Starting a career in economics: stories from early and mid-career economists - ONLINE ONLY

We invite students studying economics at universities in the ACT to join us for the first event of the Women in Economics Student Mentoring Program as we speak to early and mid-career economists from a range of areas of economics. Panelists from Deloitte, the Australia Institute and ANU Crawford School of Public Policy/Treasury will share their stories of why they became economists, the pathways their careers have taken and tips for choosing a career in economics. 

There will be an opportunity to have small break out groups of mentors and students after the panel discussion. This will provide students with a chance to get to know potential mentors participating in the program and hear about their experiences starting a career in economics.  

In 2022, the Women in Economics Student Mentoring Program will run a series of events open to any economics university students identifying as female in the ACT. Applications will then open for students to be paired with a mentor. More information about the mentoring program will be available in semester 2. 

About our panel: 

Eliza Littleton is a research economist at the Australia Institute. She is interested in topics including employment, tax reform, and fiscal policy. Eliza holds an Honours degree in Political Economy from the University of Sydney and a Master of Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. She has prior experience working in the community and NGO sector.

Cecilia Karmel is a Director at the Treasury and was recently awarded a Sir Roland Wilson scholarship to complete her PhD at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.Since joining the Treasury in 2011, Cecilia has worked across a range of areas, including economic forecasting, health and disability policy, and tax and transfer microsimulation modelling. Cecilia holds a Master's Degree in Economics of Public Policy from Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, and a First Class Honours degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Adelaide.

Christine Ma is a manager in the Economic Advisory and Policy practice within Deloitte Access Economics. Christine's work is predominantly focused in the Education and Urban Economics sectors. Examples of recent work include working with the Victorian Department of Education and Training to reform their Vocational Education and Training funding and eligibility policies, and undertaking a cost-benefit analysis for the Greater Sydney Commission to understand how industrial lands should be managed to support long-term prosperity. Christine graduated from the Australian National University with Honours in Economics.