Is good public policy an endangered beast?

The ACT branch of the Women in Economics Network invites you to join Karen Chester, Deputy Chair of the Productivity Commission, to hear her reflections on what’s missing in action in public policy today.

Karen will discuss why evidence, evaluation and experimentation are the three prerequisites for good public policy. Yet, like the black rhino, they are rarely seen and not often funded. Today we find ourselves, more often than not, struggling with intractable policy issues because these fundamentals are absent. Saving the 3 Es from extinction is now the imperative to reverse a decade of slow progress.

Karen will reflect upon her own experiences beginning with tariff reform in the 1980s and more recently at the Productivity Commission on superannuation and Indigenous disadvantage.

WHEN: Tuesday 17 October 2017

TIME: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

WHERE: Avenue C Wine Co, 55/65 Constitution Avenue, Campbell, ACT. Entry is from Creswell St

PARKING: Free parking is available in the car park at the corner of Constitution Ave and Wendouree Drive. Some on street parking may also be available

COST: This event is free to Members /  $10 for Non-Members

RSVP: Thursday 12 October 2017

Members - please login to register for the member rate

About Karen Chester

Karen Chester was appointed a Commissioner with the Productivity Commission in late 2013 and Deputy Chair in 2016.

Prior to her Government appointments, Karen was a Partner at Mercer and Global Head of Infrastructure.  Before joining Mercer, Karen was a Partner at Access Capital Advisers, having been the CEO of its corporate predecessor ─ Access Economics.

Karen has also held directorships on several Australian infrastructure company boards and before moving to the private sector held senior economic policy roles in the Australian Treasury and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In 2015, the Government appointed Karen to Chair an expert panel to undertake a capability review of ASIC.

Karen has a first class honours degree in economics from the University of Queensland and is a member of WEN and the ESA.