Associate Professor Rick Macourt is a proud, queer Gumbaynggirr man, lawyer and economic specialist. He is Managing Director (Strategy and Foundation) at First Nations Economics and Associate Dean, First Nations Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney.

With over 15 years’ experience across government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors, Rick is a recognised leader in First Nations economic development, policy and systems reform. He previously served as Director, First Nations Expenditure and Outcomes at NSW Treasury, where he led the state’s inaugural Indigenous expenditure reporting and established Australia’s first First Nations budget framework in 2021–22.

Rick has also held senior roles at Westpac Group, leading First Nations affairs, as well as positions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, City of Sydney and Standards Australia. His expertise spans economic policy, monitoring and evaluation, governance and complex stakeholder negotiation.

He is a published author with Oxford University Press, a member of the First Nations Advisory Board at Siemens Australia, and a Non-Executive Director of Barnardos Australia.