The Hon. Steven Ciobo

Former Minister for Defence Industry and Former Minister Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia; Milken Institute Asia Fellow

Steven Ciobo was formerly Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and was responsible for pursuing and delivering the most ambitious trade agenda in Australia's history. As a senior Cabinet Minister he negotiated and delivered the TPP11 (Trans-Pacific Partnership), a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with Indonesia, a comprehensive FTA with Hong Kong, a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Singapore, and settled the preparatory work and launched FTA negotiations with the European Union and discussion with the UK for post-Brexit. Steven drove the initiative together with Japan and Singapore to restart stalled e-commerce negotiations through the WTO (World Trade Organisation). Recently, following nearly 18 years of being a Member of the Australian Parliament and six as a Minister, he announced his retirement from public life. Steven is now involved in capital advisory and private equity with a particular focus on Asia, as well as infrastructure. He was recently named as a Milken Institute Asia Fellow in July 2019.