Heather Ridout AO (born 1954, Deniliquin) was the former long-term Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Born in Deniliquin in south-western NSW, she later attended the University of Sydney. She is a member of several policy-setting and advice-giving groups including Skills Australia. Heather Ridout was also a member of the Henry Tax Review and chaired the Productivity and Prosperity Advisory Panel of the Population Strategy Task Force. Heather Ridout is also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.