2026 Tasmanian Economic Forum - State Debt: Blessing or Curse?

Time 

Item 

8:30 AM 

Registration, welcome tea and coffee 

8:50 AM 

Welcome & Opening Remarks 

9:00 AM 

State Debt - is it time to freak out…  

Angela Jackson  

Commissioner (Social Policy) - Productivity Commission 

10:00 AM 

Morning Tea 

10:30 AM 

State Debt Through an Accounting Lens 

John Lawrence  

Independent Public Policy Research and Writer 

11:15 AM 

Intergenerational Equity and the Tasmanian Problem 

Cedric Hodges  

Partner - Deloitte Access Economics 

12:00 PM 

Lunch 

12:45 PM 

An Industry Perspective - Manufacturing, Global Entities & Tasmania 

Di Tompson -  

Managing Director – The Powercom Group 

1:30 PM 

Lies, Damn Lies and Cost Benefit Analysis – Why economic evaluation gets ignored and what we can do about it 

Mark Bowles 

Dean and Head of School - Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (TSBE UTAS) 

2:15 PM 

Afternoon Tea 

2:45 PM 

PANEL 

Rhiain Powell - Economist - Deloitte Access Economics 

Jane Murrell - CFO- Clarence City Council  

Mark Bowles - Dean and Head of School - TSBE UTAS 

3:45 PM 

Closing Remarks & Thank You 

Angela Jackson (Productivity Commission - Commissioner (Social Policy)

Dr Angela Jackson is the Commissioner (Social Policy) at the Productivity Commission. 

Starting her career as an economist at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Angela has worked across tax, fiscal and social policy. As the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Australian Finance Minister during the Global Financial Crisis, Angela was responsible for providing policy advice across fiscal policy and all areas of social policy, including National Health Reform. Working as an economic consultant, Angela has authored a number of high-profile reports on health, aged care, disability, housing and gender policy. 

Angela was the National Chair of the Women in Economics Network from 2022-2025 and is an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania. 

Angela holds a Masters in International Health Policy (Health Economics) with Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a PhD on the Economics of Disability in Australia from Monash University. 

Cedric Hodges (Deloitte Access Economics - Partner)

Cedric Hodges is the leader of Deloitte Access Economics’ economic modelling team; he also leads the DAE team in Tasmania. As Australia’s pre-eminent feedlot economist, Cedric has over a decade of economic experience across the public and private sector, regularly contributing to Tasmanian economic analysis while advocating for open-air carpark reform. He has a first-class honours degree in economics and a Master’s degree from ANU, where he is now completing his PhD. 

Di Tompson (The Powercom Group - Managing Director)

Diane Tompson is the Managing Director and co-owner of Powercom Group and is a founding director and co-owner of Novaris Technologies Malaysia and Novaris Asia Singapore.

Diane has held senior leadership roles with several international organisations dedicated to supporting women in business. She has also represented Australia through the Indian Ocean Rim Association Women Leaders Network, helping develop mentoring programs for women entrepreneurs.

Diane is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Royal Society for the Arts, and her contributions to business and leadership have been recognised with numerous national and international awards.

Mark Bowles (Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (UTAS) - Dean and Head of School)

Mark Bowles is the Dean and Head of School of the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics at the University of Tasmania. He is a strategic and community-focused leader with extensive experience in public policy, economic development, workforce strategy, branding and industry growth, supported by a background spanning government, business advocacy, consulting, financial markets and higher education.

A strong advocate for Tasmania’s economic and social development, Mark Bowles has also contributed through governance roles with Brand Tasmania and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. He holds a Master of Commerce from Deakin University, a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

John Lawrence

John Lawrence is an economics graduate from the University of Tasmania who began his career as an economist with the Tariff Board, as it evolved into the Industries Assistance Commission during the Whitlam era - now the Productivity Commission. He spent 35 years as a public accountant in rural Tasmania and the past 15 years as a public policy researcher and writer, focusing on Tasmanian budgetary and financial issues. 

Rhiain Powell (Deloitte Access Economics - Economist)

A reformed mainlander, Rhiain is an economist in Deloitte Access Economics’ Hobart office. She began with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature before surviving multiple plot twists resulting in two master’s degrees in economics from UQ. Rhiain now specialises in economic modelling, with experience across climate change economics, gender economics, policy evaluation, and the circular economy. Her literary background taught her that every story needs a compelling narrative; economics taught her that every narrative needs a spreadsheet.

Jane Murrell (Clarence City Council - Chief Financial Officer)

After starting her career at AMP and KPMG Tax, while studying part time, Jane joined Clarence City Council to gain further experience outside of private practice. Expecting to only stay briefly, while completely post-graduate qualifications, Jane enjoyed the breadth of opportunities available Clarence City Council and stayed! Jane has now been heading the budget process for over 20 years and as CFO she runs an amazing team covering Financial and Budget Management, Debt Recovery, Grant Management and Rating Revenue.

With more than two decades of experience in local government finance and long-term budget management, Jane  brings an important local government perspective on fiscal sustainability and public sector investment.

Kristy Lark (Killara Distillery - Founder & Distiller)

Kristy is the founder and distiller of Killara Distillery, which just celebrated its 10 year anniversary. She recently won the inaugural Distiller of the Year, is President of the Tasmanian Whisky & Spirits Association and started the Australian Women in Distilling Association in 2017. Kristy has an important industry view of Tasmania and its economy

Dr Maria B. Yanotti (Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (UTAS) - Head of Economics & Senior Lecturer)

Maria specialises in applied and policy-relevant economic analysis that addresses the contemporary challenges shaping regional communities, economies, and systems transformation in Tasmania and beyond. 

Maria is the Tasmanian chair for the Women in Economics Network (WEN) and an active member of the Economic Society of Australia (ESA) Tasmanian branch, contributing to professional engagement, leadership, and the development of inclusive and diverse economics communities.