Ben Oquist is a highly respected policy analyst, commentator and political and communications strategist. He was appointed Executive Director of the Australia Institute in 2015. Ben has a 25 year career engagement with Canberra policy and politics, with a wealth of experience in helping shape policy debates and outcomes. Known for his ability to negotiate across the political spectrum, Ben and the Australia Institute played a key role in stopping the government’s revenue cutting agenda in the form of large company tax cuts, a role for which he was acknowledged in the Australian Financial Review 2018 Power List. He also played a pivotal role in the deal which saw the Senate crossbench save the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Renewable Energy Target, preserving $23 billion in clean energy investment. Ben is also a regular commentator and contributor across broadcast and print media.