DATE: Tuesday, 11th February 2025
VENUE: Dame Enid Lyons Alcove Parliament House Canberra
TIME: 6.30pm-8.30pm AEDT
Join us at Parliament House, Canberra, for the IIC’s inaugural event of the year, where we will explore the Government’s new proposed digital competition regime, announced in December 2024, and its intersection with the current inquiries of the Competition Taskforce and Productivity Commission—both examining productivity gains from data and digital technology across the Australian economy.
A Timely Focus
In early December, the Treasury opened its consultation on a proposed new digital competition regime with a potential framework to introduce upfront requirements for digital platforms in the Australian economy to complement existing competition law requirements.
At the Treasurer’s request, the Productivity Commission is conducting an inquiry into harnessing data and digital technology, examining how Australia can enhance its use of data and digital technology across the economy to boost productivity growth, accelerate innovation, and improve government services for all Australians. The report from that inquiry will be provided to the Government in December 2025. Treasury’s Competition Taskforce is also examining similar issues in its Revitalising National Competition Policy inquiry.
Why Attend?
Striking the right balance between regulation and innovation will be essential for fostering competition without stifling technological progress and productivity.
Hear valuable insights from our guest speakers on how policymakers can achieve this equilibrium and what it means for businesses, productivity and the broader digital economy.
Confirmed speakers include:
Dr Adam Triggs – Partner, Mandala Partners
Adam is a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution and a visiting fellow at the ANU Crawford School as an accomplished economist and policy expert.
Previously, Adam held positions such as the Director and Head of Canberra Office at AlphaBeta, Director of the Asian Bureau of Economic Research at ANU, Resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and Economic Policy Advisor to the Assistant Treasurer, among others. He has also worked as an economic consultant for a range of organisations including the National Australia Bank, the New Zealand Government, the Bank of Japan, Treasury and the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Adam’s expertise and interests include macroeconomics, finance, competition policy, and international relations. He has also worked extensively on issues related to supply chains, sustainability and the environment, finance, and labour force challenges.
Adam holds a PhD in Economics from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is widely published in leading economics journals, making significant contributions to the field of economics.
Prof Johanna Weaver – Tech Policy Design Centre, ANU
Professor Johanna Weaver is the founding Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at The Australian National University and a Professor in the Practice of Cyber and Tech Policy.
In June 2021, Professor Weaver completed her term as Australia’s independent expert and lead negotiator on cyber issues at the United Nations. In this role she engaged with governments, industry, and civil society to shape national and international tech regulation. Earlier, Professor Weaver led the Cyber Affairs Branch at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working closely with Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs.
Professor Weaver is a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Global Advisory Board on digital threats during conflict. She is also a regular guest lecturer at the Australian National Security College.
Professor Weaver is a former diplomat, a reformed commercial litigator, and an unapologetic international law nerd. Proudly neurodiverse herself, Professor Weaver is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Alex Robson – Commissioner & Deputy Chair, Productivity Commission
Alex Robson commenced a 5-year term as a full time Commissioner and Deputy Chair of the Productivity Commission in March 2022.
Professor Robson has a broad range of experience in academia and the public and private sectors, most recently as Associate Partner at EY (Ernst and Young).
Prior to that, Professor Robson served as Australia’s Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
He also served as Senior Economic Adviser and Chief Economist to the former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, and has held a number of other positions, including Managing Director at FTI Consulting; Director at Deloitte Access Economics; Director of the Economic Policy Analysis Program at Griffith University; Lecturer in Economics at the Australian National University; and as a graduate economist at the Commonwealth Treasury in Canberra.
Professor Robson’s teaching and research has been in the fields of advanced microeconomics, game theory, public economics and public choice, law and economics, and macroeconomics.
Professor Robson holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) from James Cook University and a Master of Arts and PhD in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, USA. His research has been published in several international journals, including Economic Theory, Public Choice, the Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, and Economic Modelling. His law and economics book, Law and Markets, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2012.
In addition to his role of Deputy Chair, Professor Robson is also working on the Creating a dynamic and resilient economy and Building a more skilled and adaptable workforce inquiries.
Professor Robson leads the Productivity stream of work and co-leads the Industry and Trade stream of work at the PC.
Professor Robson has worked on:
Luke Coleman – CEO, Communications Alliance
Luke Coleman is a communications industry professional with more than 18 years’ experience working with media, vendors, operators, and government. Most recently head of government and corporate affairs at Vocus since 2019, Luke has previously worked as a chief of staff, senior adviser, and media adviser to two Communications Ministers between 2014-2018, as a public policy and communications manager for a global telecoms equipment vendor between 2010-2014, and as the editor-in-chief of Communications Day between 2007-2010; as well as a range of journalist roles in print, radio, television and online. Luke lives in Sydney with his wife and two children, and a mini Golden Retriever named Honey.
This event is kindly supported by