Michael Easson
Encyclopedia
Michael Bernard Easson AM
(born March 1955 in Sydney
, Australia
), is an Australian businessman and former union leader.
Easson graduated with First Class Honours in Politics from the University of New South Wales
in 1976 and completed management and finance programmes at Harvard
and Stanford Business School University Business Schools in 1981 and 1997 respectively. He was Secretary of the Labor Council of New South Wales
(now called Unions NSW) from 1989 to 1994. At the age of 34, he was elected as the youngest ever Secretary. He was also Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
and Senior Vice President of the Australian Labor Party
(New South Wales
Branch). Whilst at the Labor Council he was Managing Director of Radio Station 2KY (1989 to 1994), elected Vice President of the ACTU (1993-1994) and co-founded Asset Super & Chifley Financial Services (both in 1989).
Michael Easson served as Chairman of the Review of Commonwealth Payments to Statutory Authorities and Special Purpose Payment to the States from 1995 to 1996. According to then Finance Minister John Fahey
in 1997, this resulted in one-off saving of $400 million to the Commonwealth Government. He was a foundation Member of the National Competition Council (1996 to 1999) and an Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of several Productivity Reports, including the review of Work, Health and Safety in Australia (1994-1995).
Michael Easson was the inaugural Chairman of the NSW Urban Taskforce, an urban planning think tank in Australia.
After resigning from the Labor Council in 1994, Michael Easson pursued several business and academic interests. He was Adjunct Professor of Management at the Australian Graduate School of Management
from 1994 to 1998 and served as senior Vice President of UNICEF Australia from 1998 to 2002 and as a member of the Board of the Museum of Contemporary Arts (1999-2000) and as a Director of the Sydney Symphony (1995-1996).
Michael Easson was a director NSW State Superannuation Board and predecessor boards (1986-1995), the State Rail Authority of NSW (1989-1993), NRMA
Insurance (1993 to 1996), Macquarie-Goodman Industrial Fund (1994-2003), Barclay Mowlem Australia (1998-2000), InTech (1998-2003), Macquarie Infrastructure Group
(1996 to 2007), Kaldor family company boards in apparel, chemicals and office works (1997 to 2004), Metro Transport Sydney (2002-2006) and Sydney Roads Group (2006-2007).
He presently serves on the boards of the ACTEW Corporation
, the ING Group
Real Estate Group in Australia and Telstra Stadium
.
Michael Easson, along with Sydney businessmen Adam and Shane Geha, formed the EG Property Group, of which he is Executive Chairman. The EG Group has two divisions; property advisory and funds management. The advisory division formed in 1999 advises large property owners about land use change. The funds management division formed in 2002 directly invests into real estate with a focus on new infrastructure. The funds management division has approximately $750 million under management with offices in Sydney
, Perth
and Melbourne
.
Though still a member of the Australian Labor Party
, he is not actively involved. Michael Easson is married to former federal politician Mary Easson
(Member for Lowe
, from 1993 to 1996). They have two daughters. In 1997 Michael Easson was made a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM
) and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
(FAICD).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born March 1955 in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), is an Australian businessman and former union leader.
Easson graduated with First Class Honours in Politics from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in 1976 and completed management and finance programmes at Harvard
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
and Stanford Business School University Business Schools in 1981 and 1997 respectively. He was Secretary of the Labor Council of New South Wales
Labor Council of New South Wales
The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW...
(now called Unions NSW) from 1989 to 1994. At the age of 34, he was elected as the youngest ever Secretary. He was also Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
and Senior Vice President of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Branch). Whilst at the Labor Council he was Managing Director of Radio Station 2KY (1989 to 1994), elected Vice President of the ACTU (1993-1994) and co-founded Asset Super & Chifley Financial Services (both in 1989).
