EDS First was founded in 2007 and brought together a number of specialist development practitioners. The directors had previously worked together on various aid and development projects and share a strong commitment to global justice and empowerment outcomes. Their experience spans across the private sector, academia, government and the non-government development field. The collaboration through EDS First enabled work colleagues from Indonesia and Australia to continue their long collaboration.
Peter van Diermen
Dr Peter van Diermen is a development economist with over 30 years international experience in the Asia-Pacific region, providing team leadership, technical assistance and policy advice for governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies. Peter work has focussed on monitoring and evaluating programs and projects, as well as designing, programs. He specialises in regional cooperation, trade policies, private sector development, competition policy and development of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
He has carried out international development assignments in over 20 different countries: Work includes Team leader for designing national programs and projects, regional and national trade strategies and support for bilateral and regional trade agreements and designing national SME strategies and regulatory reform processes.
Peter previously worked as a senior academic in the field of applied development economics. He has published extensively on a wide variety of economic topics and has provided support and consulting services for a range of clients including, DFAT, EU, APEC, ADB, ASEAN and the World Bank Group. Peter has also worked as a senior economic adviser for the Australian Government’s aid program (AusAID) and was Head and Chief technical adviser for SME policy and finance development, attached to the Vice President Office of Indonesia (TNP2K).
Jim Redden
Mr Jim Redden has worked extensively throughout the Asia-Pacific, South Asia and Africa for over 25 years on aid and sustainable development programs, trade related capacity building and aid for trade programs. He specialises in trade strategies for poverty reduction and inclusive development, with particular emphasis on trade strategies that are gender sensitive and empower women and low income workers to connect to markets and benefit from trade. He has managed complex research and training programs for donors including the governments of Australian, New Zealand and the USA, as well as for the World Bank, UN agencies and various regional bodies such as the ADB, ASEAN and the Pacific Forum Island Secretariat.
Jim Redden has served on the Australian Trade Minister’s Advisory Committee and has advised Australian Government ministers, including former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and former Foreign Minister, Hon Julie Bishop MP, on a range of international trade, aid and inclusive economic issues of concern to developing countries. He inputs regularly to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Australia on trade related development issues, aid for trade matters, SME and private sector development and on social inclusion and gender issues.
In addition to his work as a Director of EDS First, Jim lectures in international business, trade policy and foreign aid at the University of Adelaide. Jim is also currently the Executive Officer of the Australian Trade and Development Business Network, a private sector organisation which facilitates private-public partnerships for development and advocates for a stronger role for a responsible private sector in global poverty reduction activities. Mr. Redden has post-graduate degrees in Economics, Trade, International Development and in Adult Education.
EDS First 