Professor the Hon Bob Carr is the longest continuously serving Premier in the history of NSW. Bob entered the Senate in 2012 and served as Australia’s Foreign Minister for 18 months.

Mr Carr served as Minister for Planning and Environment 1984 to 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1988 until his election as Premier in March 1995. He was re-elected in 1999 and 2003 securing an historic third four-year term. He retired from state politics in 2005.

During his 10 years the State Government set new records for spending on infrastructure, became the first government in the State’s history to retire debt and achieved the nation’s best school literacy levels. Forbes magazine called Bob Carr a “dragon slayer” for his landmark tort law reforms. His government planned, funded and managed the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games described as the best games ever.

As Premier, Mr Carr received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award for creating 350 new national parks. He introduced the world’s first carbon trading scheme and curbed the clearing of native vegetation, both anti-greenhouse measures. He was a member of the International Task Force on Climate Change convened by Tony Blair, and was made a life member of the Wilderness Society in 2003.

Bob Carr has received the Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He has served as Honorary Scholar of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. He is the author of Thoughtlines (2002), What Australia Means to Me (2003), My Reading Life (2008) Diary of a Foreign Minister (2014) and Run for Your Life (2018). All proceeds were donated to either Interplast Australia, a charity to fund operations on children in developing countries, or to UNHCR for assistance to the child victims of the Syrian Civil War.

In March 2012, Mr Carr was designated by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as Australia’s Foreign Minister, elected to the Australian Senate to fill a casual Senate vacancy and sworn in to the Senate and Cabinet on March 13, 2012.

As Foreign Minister, Mr Carr fostered stronger relations between Australia and Southeast Asia, lifted sanctions on Myanmar, campaigned for the passage of a global Arms Trade Treaty and led the final stages of Australia’s successful bid for Australia’s seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. His plan for a Syrian medical pact was backed at the G20. He assisted Prime Minister Gillard in achieving a strategic partnership with China. With Prime Minister Rudd campaigning at home in the 2013 Federal election, Bob Carr represented Australia at the G20 in Petersburg. 

Following his resignation from the Senate on October 24, 2013, the University of Technology, Sydney appointed Mr Carr to lead the Australia-China Relations Institute – a think tank dedicated to Australia-China relations, serving for five years.  In May 2019 he was appointed Professor of Industry in Climate and Business at the University of Technology Sydney.

​In 2001 David was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian Society in banking and corporate governance and in 2007 he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to the finance sector both domestically and globally and service to the community.

David is passionate about Australia’s place in the World and the economic environment that makes Australia special. His leadership of the Commonwealth Bank gives him a unique perspective on both strategic and operational leadership, change management, winning cultures and the balancing of shareholders expectations with the need for fiscal responsibility. He is recognised for his meaningful analysis and insights into macroeconomics and their impact on the Australian business community and other sectors that make up the tapestry of Australia’s commercial environment.

Speaking Topics Include:

US Politics

Chinese Relations

Nuclear Power

Global Warming – the Most Serious Challenge of our Time

Greenhouse, Terrorism and Proliferation

Lessons For Today From the World’s Greatest Leaders

Lessons from the Presidents

The Case for Medical Research

The Terrorist Threat: How to Survive as a Business in the New climate