Faculty's famous faces

"An open mind is essential to success."

An open mind is essential to success, says alumna Carol Austin. Investment Services Director at Contango Asset Management, she graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) in 1981 and has worked for the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Industry Development Corporation.

“Maintaining an open mind and willingness to learn new things and new ways of thinking are critical to success in a rapidly changing world,” she says.

“Do what needs to be done, and do it as well as you can.”

Chairman of the Productivity Commission since its inception, Gary Banks has a simple career philosophy:

“Do what needs to be done, and do it as well as you can,” he says.

Mr Banks graduated from ANU with a Master of Economics in 1974, since then he has been a consultant to the OECD and World Bank on anti-dumping policy, chair of the intergovernmental Steering Committee on Government Service provision and its working group on Indigenous disadvantage and headed major Australian inquiries on key public policy issues, including research and development, private health insurance and gambling industries.

"...keep a balance between work and leisure."

Chief Investment Officer of the Public Sector and Commonwealth Superannuation Schemes, André Morony graduated with a Master of Economics in 1974. He says he is particularly proud to have made a contribution to the Commonwealth Government superannuation schemes’ positive performance in rocky economic environment of 2002-3 and says representing Australia at the OECD in Paris for three years was a career highlight.

He offers the following advice to ANU economics graduates starting their careers:“Enjoy the early years of your career by keeping a balance between work and leisure. Don’t spend too much time focusing on your next career move, it will come if you focus on doing your current job well.”

"Analyse, read, work and think creatively."

Retired MP John Kerin has added honorary doctorates from the University of New England, University of Tasmania and University of Western Sydney to the Bachelor of Economics he graduated from ANU with in 1978.

“Analyse, read, work, think creatively, always think beyond the immediate by standing back and taking on board the views of others,” advises Mr Kerin, who was Australia’s longest-serving Minister for Primary Industry (1983-91) and has been Minister for Transport and Communications and Minister for Trade and Overseas Development.

"Make a difference."

Make a difference. Those three simple words have been Second Commissioner of Taxation, Michael D’Ascenzo’s motto throughout a distinguished career that has seen him spearhead improvements to self assessment that have been described by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts as making the tax system “fairer and more certain for taxpayers.”

Mr D’Ascenzo, who graduated ANU with a Bachelor of Economics in 1976 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1978, had extra cause for celebration at the unveiling of the Hall of Fame as it coincided with his 50th birthday.