“Grattan Institute has appointed Dr Bruce Cohen as its fourth Program Director,” Professor John Daley announced today. “Dr Cohen will take responsibility for the Water program, as well as looking at broader competition and regulatory design issues.”
“Prior to commencing with the Grattan Institute, Dr Cohen has practised as a barrister, as economic adviser to the Premier and Treasurer of Victoria, and as an analyst with the Tasman Institute and the Australian Bankers’ Association. He is currently a director of VicTrack and has previously served as a Commissioner to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission and on the boards of Melbourne Water, Snowy Hydro Limited and VENCorp.”
“This high level public policy, institutional and regulatory experience fits well with Grattan Institute’s declared priority to address the significant water issues that Australia faces, and also reflects the importance of regulatory design to improve productivity growth,” he added.
Specific water issues that Dr Cohen will examine will include the ongoing structural and regulatory reform of the rural water sector and the development of urban water markets. He will also examine ways to facilitate the efficient use of water from multiple sources such as stormwater and recycled water.
“The ongoing challenges in the water sector across Australia are considerable, and I welcome the opportunity to work with Grattan Institute in the development of public policy in this and other key areas,” Dr Cohen said.
“Grattan Institute intends to seek the best strategic thinkers and public policy leaders in order to fulfil its commitment to independent, rigorous fact based analysis. It will consider those key ‘swing factors’ that will make a difference to Australian society in the long term,” Professor Daley said.
“We are engaging the best minds to ensure Grattan Institute makes a substantial contribution in the areas of Productivity, Cities, Energy, Water and Education,” he concluded.