2024 Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon

The Treasurer is the Hon. Stephen Mullighan MP.

Stephen was appointed Treasurer in the Labor Government in March 2022.

Stephen was first elected as the Member for Lee in the South Australian Parliament in 2014.

In 2014, he was appointed the Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, and in 2016 added the portfolios of Housing and Urban Development.

Prior to entering the Parliament, Stephen led Deloitte’s economics team in Adelaide between 2010-2013, providing economic advice to corporate clients, the non-profit sector and state and federal governments.

Stephen is a proud western suburb resident, is married to Antonia, and they have three children Benjamin, Isaac and Olivia.

Along with his responsibility as Treasurer, his portfolio responsibilities include Finance.

I am an economist with a keen interest in how things work - especially when trying to juggle competing interests like growth and sustainability. I undertake research and outreach on issues of importance to South Australians, notably that deal with the economy. I believe firmly in a few things including:

An education is a useful thing;

Prices are an imperfect mechanism to reflect value;

One needs to give back to the community.

Prior to joining UniSA Business I headed the Emerging Policy Issues Division at the OECD. That work focused on issues relating trade and the environment, the digital economy and subsidies. I also led the team that developed the OECD METRO model, a computable general equilibrium trade model. I spent two years at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as Director, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division where I worked with governments to support trade, trade facilitation, foreign direct investment, SME development, technology and technology transfer, and innovation.

My curisoity has led me to opportunities across the globe including as a Senior Research Fellow at the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo, a Research Manager at the Productivity Commission in Melbourne and a Senior Analyst at the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington DC. Way back in the beginning I worked as a Financial Valuation Analyst in the private sector.

A dual United-States/Australian citizen, I received my PhD in International Economics and a Master’s Degree in Business and Finance, from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Rick Persse was appointed to lead the Department for Education in June 2016.

Rick joined the department after a successful 4 year period as Chief Executive of the Attorney-General’s Department where he was central to delivery of the government’s program of criminal, civil and administrative justice reform.

With expertise in policy and strategy development, change management, public sector reform and project delivery, Rick’s knowledge of public administration was gained from an expansive career working at a variety of South Australian central government agencies at an executive level.

Prior to being appointed to the role of Chief Executive, Attorney-General’s Department, Rick worked with government and non-government clients as PricewaterhouseCoopers SA Government and Health Leader.
Rick has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management from Griffith University.