Michael Easson served as Chairman of the Review of Commonwealth Payments to Statutory Authorities and Special Purpose Payment to the States from 1995 to 1996. According to then Finance Minister John Fahey
John Fahey (politician)
John Joseph Fahey, AC is a former Premier of New South Wales and Federal Minister for Finance in Australia. John Fahey is currently the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1996 and the federal House of Representatives...
in 1997, this resulted in one-off saving of $400 million to the Commonwealth Government. He was a foundation Member of the National Competition Council (1996 to 1999) and an Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of several Productivity Reports, including the review of Work, Health and Safety in Australia (1994-1995).
Michael Easson was the inaugural Chairman of the NSW Urban Taskforce, an urban planning think tank in Australia.
After resigning from the Labor Council in 1994, Michael Easson pursued several business and academic interests. He was Adjunct Professor of Management at the Australian Graduate School of Management
Australian Graduate School of Management
The MBA program of the Australian School of Business is known as the AGSM MBA, based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded as the Australian Graduate School of Management in 1977, the AGSM MBA is consistently ranked at the top of the national rankings and amongst one of the top MBA...
from 1994 to 1998 and served as senior Vice President of UNICEF Australia from 1998 to 2002 and as a member of the Board of the Museum of Contemporary Arts (1999-2000) and as a Director of the Sydney Symphony (1995-1996).
Michael Easson was a director NSW State Superannuation Board and predecessor boards (1986-1995), the State Rail Authority of NSW (1989-1993), NRMA
NRMA
NRMA refers to either of two historically related Australian companies:*The National Roads and Motorists' Association, known as NRMA Motoring and Services, is a member-owned mutual organisation offering , motoring advice and other services in New South Wales and the Australian Capital...
Insurance (1993 to 1996), Macquarie-Goodman Industrial Fund (1994-2003), Barclay Mowlem Australia (1998-2000), InTech (1998-2003), Macquarie Infrastructure Group
Macquarie Infrastructure Group
Intoll Group, formerly Macquarie Infrastructure Group currently owns and manages a 25.0% interest in the Westlink M7 to the west of Sydney in Australia and a 30% interest in the 108 km-long Highway 407/ETR in the Greater Toronto Area of Canada,...
(1996 to 2007), Kaldor family company boards in apparel, chemicals and office works (1997 to 2004), Metro Transport Sydney (2002-2006) and Sydney Roads Group (2006-2007).
He presently serves on the boards of the ACTEW Corporation
ACTEW Corporation
ACTEW Corporation Limited is a government-owned company with assets and investments in water, wastewater, electricity, gas and telecommunications. ACTEW is wholly owned by the ACT Government...
, the ING Group
ING Group
The ING Group is a global financial institution offering retail banking, direct banking, commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, and insurance services. ING is the Dutch member of the Inter-Alpha Group of Banks, a cooperative consortium of 11 prominent European banks...
Real Estate Group in Australia and Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
.
Michael Easson, along with Sydney businessmen Adam and Shane Geha, formed the EG Property Group, of which he is Executive Chairman. The EG Group has two divisions; property advisory and funds management. The advisory division formed in 1999 advises large property owners about land use change. The funds management division formed in 2002 directly invests into real estate with a focus on new infrastructure. The funds management division has approximately $750 million under management with offices in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Though still a member of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, he is not actively involved. Michael Easson is married to former federal politician Mary Easson
Mary Easson
Mary Louise Easson was an Australian Labor Party Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Lowe from 1993. She was defeated at the 1996 general election...
(Member for Lowe
Lowe
Lowe is a common surname in English. See List of people with surname Lowe.Lowe may also refer to:- Other uses :* Lowe Alpine, an American outdoor equipment manufacturer and supplier* Löwe Automobil, a German car-part manufacturer...
, from 1993 to 1996). They have two daughters. In 1997 Michael Easson was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
) and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Australian Institute of Company Directors
The Australian Institute of Company Directors is Australia's leading membership body for directors in Australia and the leading Australian not-for-profit corporate governance organisation....
(FAICD).