The McKell Institute has appointed Alison Pennington as the Institute’s inaugural Chief Economist.
In December 2025, the McKell Institute board endorsed Ms Pennington’s appointment, in a new role that will considerably expand McKell’s policy output and advocacy.
“We are excited to be welcoming Alison Pennington to the Institute as our inaugural Chief Economist”, said Chief Executive Officer, Ed Cavanough.
“Over the past decade, Alison has fearlessly pursued a bold, progressive policy vision as a high profile advocate, thinker, academic, and most recently, a senior Albanese Government advisor”, he said.
“Australia is confronting a set of serious structural economic challenges, from widening wealth inequality, stagnant productivity, and slow wage growth.
“Innovative, ambitious, and at times provocative solutions to these challenges are needed now more than ever. Alison’s unique blend of experience, skills and background positions her well to shape these complex debates.
“Alison’s time as Deputy Chief of Staff in the first term of the Albanese Labor Government has provided her with first hand insight into how policy making works. This experience will strengthen the Institute’s policy design, helping McKell translate innovative ideas into real-world outcomes”, Cavanough said.
“From growing inequality to tax reform, Australia needs a big conversation about our economic challenges and I’m excited to join McKell to contribute to this task”, said Alison Pennington.
“Amidst geopolitical uncertainty, Australia has an opportunity to adopt new directions in economic policy, reducing inequality and generating the foundations for decades of shared growth and rising living standards.”
Ms Pennington is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in PPE with La Trobe University, and the author of the widely acclaimed Gen F’d on intergenerational inequality.Her previous roles span the Commonwealth government, unions and policy think-tanks.
Ms Pennington is the McKell Institute’s first Chief Economist.
Her appointment commenced in January 2026.
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