Raymond Spencer

Raymond Spencer (born 1950) is a South Australian businessman, chairman of South Australia's Economic Development Board and chairman of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Career Spencer grew up on a farm in Clarendon in the 1950s where he witnessed the economic progress made under the leadership of Premier Thomas Playford.

After studying law at the University of Adelaide, Spencer left South Australia at the age of 18. He lived and worked in the US, India and Europe for 35 years before returning to Adelaide in 2009. He worked in the not-for-profit sector before starting an IT business in 1989. That business was acquired by Capgemini twenty years later. While abroad, Spencer was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year for the Illinois Region in 2005. Raymond is a Laureate of the Computerworld Honors Program, which recognises the use of information technology to produce and promote positive social change.

Spencer believes that "value adding" to support growth in the resources sector presents economic opportunities for South Australia. He said in 2013: "Building businesses in the value chain that is going to support the resources industry. That's where the really big bang from the resources industry really comes."

Spencer is optimistic about economic opportunities of South Australia's Mining industry, renewable energy resources, its agricultural products and emerging knowledge economy. He also believes that South Australia should consider major tax reform to make the region more attractive to investment and that the State's public sector needs to become more "customer" and "outcome" focused. and has been involved in an investigation undertaken by ICAC following the Gillman land sale controversy.

Spencer was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for his "significant service to business, and to the community through a range of organisations".

Gillman land sale In 2013, Spencer received a proposal from former Santos chairman Stephen Gerlach of Adelaide Capital Partners for the purchase and use of a site of public land at Gillman in South Australia. The land was sold for $122 million without being put to tender, and has since become the subject of an investigation by South Australia's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC). Premier Jay Weatherill alleged that Spencer brought him the proposal and asked for it to be "entertained". Spencer later attended a meeting between ACP and the Premier, and was subsequently contacted by ACP to discuss the possibility of fast-tracking the process.

Personal life Spencer was born in Clarendon, South Australia. His family first settled there in 1839. He is married to Tina and has four children.