Description

The last decade has brought big changes in the trade patterns, living standards, demographics and technologies of the Asia-Pacific. Trade has been the biggest economic driver, and we have taken continued strong growth for granted. Now all that is being threatened by forces of anti-globalisation: we are starting to see the makings of a 21st century trade war.

Dr Alan Bollard is Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore, and he will speak from his experience of how economies are being affected and are dealing with this challenge.

About The Speaker

Since 2013 Dr Alan Bollard is the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore, the body that promotes trade, investment and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific. Dr Bollard advances APEC’s agenda by executing APEC’s work programmes as mandated by Leaders and Ministers in conjunction with the host governments of the region.

Prior to joining APEC, Dr Bollard was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 2002 to 2012. In that position, he was responsible for monetary policy and bank regulations, and helped steer New Zealand through the global financial crisis.

From 1998 to 2002, Dr Bollard was the Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury. As the government’s principal economic adviser, he managed the Crown’s finances and helped guide economic policy. He has served as New Zealand’s Alternate Governor to the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. From 1994 – 2008, he was the Chairman of the New Zealand Commerce Commission and from 1987 to 1994 he was Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.

Dr Bollard has helped rebuild the famous MONIAC hydraulic model of the British economy. He has also designed a computer simulation game called OIKONOMOS where you play at being Minister of Finance. He wrote a best-selling account of the GFC called “Crisis: One Central Bank Governor and the Global Financial Collapse”. He has published a novel entitled ‘The Rough Mechanical’ and a biography of famous economist, Bill Phillips, in 2016.

He is married to venture capitalist Jenny Morel and has 2 sons. Dr Bollard has a PhD in Economics from the University of Auckland. He has since been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees. In 2012 he was honoured as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Who Should Attend

Scholars and legal professionals interested in: politics, economics, development, international relations, world trade, the Asian economic region.