OECD Delegation

Australia maintains a Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. The delegation is currently led by Mr Brendan Pearson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the OECD (details below). Australian agencies represented are:

The OECD, based in Paris, was established in 1961. The Organisation provides independent and evidence-based analysis to help improve the economic and social well-being of citizens in its member countries and globally. The OECD does not have executive or financial powers; it relies on persuasion and consensus, and derives its relevance to member countries from its high quality analysis of economic, social and environmental policy.

Australia has been an active member of the OECD since 1971, although initial links to the OECD were established through the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 1966. In 2011, Australia celebrated its 40th anniversary of membership. This was the same year that the OECD, established in 1961, celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 2016, Australia also celebrated 50 years of membership in the DAC. Australia is one of a group of 35 like-minded countries working toward a more harmonious functioning of the world economy.

Australia takes a strong interest in a wide range of OECD activities and the OECD's analysis plays an influential role in policy debates in Australia. Australia adheres to OECD instruments and conventions and experts from the Australian Government, academia, non-government organisations and the private sector regularly attend specialist committee meetings to put forward Australia’s views and hear other members’ views.

Follow the Australian Delegation to the OECD on  Twitter: @AusOECD

For further information on Australia and the OECD, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Australia and the OECD page.

For further information on the OECD, visit the OECD website.

The Hon Stephen Jones

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the OECD

The Hon Mr. Jones served Australia as a member of the Federal Parliament from 2010 until 2025. He was most recently Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services.

Before entering Parliament, he was the National Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union and spent many years working as a community worker and lawyer. Mr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong, a Bachelor of Law from Macquarie University and was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW.