Adjunct Professor Paul Barratt

Biography

Paul Hunter Barratt AO is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker. He is currently Deputy Chairman of the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures and Chairman of Australia 21.

Paul Barratt had a career in Commonwealth Government service spanning more than 30 years, culminating in appointments as Secretary to the Departments of Primary Industries and Energy (1996-98) and Defence (1998-99). In that time his main focus was on resources, energy, primary industry and international trade, with a strong emphasis on bilateral trade negotiations. He has conducted Australian government business in more than 30 countries, with a strong emphasis on China and Japan.

A strong theme in his international trade negotiating role was to seek close alignment of the trade-supporting activities of the government with the commercial objectives of Australian-based firms.

His international experience gave him a strong interest in the factors affecting the international competitiveness of Australian business, an interest that he was able to pursue as Executive Director of the Business Council of Australia from 1992-96. Key themes in the Business Council’s program at that time included workplace relations and labour market reform; business innovation; national competition policy; electricity and gas reform, and climate change.

Since departing the Australian Public Service he has been self-employed in a variety of roles in either self established companies or non-profit organisations with a strong research and public interest focus.