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As New Zealand Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas won an international reputation as the strategist and driving force responsible for the reform of the country's economy from 1984 to 1988.

The Hon. Sir Roger Douglas was first elected to public office in 1966, as a Councillor in the City of Manukau. While on Council, he served on the Finance and General Purposes Committees. He entered the House of Representatives (the New Zealand parliament) in 1969, as the Member for Manukau. When David Lange was chosen as Leader of the Labour Party in 1983, he named Douglas as the party's Spokesman on Finance. He became Minister of Finance when his party won the 1984 election. The success of his policies in turning around the New Zealand economy made him a sought-after spokesman on structural reform and privatization. He has undertaken many international consulting assignments and World Bank missions in countries around the world. In 1993, he founded ACT (Association of Consumers and Taxpayers) which became ACT New Zealand in 1995. Sir Roger returned to parliament in 2008 as a List Member for ACT New Zealand. Over the years, he has received many honors and awards including being made Member of the Order of Knights Bachelor in 1991.

His period as Finance Minister saw major deregulation of New Zealand finance markets, the floating of the New Zealand dollar, the corporatisation of State trading departments and the adoption of privatisation policies, and dramatic reforms of the taxation system.

Since leaving Parliament in 1990, Sir Roger has operated an international consulting firm, specialising in advice on economic restructuring and structural adjustment in a number of countries including Brazil, Hungary, USA, Russia, Pakistan, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, China and South Africa.

He is the author of four books. His third book, Unfinished Business, in 1993 was the starting point of the political party, Association of Consumers & Taxpayers (ACT), of which he is co-founder. Its main principles are that it is people who are important, not money or institutions. Its policies are based on the concept of individual choice and personal responsibility within a supporting framework of social and economic policy.