Simon Baptist

Simon Baptist is the Principal Economist for APAC at Visa, responsible for analysis and thought leadership on economics and business in the region. Formerly he was Global Chief Economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit. He was also the Managing Director for The EIU in Asia, with oversight for The EIU’s research, consultancy and C-suite advisory services in the region.

An intelligent, articulate economist who can relate the world’s key economic developments and those of the emerging markets of Asia – to business opportunities and challenges.

He was responsible for providing intellectual leadership for the EIU’s coverage and ensuring that economic and political analysis and forecasts are the best available for international decision-makers.

As former Asia Director for Custom Research, the EIU’s consultancy arm, he worked with governments to design and assess the impact of public policy and with companies to drive successful strategy and operational performance in Asia.

Simon is a highly experienced economist who has previously spent time as a lecturer at Oxford University and as an economics consultant advising many governments, multinational corporations and international organizations around the world. His geographic coverage is global, with a focus on economies in Asia, the UK and Australia.

Simon has published a number of academic articles, including in World Development, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A and Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies. He is frequently invited to participate on TV and in other international media.

He speaks at large business conferences and investment forums, and is asked to present at client engagements, in both small intimate groups as well as larger scale events. Simon often attends confidential internal briefings to company Board strategy meeting and global business planning sessions.

TOPICS:

• What we can expect from the world economy, incorporating scenarios for post-Brexit Europe, the future of the Euro zone, the USA post presidential elections and other potential developments.
• Outlook for Asia and key emerging markets.
• Briefings can include segments focused on business productivity, international competitiveness, Asia and Australasia cross-regional issues, the environment, energy, climate change, commodities, international trade, economic development and taxation policy.

Simon has a doctorate in Economics from Oxford University, where his research investigated productivity and technology in emerging market manufacturing firms. He holds degrees in Economics and Science from the University of Tasmania. He was brought up in Australia, has lived in the UK and now resides in Singapore.