Dr 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.

Since leaving politics Dr Hewson has forged a very successful career in investment banking and at the elite levels of business.

Dr Hewson is a member of the Advisory Council for ABN AMRO Australia and Chairman of The John Hewson Group Pty Limited, Global Renewables Limited, Universal Bus Company Pty Ltd (UBC), Strategic Capital Management Limited and Belle Property Pty Ltd. He is also a director of Macquarie Graduate School of Management and other public and private companies.

With this background, John Hewson offers audiences around the world a unique view of politics, economics and business.

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John Hewson entered politics in 1987 as the Member for Wentworth and became Shadow Minister for Finance then Shadow Treasurer before being elected the 24th Leader of the Opposition in 1990, a position he held until May 1994. Previously he had been advisor to two successive Federal Treasurers. He left politics in 1995.

In his earlier career, Dr Hewson’s appointments included economist positions with the International Monetary Fund and the Reserve Bank of Australia, Head of the School of Economics at the University of New South Wales, adviser to Sumitomo Bank and on the Executive Committee for Macquarie Bank.

He also held some 30 major economic and financial consultancies to financial institutions and various industry organisations and associations including Bank of America, The Midland Bank, The Australian Bank, FW Holst & Co., OCBC and Australian Merchant Bankers Association.

Dr Hewson has been committed to environmental issues since meeting former US vice president and climate campaigner Al Gore and has had direct involvement in ventures including a waste recycling and methane extraction facility in Sydney. He also chaired the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development for six years.

In 2001 Dr Hewson was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia – For service to business and economics, to the Australian Parliament and politics, and to the community.

Dr Hewson was political commentator on ABC TV during the 2010 federal election campaign and makes regular contributions to political commentary. He is also a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review.

Dr Hewson is also a strong supporter of the Not for Profit sector and in 2011 was President of the Arthritis Foundation of Australia and Chairman of Osteoporosis Australia, Positive Ageing Foundation and The Leadership Foundation, amongst others.