Mark Birrell

Birrell was born in Melbourne and was educated at Trinity Grammar. He studied at Monash University obtaining a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. While studying, Birrell worked for Senator Alan Missen and also served terms as president of the Victorian and federal Young Liberals.{{cite news|url=https://www.youngliberal.org.au/history|title= History: Former Office Bearers |publisher=Young Liberals|access-date=30 March 2019}} He was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in 1983.{{Cite web|title=Birrell, Mark Alexander | publisher= Parliament of Victoria | work=re-member | url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=905 |access-date= 2 February 2010}}

When long serving MP William Campbell resigned his safe Legislative Council seat of East Yarra Province in 1983, Birrell won Liberal preselection and succeeded him as its member.{{Cite web|title=Parliament of Victoria|url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/component/fabrik/details/31/38|access-date=2021-08-09|website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au}} He was "Victoria’s youngest MP and one of the youngest-ever in Australia."The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, p.52, 1880. Web. 25 December 2024 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1312369871> Two years later he entered the shadow Cabinet as shadow Health Minister.

Birrell became the Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council from 1988 and in 1992 he became the Government Leader of the Upper House, a position he would hold through to 1999.{{cite re-member |title=Mark Alexander Birrell |num2=1028 |access-date=2021-08-09}} During this period he served as Minister for Conservation and Environment, creating the Yarra Ranges National Park, pioneering laws for coastal protection in the State, overseeing Albert Park's revitalisation, and handling key stakeholder issues.

During the first term of the Kennett government he also served as the Minister for Major Projects. He was responsible for the 'Agenda 21' infrastructure projects like the new Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne Museum, City Circle tram, Docklands and the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, along with the full restoration of the Old Treasury Building and the Regent Theatre.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yKI1NQAACAAJ |title=Agenda 21: Major Civic Projects for Melbourne : the Victorian Government's Agenda for Revitalising Victoria |collaboration=Office of Major Projects |publisher=Office of Major Projects, Victoria |year=1993}} After the 1996 election he swapped his Ministerial portfolios for the Industry, Science and Technology portfolio. As minister he oversaw the State's first "Science, Engineering and Technology policy," legislating for 7-day shop trading, and overseeing a successful investment attraction program.

After the defeat of the Kennett Government at the 1999 election, Birrell continued as Liberal Upper House leader and served as shadow Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. Widespread media commentary called for him to switch to the lower house and take the Leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party as his predecessor Sir Rupert Hamer had done.{{Cite book |last=Whinnett |first=Ellen |title=Premier's State |date=2012 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |others=Steve Bracks |isbn=978-0-522-86079-5 |edition=1st |location=Melbourne |pages=191}} However, Birrell decided to leave Parliament and return to private enterprise after the 2002 election.

Birrell is currently the a non-executive director of Transurban and serves on the Management Board of the [https://www.ioe-emp.org/about-us/our-governance International Organisation of Employers]. He is the President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Recently he retired as the independent chairman of [https://www.apss.com.au/home/ Australia Post Super Scheme (APSS)], a fund with 30,000 members.{{Cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=Empowering members with more choices and services|url=https://www.apss.com.au/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/o2kiGb-Igk-UCb_7ijDDKA/file/Beacon_Powering_your_super/APSS_Member_Announcement_26_March_2021.pdf}}

He was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2007 and a Companion of Engineers Australia in 2014.

Birrell was chairman of the Port of Melbourne Corporation until November 2016. The Andrews Government embarked on a “privatisation drive” {{Cite web|title=Dailytelegraph.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fqueens-birthday-honours-mark-birrells-determination-to-help-build-the-future%2Fnews-story%2Fed73c6a710d36a9ea2804a6f5dc04fbb&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=e179a2ad8610c5dc1153c7b7cd4abe0c-1623619807|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}} in its first term, with Birrell overseeing the sale of the Port of Melbourne for $9.7 billion.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-19|title=Port of Melbourne lease sold to consortium for $9.7b|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-19/port-of-melbourne-sold-to-lonsdale-consortium/7857328|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} Birrell reflects on this as “….an example of a Labor government wanting to recycle capital from one large asset into other assets. And it was a very good example of public policy working, regardless of the political party in power.”{{Cite web|title=Dailytelegraph.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fqueens-birthday-honours-mark-birrells-determination-to-help-build-the-future%2Fnews-story%2Fed73c6a710d36a9ea2804a6f5dc04fbb&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=183aa7232afc3422dc4dfc572d29dff9-1623620222|access-date=2021-06-13|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}} The proceeds of the sale were injected back into Victorian infrastructure projects, including the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Birrell was the founding chairman of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the nation's peak infrastructure body.{{Cite web|title=Our Patrons - Infrastructure Partnerships Australia|url=https://infrastructure.org.au/our-patrons/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=IPA|language=en-AU}} This not-for-profit organisation undertakes research and policy advocacy on social and economic infrastructure.

Other board roles included being an independent non-executive chairman of the Australian Payments Council, the strategic coordination body for the Australian payments industry, also serving on the board of Australia Post,{{Cite web|title=Board of directors

| publisher= Australia Post | url=http://www.auspost.com.au/annualreport2009/corpGov/board-of-directors.html |access-date= 2 February 2010}} including as deputy Chairman, and Chairman of [https://www.regis.com.au/investor-information/ Regis Healthcare Limited] and Evans and Peck Limited.

From 2002-2012 Birrell was the National Leader of the Infrastructure Group and special counsel at Minter Ellison.

Volunteer roles include being Chairman of VicHealth (2012–14) and positions as a trustee of both the Melbourne Cricket Ground (1992–96), the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust (1995–99) and the [https://www.cgsc.vic.edu.au/ Canterbury Girls' Secondary College] School Council 2004-06).{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgfocus.com.au/editions/2008-06/infrastructure-australia.php|title=Infrastructure Australia |access-date= 2 February 2010 |work=lgfocus.com.au}}

He has been active in the chamber of commerce movement, including as President of the [https://www.victorianchamber.com.au/ Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry] (2013–16). He is the current President of the [https://acci.com.au/ Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry].

Birrell was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours,{{cite news |title=Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours - the full list |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/queen-s-birthday-2021-honours-the-full-list-20210613-p580pa.html |access-date=13 June 2021 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. |date=13 June 2021}}{{Cite web|title=The Honourable Mark Alexander Birrell|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008635|access-date=2021-06-13|website=It's An Honour}} recognised for "significant service to the infrastructure sector, and to business."

In 2014 he was awarded Monash University's highest honour, receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Laws {{Cite web |date=21 May 2014 |title=Political pioneer receives honorary doctorate |url=https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/political-pioneer-receives-honorary-doctorate |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Monash University}} for "his contributions to the policy and infrastructure sectors."

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Category:1958 births

Category:Politicians from Melbourne

Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Council

Category:Ministers for the environment (Victoria)

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Trinity Grammar School, Kew

Category:Monash Law School alumni

Category:21st-century Australian politicians

Category:Ministers for conservation (Victoria)

Category:Ministers for major projects (Victoria)