Innes Willox AM (born 1963) is an Australian lobbyist and a former journalist, political staffer and diplomat. He has been the chief executive of the

Australian Industry Group The Australian Industry Group, also called Ai Group, is an employers' organisation, whose members employ over 750,000 people throughout Australia. The organisation covers a wide range of industries including manufacturing, engineering, constructi ...

since 2012. He previously served as Australia's Consul-General in Los Angeles (2006–2008), as chief of staff to foreign minister Alexander Downer (2004–2006), and as chief political correspondent of '' The Age''.

Early life

Willox was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He arrived in Australia at a young age where his father became the production manager of an Adelaide fish cannery. His family later moved to Melbourne where he was the school captain of Melbourne High School and went on to study arts at Monash University.

Career

Journalism

Willox took up a cadetship with '' The Age'' after leaving university. He later worked for the newspaper as a crime reporter and investigative journalist. He was appointed as the newspaper's chief of staff at the age of 26, overseeing 130 reporters, and eventually replaced Michelle Grattan as the newspaper's chief political correspondent with the

Canberra Press Gallery The Canberra Press Gallery, officially called the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery, is the name given to the approximately 180 journalists and their support staff, including producers, editors and camera crews, who report the workings of the A ...

Public sector

In June 1997 Willox became a media adviser to Alexander Downer, the foreign minister in the Howard Government. He resigned in 2000 to work with Singapore Airlines as corporate affairs manager, but returned to work for Downer in 2004 as chief of staff. He served as Australia's Consul-General in Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008.

Australian Industry Group

Willox joined the

in 2008 as director of international and government arrangements. He was appointed chief executive of the organisation in February 2012, in place of

Heather Ridout Heather Ridout (born 1954, Deniliquin) is an Australian businesswoman who previously served as the Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group. Born in Deniliquin in south-western NSW, she later attended the University of Sydney. She is a ...

. He also serves as a director of AustralianSuper. Willox was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the

2020 Queen's Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours for 2020 are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth II to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works b ...

, for "significant service to business, particularly to industry, and to the community".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willox, Innes 1963 births Living people Australian lobbyists Consuls-General of Australia in Los Angeles Australian investigative journalists Australian political journalists Scottish emigrants to Australia People from Aberdeen People educated at Melbourne High School Monash University alumni Members of the Order of Australia