We're please to announce our panel for our 2022 Federal Budget event, hosted online at 1:00pm (AEDT) on the 24th of March. Launching our corresponding 'Budget Blueprint 2022' report, Blueprint Institute has compiled a stellar panel of leaders in academia and business to discuss current themes—and future implication—of Australia's economy.

Please click here to register for the event. We've got a fantastic panel lined up:

• David Cross is a public policy expert and leader with extensive experience across multiple portfolio areas to senior government ministers, heads of departments, c-suite business leaders, and university Vice-Chancellors. Prior to joining Blueprint, David was Chief of Staff to the NSW Minister for Education and Early learning and led the crafting of significant pieces of education reform. He has also worked as a public policy adviser to the University of Sydney and as a business analyst in the private sector. David holds a Masters degree (MPhil) from the University of Cambridge in politics and international studies, and a first class honours degree from ANU. He is presently completing a PhD in public policy at the University of Sydney.

• Kevin McCann is Chairman of Telix Pharmaceuticals and China Matters, and a Director of E&P Financial Limited. He is a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House Trust, a Member of the Champions of Change Coalition, a Presiding Pro Chancellor of the University of Sydney, a member of the John Grill Institute of Projects – Advisory Board, a Member of Barker College Council and Origin Foundation Pty Limited and a Director of the Australian Haydn Ensemble Inc. He is a former Chairman of Macquarie Group Limited and Macquarie Bank Limited, Origin Energy Limited, Healthscope Limited and ING Management Limited, Fellow of the University of Sydney and former Chair of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and the National Library of Australia Foundation and Vice Chairman, New Colombo Plan Reference Group and a former Director of the United States Studies Centre. Kevin practised in Commercial Law as a Partner of Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens) from 1970 to 2004 and was Chairman of Partners from 1995 to 2004. Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts and Law (Honours) from Sydney University and a Master of Law from Harvard University. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020 for services to the business, corporate governance, and as an advocate for gender equity.

• Sarah Hunter is a Senior Economist and Partner in KPMG’s Economics and Tax Centre. She is a leader in the firm’s economic advisory practice, where she helps clients to navigate through current economic conditions and prepare for future developments. Sarah has over a decade of experience as a professional economist, working in the UK and the US prior to moving to Sydney in 2015. She is one of Australia’s most respected economic experts, with her insights and forecasts often featured in the media, and is currently a member of the ANU Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis RBA Shadow Board.

• Adam McKissack leads economic policy and analysis work within the Business Council of Australia, working closely with Australia’s leading chief executives and representatives from their companies to shape public policy and promote economic growth. He was formerly a senior executive in the Australian Treasury and has a breadth of experience advising governments on economic policy issues. He has held various roles in the Treasury and other government agencies covering areas such as preparation of the Federal Budget, macroeconomic forecasting, international finance, tax, structural reform and foreign investment policy. Adam’s international experience covers more than four years working as Minister-Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Beijing as well as a stint in Finance Canada in Ottawa where he worked on international economic issues. Adam holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney.

• Kate Carnell is a company director and small business advisor. Kate has extensive experience and knowledge in the business sector, having run her own small businesses for 15 years before becoming ACT Chief Minister in 1995 for a five-year period. Kate completed her five-year term as the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) in March 2021. Prior to her appointment, Kate held the position of CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which represents more than 300,000 businesses across Australia. She has also served as CEO of beyondblue, CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, CEO of the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) and CEO of the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI). A pharmacist by profession, Kate was the inaugural chair of the ACT Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the first female to become the National Vice-President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Kate was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 for her services to the community through contributions to economic development and support for the business sector, knowledge industries, the medical sector and medical technology advances.

• Jeff Borland is Truby Williams Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne. His main research interests are analysis of labour markets in Australia, program and policy evaluation and design, and Australian economic history. Jeff is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and in 2020 he received the annual Distinguished Fellow award from the Economic Society of Australia. He is currently a member of the Board of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.

We're really excited to have you join our panel for their insights into the future of the Australian economy, both in the context of this upcoming Federal Budget, and Australia more broadly. Please register here to attend.