Don Russell

Don Russell trained as an economist, earning degrees at Flinders, the Australian National University, and the London School of Economics. He became Paul Keating's principal adviser as treasurer and prime minister, and served as ambassador in Washington from 1993 to 1995. ¹

Russell promoted Keating's effort to embed the United States in Asia Pacific economic cooperation. He helped persuade the Clinton administration to support an APEC leaders' meeting, lobbied on agricultural subsidies with the Cairns Group, and worked on consultations before the 1994 Bogor commitments to regional trade liberalisation. ²

His later work ranged across finance and government administration. He held senior investment roles, led a federal department covering industry and innovation, and became chief executive of South Australia's Department of the Premier and Cabinet. ¹