About ADC Forum

An independent think tank

What is ADC Forum?

ADC Forum is an Australian, non-political, not-for-profit leadership organisation which brings together leaders from business, government, the public sector, academia and the broader community to improve their understanding of key issues affecting Australia. The Australian Davos Connection became the ADC Forum in 2010.

While ADC Forum was originally founded in 1996 to promote the World Economic Forum (WEF) within Australia; promote Australia’s interest within the broader WEF community; and share the richness of ideas within the WEF community to a wider Australian audience; the organisation’s charter has since expanded to include the broader aims of:

  • Promoting business excellence by encouraging policy debate on global issues;
  • Improving the quality of global leadership;
  • Enhancing Australia’s position in the region and the world;
  • Encouraging Australian leaders to help improve the quality of life of all Australians;
  • Encouraging Australia to play a responsible, and leadership role where appropriate, within the global community; and
  • Exposing Australian leaders to international experts and key international leaders.

To achieve its mission ADC Forum has developed an integrated model of high-profile events, industry specific initiatives, information exchange, international delegations, and a leadership awards program. ADC Forum’s flagship initiative is the Australian Leadership Retreat, convened annually. This ‘invitation only’ two and a half day Retreat brings together Federal Cabinet Ministers from Australia, Public Servants from Asia, State Premiers and Senior Ministers, Chief Executives from companies across Australasia, senior government officials, leading local and international academics, and other community leaders to discuss the key issues affecting the nation, the wider region, and the international community.

ADC Forum also offers a range of other initiatives ranging from Boardroom Roundtables and briefings, Corporate/Government consultations such as Canberra Connection, to high-profile Summits focusing on critical issues such as health, education, engineering, economic development, and the frontier of technologies. ADC initiatives are renowned for their quality, the calibre of participants, and the frank and constructive sharing of views they engender.

Governance and Advisory Board

The Founding Patron of ADC Forum is The Late Rt Hon Sir Ninian M Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE PC

The Past Patron of ADC Forum is the late Maj Gen The Hon Michael Jeffery AC AO (Mil) CVO MC (Retd)

The Patron of ADC Forum is Jeanne Pratt AC

The Founder of ADC Forum is Michael Roux

The Chief Executive Officer of ADC Forum is Anton Roux

ADC Forum Senior Advisors:
  • Matt Faubel, Chair, ADC Forum Program Committee
  • Sean Innis, Chair, ADC Forum Public Policy Committee
  • Loretta Joseph, Chair, ADC Forum Cyber Security Council
  • Dr Jane Thomason, Co-Chair, ADC Forum Digital Summit
  • Greg Medcraft, Co-Chair, ADC Forum Digital Summit

ADC Forum Advisory Council:

  • The Hon Richard Alston AO
  • Glenn Barnes
  • Adm. Chris Barrie AC RAN (Retd)
  • Steve Bracks AC
  • Prof. Edward Byrne AC
  • Terrence Campbell AO
  • Megan Clark AC
  • Revd Tim Costello AO
  • Prof. Glyn Davis AC
  • Saul Eslake
  • Prof. Allan Fels AO
  • Revd Dr Philip Freier
  • Prof. Margaret Gardner AO
  • Charles Goode AC
  • John Karkar QC
  • Graham Kraehe AO
  • Dr Simon Longstaff AO
  • Steven Marshall MP
  • Terry Moran AC
  • Hugh Morgan AC
  • Sam Mostyn
  • Maurice Newman AC
  • The Hon Andrew Robb AO
  • James Roche
  • Steven Skala AO
  • Prof John Stanley
  • Glenn Stevens AC
  • Catherine Walter AM
  • Richard Warburton AO
  • Dr Ian Watt AC

 

International Faculty

Eric Beinhocker Dr Robert Bishop
Phillip Blond Dr H. Woody Brock
Prof. Nick Butler Robert Cervero
Dr Ken Courtis Prof. Paul Davies AM
Charles Emmerson Prof. Dan Esty
Raghida Dergham Thomas Friedman
Dr Ian Goldin Dr Ralph Gomory
Nik Gowing Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE
Prof. Gideon Henderson Prof. Ove
Hoegh-Guldberg Yoshito Hori
Prof. Dan Kahan Anatole Kaletsky
Dr David Kilcullen Prof. Ellen Langer
Prof. Lawrence Lessig Prof Kishore Mahbubani
William Mayer Jonathan Medved
Prof. David Menashri Prof. Ilian Mihov
Dr Robin Niblett Prof. Olivier Oullier
Prof. Paul Rome Prof. Mahmood Sariolghalam
Dr Bror Saxberg Anthony Scaramucci
Tom Schelling Joe Schoendorf
Lord Nicholas Stern Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
Prof. Hirotaka Takeuchi Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg
Adam Trombly Distinguished Prof Geoffrey West
Martin Wolf CBE Gabe Zichermann
ADC Forum