Former Liberal minister Jamie Briggs to become PwC Australia’s Adelaide managing partner

Ex-federal Liberal minister Jamie Briggs has made an extraordinary return from political oblivion to take a leadership role in Adelaide business.

Kim Cheater (left) and Jamie Briggs at PwC's Adelaide office. Picture Dean Martin

Former federal Liberal minister Jamie Briggs is making an extraordinary comeback from political oblivion to become the Adelaide chief of one of the big four professional services firms.

The Advertiser can reveal Mr Briggs will become managing partner of PwC Australia’s Adelaide office, taking over from July 1, in an appointment confirmed internally before the Coalition’s shock federal election win on May 18.

The former Mayo MP, who was defeated in the blue-ribbon seat by Rebekha Sharkie in 2016, has completed a Master of Business Administration and Company Directors Course since leaving politics.

Mr Briggs resigned in late 2015 as Cities and Built Environment Minister after a Hong Kong bar incident but has leveraged that portfolio experience to rise through the ranks at PwC, which he joined in 2016.

His experience also includes as an adviser to former prime minister John Howard and Treasurer Rob Lucas, when the latter was in opposition in 2003-2018.

Mr Briggs said he was honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the Adelaide office and was excited about the opportunities for South Australia, including the untapped potential of future industries.

“This year our office has seen some really positive growth across government, the defence industries and resources sector. It reflects the exciting potential for South Australia, underpinning the significant increase in business confidence that we’ve seen in the state,” he said.

Mr Briggs, who has been a PwC partner since January last year and the firm’s South Australian Government and Public Sector Leader, replaces Kim Cheater as managing partner.

Mr Cheater, who will continue as an Adelaide partner, also has had a focus on cities and SA’s future development.

This includes CityPulse research comparing Adelaide’s suburbs’ liveability — revealed last year as part of The Advertiser’s Future Adelaide series.

PwC’s national board met in Adelaide last week, which Mr Briggs said was an indication that SA was a growth hotspot.

“So for the very first time, I think, in a long time, Adelaide’s being seen as an investment destination, not just by our firm but by a range of businesses and that’s obviously good for us,” Mr Briggs said.

During a stint as assistant infrastructure minister in Tony Abbott’s government, Mr Briggs forged an informal alliance with the-then Labor transport minister Stephen Mullighan to kickstart major road projects, including the $896 million Torrens to Torrens and the $985 million Northern Connector.

Mr Briggs said improving Adelaide’s infrastructure would support the food industry’s export growth and improve productivity in the defence industry, particularly the $90 billion in naval shipbuilding projects centred on Osborne’s naval shipyard.

“I think people should really welcome that (infrastructure) investment, because that will help our state grow and will mean our people have more opportunities, and ultimately, businesses will do better,” he said.