Dr Peter
Jonson

Speaker Profile

Peter Jonson is a leading economist who communicates with wit and in plain English. He worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia for 16 years as an economist, Head of Research and Board advisor, as well as chairing three funding committees for the Australian government, and for the past decade he has acted as a professional company director, serving on boards including Village Roadshow Ltd (since 2001, currently lead independent director), Bionomics Ltd (Chairman 2005 to 2009), Pro Medicus Ltd (from 2000 to 2010) and Metal Storm Ltd (2006 to 2009), as well as private companies in the biotech and defence sectors.

In addition to corporate assignments, Peter has chaired three funding committees for the Australian government, most recently as Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Committee (2005 to 2010). He was founding Chair of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation Ltd (2002 to 2007) and Chair of the Melbourne Institute Advisory Board (1992 to 2002), since retirement Chair emeritus.

Peter first worked as a senior tutor at Melbourne University in 1971. He was an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1972 to 1988, completing a PhD at the London School of Economics between 1973 and 1975. He was appointed Head of Research in 1981 and from then was responsible for economic forecasts and for advice to the Board both on the setting of monetary policy and on economic policy matters. The latter issues included floating the Australian dollar and the case for the creation of an independent central bank with a mandate to prevent inflation.

Peter's second career was in the private financial services industry, from 1989 to 1999. He was CEO of Norwich Union's Australian business and Managing Director and then Chairman of ANZ Funds Management.

He is the founder and editor of HenryThornton.com, a virtual guide to economics, politics and investments. Henry Thornton's monthly article on Australia's monetary policy published in The Australian on the morning of each meeting of the Reserve Bank board. Henry's blog posted most days on the website.

Peter's book Great Crises of Capitalism was published by Connor Court in March 2011. He plans never to retire.