Glenn Withers is Emeritus Professor in the Crawford School at ANU. He is also a Distinguished Adjunct Professor in the Research School of Economics ANU, and a Visiting Professor at UNSW Canberra.

Along with academic research and teaching, including pioneering work in areas such as the economics of immigration and economics of the arts, Professor Withers helped to establish the Productivity Commission, the Crawford School, ANZSOG, ACOLA and Universities Australia.

He has been an adviser for public, private and community sector organisations in Australia and overseas, and was awarded an AO for services to applied economics, including for contributions to design of replacing conscription, advancing equal pay, and creating the Australian immigration points system.