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Mike served as Premier of South Australia for almost a decade followed by terms as Australian High Commissioner to the UK and Ambassador to Italy. As Premier Mike is credited with turning South Australia into an international leader in renewable energy. His background in politics and diplomacy provides him with a real insight into the opportunities for Britain presented by the ‘Asian Century’ as well as the prospects for UK Brexit negotiations. He also looks at the future of ‘smart cities’ who embrace transformational infrastructure, and the advantages of innovative social inclusion policies in tacking entrenched disadvantage.
Mike Rann was Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, and Ambassador to Italy, Libya, San Marino and Albania. He was also Australia’s permanent representative to the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation and to the World Food Programme.
Premier of South Australia for nearly a decade, Mike led the state Labor Party to an unprecedented three successive election victories. He also served as Minister for Economic Development, Australia’s first Minister for Social Inclusion and one of the world’s first Ministers for Climate Change. He is Chair of the international charity Power of Nutrition, which raises money to prevent children being stunted physically and mentally by poor nutrition, and has also joined the board of the NGO, working on six continents on climate action.
Under his Premiership South Australia became a national and international leader in renewable energy. He oversaw record investment in infrastructure covering transport, health, industry, sport, water and tourism. He was also widely praised for social and cultural advances in the city of Adelaide and for bringing in experts from around the world to work with his cabinet on policy and long-term solutions.
As well as examining leadership and transformation, in speeches Mike offers insights into the Asian Century and its opportunities for the UK post-Brexit. He also looks at smart cities and the future of urban living and considers what policy makers need to do to prepare for the future. Now living in London, he is a member of the King's Commission for London, looking at future policy challenges confronting the UK's capital.
The inaugural Chair of the Council of the Australian Federation, a policy think-tank for Australian States and Territories, Mike also served on the International Leadership Council of the Climate Group, and was Chair of Australia’s ‘green bank’. He was also Trustee of the Imperial War Museum while in London, and was part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
