Meet Bran Black: how Macquarie Street’s Mr Nice Guy got the BCA gig
He’s the congenial politico who has spent his career building consensus behind closed doors. And now he’ll represent big business to government. Is he ready?
As the pick to succeed Jennifer Westacott as the head of the Business Council of Australia, congenial political staffer and former lawyer Bran Black lacked instant name recognition.
But on Tuesday, the politico’s well-honed advocacy skills were already on display. The BCA – the country’s biggest business lobby – had swiftly produced Black for an interview after getting wind of a profile. By 2pm, UNSW chancellor and “chairman of everything” David Gonski was on the phone.
Samantha HutchinsonNational reporterSamantha Hutchinson is the AFR's National Reporter. Most recently, she was CBD columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Before that, she covered Victorian and NSW politics and business for The Australian, the AFR and BRW Magazine. Connect with Samantha on Twitter. Email Samantha at samantha.hutchinson@afr.com.au
