ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has welcomed the appointment of Dr Philip Williams AM as a Commissioner, proposed by Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers in April.
A distinguished scholar and a former Professor of Law and Economics at the University of Melbourne, Dr Williams is also a former executive chair of Frontier Economics and has previously advised the ACCC and National Competition Council on competition and regulatory issues.
Dr Williams has been appointed for a 5-year term at the ACCC, commencing from 27 June 2024.
"We are delighted to welcome Dr Williams and look forward to harnessing his immense knowledge in economics and competition law in our application of Australia's merger laws," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
"We are eager to draw on Dr Williams' expertise in our work towards implementing reforms to Australia's merger laws, as well as enforcing the Competition and Consumer Act more broadly."
Throughout his career, Dr Williams has made significant contributions to scholarship and education, specialising in the effects of mergers on competition, as well as the application of economics to legal disputes in other areas.
Internationally recognised as a leading authority in his field, Dr Williams has provided expert economic evidence in several leading trade practices cases in Australia and New Zealand and is also a member of the Trade Practices Committee of the Law Council of Australia.
"Philip's intellectual rigour and proven capacity to engage with complex legal and economic theory will make valuable contributions to the ACCC," Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
This week also marks the transition for Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway to Associate Commissioner. Mr Ridgeway's contributions have been important to much of the ACCC's work during the past 5 years. We are very pleased that we will continue to have the benefit of Stephen's knowledge and expertise for a further three years.
Further information about the ACCC's Chair, Deputy Chair and Commissioners is available at ACCC Chair & Commissioners.
