Colin Barnett AC was Western Australia's 29th Premier from 2008 until the Liberals were defeated in the 2017 state election. Mr Barnett was a member of the WA Legislative Assembly, representing Cottesloe, from 1990 until his resignation from politics in 2018. He was leader of the Liberal Party (WA) from 2001 to 2005, before regaining leadership again a month before the 2008 election.
Mr Barnett has Honours and Masters degrees in Economics from the University of Western Australia, and was an executive director of CCIWA before entering politics.
In 2023, Mr Barnett was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, particularly as Premier, to economic and infrastructure development, to social welfare reform, and to the Indigenous community.
Mr Barnett was appointed an adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia in 2018.
