Roger Lawrence Kerr

In his role as executive director Roger had a major influence on many significant policy reforms across the economy, and built an internationally respected organisation and a comprehensive public policy research resource. 
 
Before his role as executive director at the Business Roundtable, he was a senior figure in both the New Zealand Treasury and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  He was a director of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand, a member of the council of Victoria University of Wellington, and a member of the Group Board of Colonial Limited in Melbourne from 1996 to 2000.
 
As well as receiving the 2001 NZIER Qantas Economics Award, Roger was awarded the Tasman Medal by the Melbourne-based Tasman Insititute in 1994 in recognition of his contribution to public policy.  In 2005 he was awarded the Charles Copeman Medal by the HR Nicholls Society for distinguished service in the cause of New Zealand and Australian workplace relations.  He was a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management (FNZIM) and a member of the Institute of Directors. In 2011 Roger was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business.

“No single individual has done more over the last 15 years to persuade important parts of the business sector to support economic policies which, though often contrary to the interests of individual firms, were in the interests of the country as a whole.”  NZIER chairman Michael Walls, on presenting the NZIER Qantas Economics Award to Roger Kerr.

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Tributes to Roger

The Working Man and the Man and His Work, Bryce Wilkinson, Capital Economics
Roger Kerr: An Appreciation by Richard A Epstein
Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal
George Mason University professor and Marginal Revolution blogger Tyler Cowen
Prime Minister John Key
The New Zealand Green Party
Former Governor Reserve Bank New Zealand, Don Brash
New Zealand Herald business columnist Fran O’Sullivan
Kiwiblog
Cactus Kate
Whale Oil
Homepaddock
Stephen Franks
A Comments on Roger's blog