The economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region has been a major success story of the last few decades, with overseas trade helping lift a quarter of a billion people from poverty to middle income. Now trade growth is slowing, the demographic dividend is over, and technology is disrupting. How should we interpret the changes afoot?

About the speaker

Dr Alan Bollard is the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore, the body that promotes trade, investment and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining APEC, he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand from 2002 to 2012. In that position, he was responsible for monetary policy and bank regulations, helping steer New Zealand through the global financial crisis.  

From 1998 to 2002, Dr Bollard was the Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury.  He has served as New Zealand’s Alternate Governor to the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. From 1994 – 2008, he was the Chairman of the New Zealand Commerce Commission. Prior to this from 1987 to 1994 he was Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.  

Dr Bollard holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Auckland and has since been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees.  In 2012 he was honoured as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

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