About Peter Achterstraat:

Peter Achterstraat AM is the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner. Mr Achterstraat was the NSW Auditor-General from 2006 to 2013 and prior to that, served in other roles, including as the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue and Deputy Commissioner of Taxation at the Australian Tax Office. He was the President of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (NSW Division) from 2014 to 2020 and was the Chair of the Sydney Financial Forum from 2015 to 2022. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Sydney’s Graduate School of Government and held the positions of infrastructure adviser for Advisian and the Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool. Peter holds an Honours degree in economics as well as degrees in law and commerce from the Australian National University. He was awarded the Australian Finance Conference prize for Company Finance, and the PricewaterhouseCoopers prize for Accounting. In 2006, he was inducted into the Australian National University College of Business and Economics' Hall of Fame. Peter is a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, CPA Australia, Fellow of Chartered Secretaries Australia, and the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

About the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission

The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission (formerly the NSW Productivity Commission) was established by the NSW Government in 2018 under the leadership of its inaugural Commissioner, Peter Achterstraat AM. The Commission’s purpose is to lift productivity so living standards in New South Wales continue to improve. It focuses on making better use of the state’s skills, knowledge, technology, research, and physical assets. Its work includes identifying ways to boost productivity in both the private and public sectors, strengthening the regulatory framework in NSW, and using policy levers that promote competition. The goal is to deliver better quality and more affordable goods and services for NSW residents.

About this Episode:

In this episode of Infrastructure Matters, IPWEA CEO David Jenkins speaks with Peter Achterstraat AM , NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner.

Key Takeaways:

• Productivity is essential for economic growth and individual well-being.
• Historical trends show a decline in productivity since 2012.
• Technology adoption in business is lagging behind consumer adoption.
• The Productivity and Equality Commission focuses on improving productivity across sectors.