Dr Paterson was appointed as Chief Economist to the Australian Government?s Department of Communications and the founding Head of the recently established Bureau of Communications Research (BCR) in 2014. The BCR is an independent professional research unit formed to strengthen the department?s capability for fact-based policy development and advice and stimulate informed discussion and debate on communications policy matters. Dr Paul Paterson is highly experienced in the communications sector, with more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, consultant, regulator and board member ? in the public and private sectors, in both Australia and overseas. He also holds a PhD and Masters of Economics from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of New England.