Shann Memorial Lecture: Australia: Why we are where we are...

The 2024 Shann Memorial Lecture will be presented on Wednesday 16 October 2024. The event is hosted by The UWA Business School and The Economic Society of Australia (WA Branch). This year's lecture will be given by Chris Richardson, one of Australia’s best known economists. Chris will present Australia: Why we are where we are...

The Shann Memorial Lecture has been running annually since 1963 and was introduced to honour the memory of the Foundation Chair of Economics and History at UWA, Edward Shann. Edward Shann has been regarded as the pioneer of the academic development of economics and traditional Australian economic history and he was a strong advocate of individual intellectual freedom and developing a sense of social responsibilities. He penned several books and essays on the economic history of Australia and was a major influence in formulating financial and fiscal policies in Australia.

Q&A discussion

Following the lecture, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

About the speaker 

Chris Richardson has worked at the Federal Treasury in Canberra, at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, as well as at Access Economics and Deloitte Access Economics. He is one of Australia’s best known economists. A leading macroeconomist, his expertise includes the Australian and global economies, Federal budget analysis and property, ageing and industry trends. He once swam to Brazil, and is proud that he did no damage to either himself or the Amazon in the process. He has, however, managed to annoy every federal Treasurer in decades. Chris is the author of three regular publications: Business Outlook, Employment Forecasts and Budget Monitor. Named twice in recent years by the Financial Review in its annual listing of Australia’s five most powerful consultants – “the most high-profile figure of any big four consulting firm in Australia” and awarded the Centenary Medal for “service to public policy and economic debate in Australia”.

About Edward Shann

Edward Shann was born in 1884 and graduated with first-class honours in history and political economics from Queens’ College, The University of Melbourne. He won several scholarships and went on for higher studies at The London School of Economics. He returned to Australia from England in 1910 and was lecturer-in-charge of history and economics at The University of Queensland from June 1911 to December 1912. He joined The University of Western Australia in its inaugural year of 1913 as the Foundation Professor of history and economics. He then went on to work at the University for a total of 22 years and was Vice-Chancellor from 1921 to 1923. Edward Shann’s life was cut tragically short when he died at the age of 51, in 1935.