ACITI was founded by Pru Gordon in 2020. Pru has worked on trade and investment issues as an academic, a diplomat, a policy maker, in an industry association and as a senior adviser to three Australian trade and investment ministers. She has had a life-long interest in international trade and investment and their impact on the everyday lives of Australians.

Pru was most recently Senior Adviser to the Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Earlier roles include General Manager, Trade and Economics at the National Farmers Federation, Adviser and Senior Adviser to two former Ministers for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

At DFAT, Pru worked in the Office of Trade Negotiations and the China Economic and Trade Section. She spent three years as a diplomat working in the Trade Branch of the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.  Prior to joining DFAT, Pru worked in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of New South Wales, and the Department of International Relations at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.

She spent two years as Dean and Acting Head, Fenner Hall, at the Australian National University. She began her career as the Trade Policy and Research Adviser with the Parliamentary Research Service, Parliament House, Canberra.Pru has a Bachelor of Arts (History)(Honours) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Australian National University, and a Doctor of Philosophy (International Political Economy) from the University of New South Wales.