Non-binding request for Saul Eslake
Saul Eslake
One of Australia’s most trusted economists, delivering clear, engaging insights on markets, policy and the forces shaping the economy.
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Why you should book Saul Eslake for your next event
- Book Saul Eslake for expert insights on the economy, financial markets, taxation, housing and global trends from one of Australia’s leading economists.
- Makes complex economic issues easy to understand with engaging presentations tailored to business leaders, investors and policymakers.
- Delivers practical insights on economic trends, taxation, housing, productivity, financial markets and the global economy.
Non-binding request for Saul Eslake
Australia’s trusted voice on economics, financial markets and public policy
When organisations need clarity on economic uncertainty, Saul Eslake is one of Australia’s most trusted voices. With more than four decades of experience spanning government, financial markets, banking and public policy, he helps audiences understand the economic forces shaping business and society. Known for his engaging presentation style and ability to explain complex topics in straightforward language, Saul delivers practical insights on economic trends, financial markets, taxation, housing policy, productivity and the outlook for Australia and the global economy.
Book Saul Eslake for your event
Saul Eslake has built a reputation as one of Australia's most respected economists through a career spanning more than 40 years. His experience across financial institutions, public policy, academia and independent consulting gives audiences a balanced and highly credible perspective on today's most important economic challenges.
Recognised for making economics accessible, Saul explains complex concepts in practical terms that resonate with business leaders, investors, government organisations and industry groups alike. His presentations combine rigorous analysis with real-world examples, helping audiences better understand the trends influencing markets, investment decisions and economic policy.
Whether discussing inflation, interest rates, productivity, taxation, housing affordability or the global economic outlook, Saul delivers insights that are relevant, balanced and immediately valuable.
Extensive experience across economics and finance
Saul spent more than 25 years working as an economist in Australian financial markets, holding several of the country's most influential chief economist positions.
His career includes serving as:
- Vice-Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Tasmania (current)
- Member of the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office Advisory Panel
- Chief Economist (Australia & New Zealand), Bank of America Merrill Lynch (2011–2015)
- Director of the Productivity Growth Program at the Grattan Institute (2009–2011)
- Chief Economist, ANZ Bank (1995–2009)
- Chief Economist (International), National Mutual Funds Management (early 1990s)
- Chief Economist, McIntosh Securities (late 1980s)
Following these senior leadership roles, Saul established his own economics consultancy in Hobart in 2015, providing independent advice to businesses, governments, investors and organisations seeking expert economic analysis.
Trusted adviser to government and industry
Alongside his speaking and consulting work, Saul continues to contribute to major public policy discussions across Australia.
He completed an Independent Review of Tasmania's Public Sector Finances following the 2024 Tasmanian state election under an agreement between the Premier of Tasmania and members of the Jacqui Lambie Network. He was also commissioned to assess the arguments for and against the possible privatisation or divestment of sixteen Tasmanian Government-owned business entities before that review was discontinued.
His advisory roles also include membership of the Australian Taxation Office's Tax Gap Advisory Panel, the Advisory Board of Jamieson Coote Bonds, and the Board of the Council on the Ageing.
These appointments reflect the confidence that governments, financial institutions and organisations place in Saul's independent judgement and economic expertise.
Expertise across today's biggest economic issues
Saul speaks on the issues that matter most to businesses, investors and policymakers.
His keynote presentations cover topics including:
- Australian and global economic outlook
- Financial markets and investment trends
- Central banks and monetary policy
- Inflation and interest rates
- Housing and property markets
- Government finances and taxation
- Productivity growth
- Industry and sector analysis
- Regional and global political economy
- Economic policy and reform
Each presentation is tailored to the audience, combining current economic developments with long-term perspectives that help organisations make better strategic decisions.
Why audiences value Saul Eslake
Saul is frequently described as Australia's "chief number-cruncher" thanks to his rare ability to translate economic data into clear, engaging and meaningful stories. His presentations avoid unnecessary jargon while maintaining the depth and accuracy expected from one of the country's most experienced economists.
Audiences leave with a stronger understanding of the economic environment, greater confidence in interpreting market developments and practical knowledge they can apply within their own organisations.
His academic achievements reflect the depth of his expertise. Saul holds a First Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Tasmania, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, and completed the Senior Executive Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business in New York. In 2012 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University of Tasmania in recognition of his contribution to economics and public policy.
For organisations seeking a keynote speaker who combines credibility, experience and the ability to make economics engaging, Saul Eslake delivers informed, balanced and highly relevant presentations that help audiences better understand the economic forces shaping Australia's future and the global economy.
Customer Reviews
5 of 5
“You are one of the best at what you do in the world”
Gail Fosler, Chief EconomistThe Conference Board, New York
5 of 5
“I have never known an economist to have such a knowledge of world economic facts and to be able to bring to bear so much information in answering a question without notice”
Charles Goode, ChairmanANZ Bank
5 of 5
“Saul Eslake is … a highly regarded independent economist with the highest degree of integrity"
John Durie, ColumnistThe Australian
5 of 5
“… one of the few people in this world who can have so many oranges up in the air at the same time but still manage to catch them"
Andrew Clark, JournalistAustralian Financial Review
Rated 5.00/5 based on 4 customer reviews
Keynotes
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
Asian Economies
Asia accounts for 52% of the world’s population and (as of 2013) 34% of the world’s GDP. By the end of the decade Asia will account for 39% of the world’s GDP. Asia already takes more than 75% of Australia’s merchandise exports.
Saul Eslake believes it is impossible to understand Australia’s long-term economic prospects without a good understanding of what’s happening in the major Asian economies.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
The Australian Economy
Monitoring, analysing and trying to predict trends in the Australian economy has been a major element of Saul Eslake’s work as an economist since leaving university in 1979.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
Australian Society and Politics
Saul Eslake believes it is impossible to think, write or speak about an economy without understanding the broader social and economic framework in which it operates.
While he works hard to avoid partisan political commentary, he does at times write and speak about significant social and political developments.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
Economic Policies
The Nobel Prize-winning economist James Tobin once said that the study of economics “offered the hope, as it still does, that improved understanding could better the lot of mankind”.
Saul Eslake explores how economic policy can help moderate boom-and-bust cycles, reduce unemployment, contain inflation and improve living standards in sustainable ways.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
Economics and Economists
The American actor Will Rogers once said (in 1932) that “an economist’s guess is liable to be as good as anybody else’s”.
More seriously, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote that economists “do have a method – a systematic way of thinking about the world that is more true than not, that gives them genuine if imperfect expertise.”
Here, Saul Eslake shares his own thoughts on the economics profession and its practitioners.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
The Global Economy
Saul Eslake often compares the global financial system to a country’s electricity grid.
Most people rarely notice it unless it stops working – as the global financial system very nearly did in late 2008.
Keynote by Saul Eslake:
Globalization
Globalization – the increasing integration of countries through the movement of goods, services, capital and people – can be a powerful force for improving living standards and expanding opportunities.
It can also be disruptive, and many people oppose it for ideological reasons.
Saul Eslake presented a series of talks on this topic in the early 2000s, which are reproduced here.
Saul Eslake: 'The Big Picture' - Zurich Australia's Accelerate conference in Sydney 9 May 2024
Watch Saul Eslake in action
