Andrew Elek

Andrew Elek is Executive Director of Bellendena Partners, a small economic consultancy, specialising in international economic co-operation issues.

Dr Elek is a Research Associate of the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University and a member of the Australian Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee (AUSPECC).

He has worked extensively in development economics in Asia and the South Pacific, including as a Senior Economist with the World Bank.

From 1985 to 1987, Dr Elek served as Chief Economist in the Economic Planning Advisory Council of the Australian Government. From 1987 to 1990, he was head of the Economic and Trade Development Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In 1989, he was the inaugural chairman of APEC Senior Officials, with a central role in the establishment of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation process.

From 1990 to 1994 he was a Senior Research Fellow at the ANU, then became self-employed, thinking and writing about international trade policy and international economic cooperation. He has published many policy-oriented papers, including on APEC and the G20.

Dr Elek was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1991, for service to international relations.