Goolsbee is the Robert P Gwinn professor of economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, where he researches tax policy, American industry, technology and innovation.

He was previously chairman of Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors and a member of the Cabinet.

Goolsbee was also the chief economist for the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board and was an economic adviser to Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign before serving as a senior economic adviser to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.

In 2005, the Financial Times named Goolsbee as one of six “gurus of the future/best under 40” and he was named as a young global leader at the World Economic Forum that year.

Goolsbee follows international economic experts Nouriel “Dr Doom” Roubini, Niall Ferguson and Rodrigo de Rato who were keynote speakers for the annual forum in previous years.

Diggers and Dealers will be held in Kalgoorlie on August 5-7, with Goolsbee to present on the Monday morning.