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Jennifer Westacott

September 2024

Australia’s five most powerful people in education in 2024

As we hurtle to the end of the year, there are a lot of balls still up in the air for the sector. The question is, how many have landed?

July 2024

New Scyne managing director Jessica Lambous.

Scyne hires from public service, new KPMG role for former OECD exec

Public sector consulting firm Scyne has appointed its first new managing director, while KPMG has brought on former Labor minister David Bradbury as a partner.

May 2024

Jennifer Westacott, Geoff Wilson and Philip Lowe in Sydney this month.

How Geoff Wilson assembled his investment dream team

Philip Lowe, Jennifer Westacott, Mike Baird, David Paradice, Andrew Forrest and Solomon Lew are among the heavy-hitters who have joined Geoff Wilson’s charitable mission to raise money for kids.

George Williams says no other university holds greater potential than Western Sydney.

Constitutional expert to be next head of Western Sydney Uni

George Williams spent 24 years at UNSW where he built a reputation as one of Australia’s foremost legal scholars. But now he’s upping stumps to head up WSU.

December 2023

‘Like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory’: higher education’s bad year

2023 started well enough but as we hobble to the end of the year vice chancellors are asking: “what the heck just happened”.

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November 2023

Former Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott.

Former BCA chief lands gig at Geoff Wilson’s Future Generation

Jennifer Westacott will chair Future Generation Global, one of two philanthropic investment vehicles established by the high-profile fund manager.

the Coalition is preparing to weaponise the surge in arrivals into Australia.

Community may lose faith in migration, warns Westacott

Former Business Council boss Jennifer Westacott will urge the government to ensure immigration rates are sustainable, as infrastructure and housing stock come under pressure.

August 2023

The Business Council of Australia’s annual dinner has some pull

Top CEOs take respite from results season at BCA soiree

Wednesday night’s soiree at the Sofitel’s Wentworth Ballroom was a classic of the genre.

The BCA wants Labor to build “precincts of significance” focusing on different industries.

BCA urges billions for transformative industry policy

The BCA says its economic overhaul would leave the Australian economy $200 billion larger and national income $7000 per-person higher after a decade.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with state and territory leaders after national cabinet last week.

States should get paid to do better on red tape and taxes, BCA says

Incentive payments would be complemented by broad-based tax reform that reduced reliance on income and company taxes, and increased GST revenue.

New BCA boss Bran Black.

New BCA boss has an uphill battle ahead of him

When one minister’s response to the BCA’s blueprint for changing the economy is an eye-roll, it shows incoming chief executive Bran Black faces a challenge prosecuting his case.

Ex-premier Dominic Perrottet is keeping his options open.

Business Council wanted Dom Perrottet as next CEO

Before signing up the little-known Bran Black, the nation’s big business lobby actually approached his old boss.

Incoming BCA president Bran Black.

New BCA boss pledges to fly the flag for productivity

Bran Black will start work at the Business Council of Australia as the government releases its second tranche of IR reforms.

July 2023

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott.

Casuals could lose higher pay rates under Labor plan: bosses

Flexibility and higher take-home pay sought by casual workers in Australia’s labour-hungry economy are at risk, the BCA says.

May 2023

Uber Eats riders would be covered by the new minimum conditions the government is proposing.

Business wants Labor’s gig economy laws to exclude leave, breaks

The Business Council of Australia will seek to limit the government’s laws to minimum pay, saying the reforms otherwise threaten to increase costs and push up prices for consumers.

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Vacancy rates rise as first timers opt to buy (or share)

The number of empty rental homes has jumped – but don’t get too excited. It’s unlikely to last.

April 2023

Jennifer Westacott is determined to avoid a repeat of the BCA’s jobs summit experience.

BCA slams plan for unions to ‘oversee’ workplace watchdog

Labor has proposed a “cumbersome and complex” new system to monitor casual employees and labour hire firms, which will be “impossible for business”, the BCA says.

Ken Wyatt retired as West Australian treasurer in 2021, after becoming the first Indigenous person to serve in the role in an Australian parliament.

Ben Wyatt and Stuart Ayres top BCA chief executive shortlist

Australia’s first Indigenous treasurer and the former NSW Coalition minister are said to be the final two candidates to replace Jennifer Westacott.

Under consideration: Vicki Thomson, Kate Pounder

Who’s in the mix to succeed Westacott at the BCA?

Sources say a replacement for Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott will be announced soon.

Business is determined not to be outplayed by the unions a second time.

Labor fails to make the case for IR changes

Having been burned once on Labor’s workplace agenda, business is determined to not get played again, and to achieve a better result the second time around.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/jennifer-westacott-3jh