Roundtable with Mathias Cormann
On the 19th April 2021, the Perth USAsia Centre was pleased to hold a private roundtable with the Hon. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General Select of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Prior to commencement of his term as Secretary-General in Paris, Mr Cormann joined us to discuss trends in the Indo-Pacific, and what his leadership of the OECD will mean for the region.
The OECD is a critical thought and policy leader in global economic governance. As we move into the COVID recovery phase, the OECD’s role in shaping international economic, tax, trade and climate change policy will be more critical than ever. Mr Cormann’s appointment to this position marks Australia’s most senior appointment to an international body in decades, and reflects the increasing significance of the Indo-Pacific as the centre of gravity in the global economy.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Cormann served as a Senator for Western Australia and was Minister for Finance under the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments from 2013-2020. Mr Cormann also served as Minister for the Public Service from 2018-2019, Special Minister of State Leader of the Government in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Mr Cormann is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia Business School.
Prior to entering politics, Mr Cormann worked as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Family and Children’s Services, a Senior Adviser to West Australian Premier, the Hon Richard Court, and an adviser to the Minister for Justice and Customs. He also held senior positions at HBF Health Insurance.
Mr Cormann holds law degrees from Notre Dame de Namur University and the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
It is always a pleasure to host Mr Cormann, whose previous visit to the Centre was during his time as Minister for Finance where he spoke at the 2019 In The Zone Conference.
