administrator chairman economist deputy
Conn studied economics at the University of Sydney, graduating Bachelor of Science and later Master of Economics. He studied for his doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy) at Duke University in the United States, before lecturing in economics at Sydney University from 1961 to 1975.
Since his appointment by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014, Conn has served as Lord Prior of the Order of Saint John. He left the university in 1975 to work for two years as Principal Administrator with the Organization of European Cooperation and Development in Paris, followed by four years as Deputy Secretary of the New South Wales Treasury. Conn was appointed by the newly independent Northern Territory government as Chief Executive Officer of the territory"s treasury and was the Administrator of the Northern Territory from 17 February 1997 to 30 October 2000.
Following his retirement as administrator, Conn became foundation chairman of Original Information Technology Investments Pty Limited, an information technology incubator.
From 2001 to 2004 he was the deputy chairman and lead independent director of the publicly listed company International All Sports Limited.
They have three children. Conn was appointed a deputy prior of the Order of Saint John in Australia in 1997.
He served as chairman of Street John Ambulance Australia from 2004 to 2007. At the 2007 Street John Ambulance Australia National Priory Conference, he was nominated as chancellor of the Street John Priory in Australia, replacing Villis Marshall.
In 2014, Conn was promoted as the Lord Prior of the Order of Saint John, becoming its most senior non-royal figure.
