Former Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister — plain-English read on the Australian economy.
Stephen Koukoulas is one of Australia's most experienced economic commentators, having spent over thirty years working at the highest levels of economic forecasting, policy advice and financial markets analysis. He served as Senior Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and has held senior roles at the Commonwealth Treasury, at Citibank Australia — where he was Chief Economist — and at TD Securities in London as global head of economic research and strategy, giving him a perspective on the Australian economy that spans both government and the private sector. He now runs his own consultancy, Market Economics.
Known for his directness and his willingness to challenge received wisdom, Koukoulas consistently offers audiences an economics briefing that goes beyond the consensus view. He has a gift for taking the dense apparatus of RBA decisions, fiscal policy, housing markets and labour statistics and translating it into something a non-economist can not only follow but find genuinely interesting. His forecasts are built on decades of analytical experience and are delivered without the hedging or jargon that characterises so much economic commentary.
Stephen is a natural fit for conferences where the agenda requires a credible, engaging update on the Australian economic landscape — finance, real estate, retail, banking, government and professional services audiences in particular will find his presentations both informative and provocative. He speaks from a deep base of knowledge and pulls no punches in telling organisations what the data actually says.
Stephen Koukoulas is a keynote speaker based in Victoria who speaks on business strategy, finance & economics and government & policy. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Housing – what is more important and topical for Australian consumers, investors and policy makers alike? And right now, house prices are surging, with low interest rates and pent-up demand from first home buyers driving the surge.
But beware! Australia’s immigration is near zero; yet there are over 180,000 new dwellings being built each year. Unless the international borders open soon, there will be a huge oversupply problem and that spells the price boom in early 2021 ending.
The big question – will prices fall and if so, when?
Making matters more intense is the weakness in wages and growing prospects for interest rate increases in 2022.
In this fast-paced & compelling keynote presentation, audiences discover:
• House prices across cities and regions – there is some intriguing data on supply and demand and what that will mean for differences in prices from city to city.
• Household debt remains high – how much more can Australian home owners take on?
• Investors - what about rents? They were weak but now are rising.
• Why it is always a good time to buy a house to live in!
Stephen is the Economist in Residence for Economic Security for All Women, which operates through the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Stephen has written white papers, issues reports and analysed the issues that impact gender inequality and the financial security of all Australian women. He presents his research and findings to various Parliamentary Committees and continues to advise on gender inequality and women’s financial security issues.
This very topical and relevant subject matter makes for a perfect additional Keynote Topic for Stephen.
Stephen covers the following:
• The gender pay and superannuation gaps.
• Affordable and accessible child care.
• Women owned and operated businesses.
• Financial education, awareness and literacy.
What can your business do to be a leader in this vital issue of equality?
What are other companies doing to deal with economic and financial security for women?
Economics matters. Understanding where the economy is and where it is going will drive profits, investment decisions, employment opportunities and drive the conversation around social impact.
This is why the weekly run of economic news is so important. Keeping up to date with these trends, what they mean for interest rates, the Australian dollar and financial markets is the key to staying ahead of the pack. It is also where policy issues are so important. And this is not just interest rates, but what the government does on tax, spending and changes to rules and regulations.
And of course, the critical thing is what to do about this news, how it might impact your business, your clients and your personal finances.
There are numerous influencers in the economy including (in no particular order):
• Superannuation
• Housing
• Labour Market
• The Next Federal Election
• Retail Sector
• Federal Budget
• Gender Inequality
• Interest Rates
• Unemployment
As an Independent Economist and Social Commentator, Stephen can deliver a keynote, drive a panel discussion or become your Economist in Residence to deliver regular economic updates and commentary that affect you.
Household spending accounts for over half of the economy – it is an important driver of whether times are good or bad. We consumers spent up big during COVID-19 but are now scaling back our spending.
What is the outlook for what we buy, how we spend our money and how much we are likely to spend?
Consumers are being pushed and pulled - limiting new spending because wages growth is weak and household debt is high but are benefitting from rising wealth on the back of rising house price and the lift in the stock market.
In this high-energy & compelling keynote presentation, audiences discover:
• Retail spending is slowing – consumers are holding back their spending.
• Consumers are feeling the effect of low wages growth, record debt levels, the end of JobKeeper.
• How weak will retail spending be and for how long?
• What is needed to see a turnaround?
• How should retailers react to what could be an erratic year ahead for spending?
The post-COVID-19 era has seen the labour market in Australia transformed. Immigration has fallen to near zero which means local firms are increasingly relying on local workers.
This had led to skills shortages in some areas, that will only be addressed if higher wages are paid.
Female workforce participation has increased as the economy has recovered from the COVID-19 recession.
Amid all of these changes, wages growth remains weak – near record lows.
An issue to watch for is that for the first time in a decade, rising wages costs, as firms compete for workers. There is tentative evidence of this in some sectors.
What does this mean for you, your business and your employees and the economy in general?
Get the latest update and data from Stephen at your next meeting, event or conference.
Stephen was fantastic on the day and really engaged the audience, however, he was also well organised providing the PowerPoint presentation when it was needed and also arrived an hour and half before he was required.Master Builders SA
The response was very positive. Stephen was able to communicate what is quite technical, to [become] an engaging and informative discussion.Learning & Development Manager, Strata Community Association
Not only is Stephen a truly remarkable speaker to work with, he captivates a room with his presence, especially on a topic that can be quite dry, he has the audience wanting more. The attendees loved him, the content, the energy, the excitement and the optimism. Stephen exceeded my expectations in all aspects and I would love the opportunity to be able to work with him again. Not only was he great for our attendees he was hands down my favourite speaker to work with, everything we asked of him he delivered and went above and beyond. Cannot recommend Stephen enough!Events Executive, UDIA QLD
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