Robert Henderson

Rob Henderson is an independent economist with over 40 years’ experience in addressing policy problems, both macro and micro, as well as contemporary economic issues. During his early career in Canberra, Rob worked on a broad spectrum of economic issues, from data analysis at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to structural industry policy issues at the Productivity Commission, budgetary formulation and policy advice at the Department of Finance and macroeconomic advice at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. A highlight of his Canberra career was his work as Branch Head in the Economic Division of PM&C when Bob Hawke was PM. Those were times of sweeping policy reform and challenging macroeconomic conditions.

In the early 1990s, Rob moved to the private sector to set up an Economics Department within the merchant bank Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, which became a market leading forecaster of currencies and interest rates. In the early 2000s Rob joined National Australia Bank as Chief Economist, Markets with a focus on advising NAB’s dealing room and business clients on economic developments and the outlook.  Rob is a former Chair of Australian Business Economists.

Recent projects have included work on climate change economics, the interplay between the energy transition and the finance sector and providing advice on industry transformational issues, as Australia moves towards a ‘net zero’ economy.

Rob is married with three adult children and lives at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. He loves walking and ocean swimming. Recent adventures include walking a section of the Via Francigena in Italy and a SwimTrek in Oman.