Besa Deda

Besa Deda is a seasoned economist currently serving as a Board Member on the Reserve Bank Shadow Board at the Australian National University since March 2023 and as Chair of Australian Business Economists since December 2022. Previously, Besa held the position of Chief Economist for various divisions within Westpac Group from January 2009 to August 2024, becoming the first female chief economist of an Australian bank at St.George Bank in 2008. Besa also contributed to The Australian as an opinion columnist from July 2012 to May 2015. Earlier career experience includes senior roles at Commonwealth Bank in fixed income and currency strategy, as well as economic and financial analysis positions at Colonial Group. Besa holds a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Sydney.