Grattan Institute began with pressure from senior figures in the Victorian Public Service,
academic institutions, and broader business and non-government leaders, who believed that Australian political life lacked a heavyweight independent think tank. Through the course of 2005 this idea was fleshed out by several people in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, including discussions with a number of Australia's corporate leaders. At the end of 2005 the Victorian Premier,
Steve Bracks, met with the Federal Treasurer
Peter Costello to define the theme for the think tank: Australia as a
liberal democracy in a
globalised economy. The phrase has since been enshrined in the Constitution of Grattan Institute. Links between the
University of Melbourne, Victorian Government and corporate Australia, along with a supportive report from
McKinsey & Company, were the basis for then Victorian Premier Bracks and Treasurer
John Brumby in early 2007 to promise significant Victorian Government funding for the idea. Melbourne University was also asked to assist. In April 2008, Commonwealth and Victorian Governments announced matching funding, along with support in kind from the University of Melbourne. Commitments followed soon after from
BHP and
National Australia Bank. Grattan receives money from its endowment supporters and affiliates, which include Susan McKinnon Foundation, Scanlon Foundation, The Myer Foundation, Origin Energy Foundation, Third Link Growth Fund, Cuffe Family Foundation,
Medibank Private, Trawalla Foundation,
Wesfarmers, Maddocks, McKinsey & Company,
Ashurst,
Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Urbis, and
Westpac. Grattan Institute was incorporated in November 2008, and its founding Chief Executive, John Daley, commenced in January 2009. Upon his departure in July 2020,
Danielle Wood served as Grattan Institute CEO until she was appointed to chair the
Productivity Commission in November 2023. Grattan Institute's third Chief Executive, Aruna Sathanapally, commenced in February 2024. ==Executive==