a five year period; and the reappointment of Mr Philip Weickhardt as a part-time Commissioner of the Commission for a further 12 month period.
The Commission is the Australian Government’s principal advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation. The Commission’s work covers all sectors of the economy. It extends to the public and private sectors and focuses on areas of Australian Government as well as State and Territory responsibility.
The Commission is an independent authority established under the Productivity Commission Act 1998.
Ms Chester is currently a partner with MERCER and Global Head of Infrastructure. She has extensive experience in Commonwealth central departments and in the private sector including as a partner in Access Capital Advisers and as Chief Executive Officer of Access Economics.
Mr Weickhardt has been a Commissioner with the Commission since January 2004. He previously served as an Associate Commissioner in 2002 and 2003. Prior to this period, he was CEO and Managing Director of Orica Limited (previously ICI Australia Limited).