Heather Ridout (born 1954,

Deniliquin Deniliquin () is a town in the western Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, Australia, close to the border with Victoria. It is the largest town in the Edward River Council local government area. Deniliquin is located at the inte ...

) is an Australian businesswoman who previously served as the Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group. Born in

in south-western New South Wales, she later attended the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

. She is a member of several policy-setting and advice-giving groups including Skills Australia. Heather Ridout was also a member of the

Henry Tax Review The Australia's Future Tax System Review, informally known as the Henry Tax Review was commissioned by the Rudd Government in 2008 and published in 2010. The review was intended to guide tax system reforms over the next 10 to 20 years. Remit The ...

and chaired the Productivity and Prosperity Advisory Panel of the Population Strategy Task Force. Heather Ridout has various other appointments including Director of the Australian Super Trustee Board and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. She member of the board of the

Climate Change Authority The Climate Change Authority (CCA) is an Australian Government statutory agency responsible for providing independent advice to government on climate change policy. It was established by and operates under the ''Climate Change Authority Act 201 ...

. In her former role with Ai Group, Ridout had a vigorous media presence, appearing on

Network 10 Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's UK & Australia division and is one of the five national free-to-a ...

's ''

Meet the Press ''Meet the Press'' is a weekly American television Sunday morning talk show broadcast on NBC. It is the List of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running program on American television, though its format has changed since th ...

'' programme, the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

's ''

Lateline ''Lateline'' was an Australian television news program which ran from 1990 until 2017. The program initially aired weeknights on ABC TV. In later years it was also broadcast internationally throughout Asia and the Pacific on the Australia Plu ...

'' and '' Q&A'' programmes, and various other radio and television shows. In November 2011, Ridout gave a televised address to the National Press Club of Australia on the choices Australia faces and challenges we need to confront to create a positive agenda and a positive future for the nation. Ridout was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

on 10 June 2013. In December 2022, Ridout was announced as the next

Australian Consul-General in New York The consul-general of Australia in New York represents the Australian Government in New York City. The consulate-general is responsible for raising awareness of Asia-Pacific issues in the United States through contacts with New York–based m ...

, succeeding

Nick Greiner Nicholas Frank Hugo Greiner (; born 27 April 1947) is an Australian politician who served as the 37th Premier of New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. Greiner was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridout, Heather Living people 1954 births Consuls for Australia Australian businesspeople Officers of the Order of Australia People from Deniliquin