Tim Dixon

Tim works on translating the goals of new movements into concrete policies and political programs. Tim embodies our multidisciplinary spirit –- bringing to Purpose the lens of government, political communication, economic policy and enterprise. He’s also our chief economist, with a special interest in applying the insights of behavioural economics to policy change.

Tim has worked as Speechwriter and Senior Economic Adviser for two Australian prime ministers and an opposition leader. Despite all the frustrations of the modern political process, Tim remains passionate about the potential for politics to do good –- through renewing progressive parties, building new movements for change and generating fresh ways to engage local communities.

After graduating first in his statewide high school class of 45,000 students, Tim has spent the rest of his career trying to live up to the early hype. He began his career as an education entrepreneur, founding Leading Edge Education in Sydney. He took on the big boys of educational publishing, and won –- co-authoring what has become Australia’s best-selling economics textbook and teaching thousands of students. He has worked as a consumer movement spokesperson and a technology lawyer for global firm Baker & McKenzie. But he’s most proud of his work back in the ‘80s –- as an earnest paper delivery boy with his joggers, his Sony Walkman and endless summers of test cricket coverage.

In his spare time, Tim thinks about the role of faith in progressive politics, explores the wonders of New York City and reads Ronald Reagan biographies –- which everyone at Purpose thinks is a little bit odd.