Mathias Cormann

Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann^[1] (/məˈtiːəs ˈkɔːrmən/; German: [maˈtiːas ˈkɔʁman]; born 20 September 1970) is a Belgian-born Australian politician. He is the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 2021.^[2] He was the Australian Minister for Finance from 2013 to 2020 and Western Australian senator for the Liberal Party from 2007 to 2020.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

The Honourable Mathias Cormann
Cormann in 2018
6th Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 June 2021
Preceded by	José Ángel Gurría
Minister for Finance
In office 18 September 2013 – 30 October 2020
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Penny Wong
Succeeded by	Simon Birmingham
Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office 20 December 2017 – 30 October 2020
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Preceded by	George Brandis
Succeeded by	Simon Birmingham
Vice-President of the Executive Council
In office 20 December 2017 – 30 October 2020
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Preceded by	George Brandis
Succeeded by	Simon Birmingham
Special Minister of State
In office 29 May 2019 – 30 October 2020
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Alex Hawke
Succeeded by	Simon Birmingham
In office 13 November 2017 – 23 August 2018
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Scott Ryan
Succeeded by	Alex Hawke
In office 29 December 2015 – 19 July 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Mal Brough
Succeeded by	Scott Ryan
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office 20 September 2015 – 20 December 2017
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	George Brandis
Succeeded by	Mitch Fifield
Senator for Western Australia
In office 19 June 2007 – 6 November 2020
Preceded by	Ian Campbell
Succeeded by	Ben Small
Personal details
Born	Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann (1970-09-20) 20 September 1970 (age 55) Eupen, Liège, Belgium
Citizenship	Australian (2000–present) Belgian (1970–2000)
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Other political affiliations	Christian Social Party (Belgium)
Alma mater	Université de Namur Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Profession	Lawyer
Website	www.mathiascormann.com.au

Early life

Mathias Cormann was born on September 20, 1970, in Eupen, Belgium, which is part of the German-speaking Community of the country. He is the oldest of four children and the only son of Hildegard and Herbert Cormann.^[8][9]

Political view

Mathias Cormann supports free market economics and fiscal conservatism. During his time as a Senator, both in Opposition and in Government, he has consistently promoted lower taxes, a smaller government, open markets, and free trade. He is linked to the economic dries within the Liberal Party.^[10][11]

Awards and honours

In January 2018, Cormann received the rank of Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This award was given by Ambassador Anna Prinz on behalf of the Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for his efforts to improve relations between Germany and Australia.^[12]