A presentation by Gene Sperling will open the conference on Monday, August 3.

Sperling served as director of the National Economic Council from January 2011-March 2014, the first to serve under two presidents, having acted in the same role for Bill Clinton from 1997-2001.

The New York Times called him a “prolific idea generator” for both presidents.

He also acted as assistant to the President for Economic Policy over the same period, representing the White House in negotiations with Congress and serving as the White House point person on several top policy priorities.

Sperling was also senior fellow for Economic Policy at the Centre for American Progress, served as counsellor at the US Department of the Treasury and was the right-hand man to former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during the Global Financial Crisis.

In addition, he acted as a consultant on political drama series The West Wing.

In January this year, he was appointed as an economic advisor to Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), one of the largest global investment management firms which holds more assets under management than the value of the Australian Securities Exchange.

Diggers and Dealers chairman Nick Giorgetta said the forum had developed a reputation of bringing internationally respected speakers to headline the conference.

His appearance follows keynotes from Lord Mervyn King of Lothbury, Austan, Nouriel “Dr Doom” Roubini, Niall Ferguson and Rodrigo de Rato in previous years.

Diggers is due to release its 2015 program in late April.

This year’s forum will run from August 3-5 in Kalgoorlie.