Public Sector Economics

Keynote Speaker

Danielle Wood

Ms Danielle Wood is the Chair of the Productivity Commission and is one of the most visible and highly regarded economists in Australia. She is a passionate advocate for women in economics through advocacy and example. She is the first woman to chair the Commission or any of its predecessors, and the first woman President of the Economic Society of Australia in its 99-year history.

Prior to joining the Commission, she was CEO of the Grattan Institute and Head of its Budgets and Government Program. During her time at Grattan, Danielle also held roles as a member of the Australian Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, the Parliamentary Budget Office Expert Advisory Committee, the Jobs and Skills Australia Consultative Forum, and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Research Committee.

Ms Wood has previously worked in senior roles at the ACCC and NERA Economic Consulting. She has published extensively on economic reform priorities, budgets, tax reform, women’s workforce participation, generational inequality, and reforming political institutions. She is also a passionate advocate for women in economics and was the co-founder and first Chair of the Women in Economics Network. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Economic Society of Australia and a Research Fellow of the Women’s Leadership Institute. She is currently an ex-officio member of the Australian Government’s Competition Review Expert Advisory Panel.

Ms Wood earned her Master of Commerce (Economics) with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne in 2005. She also earned her Master of Competition and Consumer Law from the University of Melbourne with First Class Honours in 2015.