Rampart

Joe Aston is the founder of Rampart. He is an Australian Financial Review columnist and the best-selling author of The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out.

Ivor Ries was the Australian Financial Review’s Chanticleer columnist between 1991 and 1999 and is a former equities analyst at EL&C Baillieu, Wilson HTM and Morgans.

Alexandra Carlton writes for Gourmet Traveller, Qantas magazine, Good Food, The Australian, Escape and others. She is also the Oceania Academy Chair for The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

David Meagher is a journalist and author. He was the editor of The Australian’s WISH Magazine for 15 years and wrote the 2023 bestselling memoir Secrets and Lies (published by Penguin).

Richard Clune is a former GQ editor and editor-in-chief of Robb Report. Beyond managing the brand consultancy Bleue, Richard writes for The Australian, among others.

Claude Walker has been a stock analyst and investor for more than a decade. He is the founder of subscription website A Rich Life.

Emma Fisher is deputy head of equities at Airlie Funds Management.

Gideon Haigh has written for more than a hundred newspapers and magazines, and published more than fifty books. The latest is Who Is Wallace? The Enigma of the World's Oldest Prisoner.

John McDonald was an art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, and film critic for the Australian Financial Review. He now posts under his Substack Everything the art world doesn't want you to know.

Hugh White is emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University and a former Deputy Secretary of Defence. His most recent Quarterly Essay, Hard New World: Our Post-America Future, was published in June 2025.

Duncan is CEO of the Besen family office, Group CEO of the Cape York Partnership, and serves as chair of Amy’s Foundation and Djarragun College. He is also a former chair of Cycling Australia and the inaugural chair of AusCycling.

Patrick is an investor with prior experience as a senior analyst at an Australian hedge fund.

Dimitri Burshtein is a Senior Director of Eminence Advisory. Peter Swan AO is Emeritus Professor at the UNSW School of Banking and Finance. They are regular contributors on economic, social and public policy issues.

Stephen Todd is the design editor of the Australian Financial Review and head of publishing at Powerhouse, Sydney.

Authors

Joe Aston

Ivor Ries

Alexandra Carlton

David Meagher

Richard Clune

Claude Walker

Emma Fisher

Gideon Haigh

John McDonald

Hugh White

Duncan Murray

Patrick James

Dimitri Burshtein & Peter Swan

Stephen Todd