SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
The Hon. John Anderson AO is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from North-West New South Wales, who spent 19 years from 1989 in the Australian Parliament. This included six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister as a member of the reformist government led by John Howard. The Liberal-National Party coalition oversaw enormous economic reform, including taxation modernisation and the maintenance of a string of budget-surpluses, which resulted in the Australian government leaving a cash surplus when it left office in 2007. John was also made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his support of rural and regional communities.
John’s recent contributions to public debate have included his Conversations YouTube and podcast series, where he interviews various thought leaders from around the world (johnanderson.net.au). His interviews have now been viewed and listened to millions of times and the influence they have on the wider debate is growing all the time.
John is also active in the not-for-profit sector and has been a sought-after speaker in both Australia and abroad. On leaving politics, Anderson, known as a man of simple Christian faith, was saluted by figures on both sides with overflowing praise; the then Prime Minister John Howard extolling: “I have not met a person with greater integrity in public life”.