In the final episode of Markets & Motives, Dr Karen Hooper, Commissioner for the Queensland Productivity Commission, joins Queensland Young Economist Briana Long to share her career journey and insights into the opportunities an economics education can provide.

Dr Hooper reflects on how studying economics shaped her path from uncertainty in high school to a diverse career across public policy and economic institutions. She discusses how economics can open doors to a wide range of career pathways, the importance of finding purpose in your career, and how economic thinking contributes to real-world decisions that shape communities.

Throughout the conversation, Dr Hooper highlights the practical application of economics to everyday issues, the value of strong communication and analytical skills, and how economics can be used to make a meaningful impact.

As the final episode in the Markets & Motives series, this discussion brings together the key themes explored throughout the podcast — showcasing the breadth of opportunities available to students and the many directions an economics education can lead.

This episode is ideal for students, parents, and educators interested in understanding how economics can open doors to diverse and impactful careers.

Careers in economics don’t always follow a straight line.

In this episode of Markets & Motives, Dr Fraser Thompson, Co-founder and Managing Director at Cyan Ventures, joins Young Economist Morgan Richards to share his career journey across global development, consulting, sustainability and venture capital.

From working at the World Bank and McKinsey to helping deliver large-scale clean energy projects, Dr Fraser explains how studying economics gave him the skills to tackle real-world challenges and work across different industries.

The conversation explores how economists are contributing to the clean energy transition, why careers don’t need to follow a straight path, and how economics provides a toolkit for understanding complex problems and making impactful decisions.

Dr Fraser also shares advice for students considering economics and highlights how the discipline can open doors to a wide range of opportunities beyond traditional “desk-based” roles.

This episode is ideal for students, educators and anyone curious about where economics can lead.

In Episode 4 of Markets & Motives, Peggy Schrobback, Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, joins the podcast to discuss how economics sits at the centre of scientific research and decision-making in Australia’s food industry.
Interviewed by Young Economist Ryan Clayden-Zabik, Peggy reflects on her remarkable journey from growing up on her parents’ subsistence farm, to arriving in Australia by chance during her travels, and later pursuing a PhD focused on the oyster industry.
Throughout the conversation, Peggy shares insights from her career in applied science, including her transition into research at CSIRO and the responsibilities she manages as a senior scientist. She discusses how her work supports Australia’s food and agriculture sectors, balancing the demands of her professional role while raising a family and contributing to research that strengthens the resilience and productivity of the nation’s food systems.
The episode also explores how economics plays a critical role in guiding decisions in science and industry from resource allocation to industry development and how collaboration between economists and scientists helps deliver better outcomes for Australia’s agriculture and food industries.
This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of economics, science and public impact, and how research helps shape a stronger and more sustainable food future for Australia.

In Episode 3 of Markets & Motives, Kate Davis, Head of the Queensland Office at the Reserve Bank of Australia, joins the podcast to discuss how economic thinking shapes the way we understand the world around us.
Interviewed by Young Economist Sahibjeet Bains, Kate reflects on her journey into economics — from studying the subject at university, completing her honours, and pursuing a master’s degree in the United Kingdom, to building her career at the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Throughout the conversation, Kate explains her role at the Reserve Bank and the work she leads as Head of the Queensland Office. She discusses how she engages with businesses and communities across Queensland to gather insights on economic conditions, and how this information contributes to the RBA’s broader work in understanding the economy and informing monetary policy decisions that support price stability, employment, and economic prosperity in Australia.
The episode also explores how economics becomes a framework for thinking about everyday decisions and the broader economy. As Kate explains, once you start thinking like an economist, you begin to realise that “economics is all around you.”
This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in career pathways in economics and how economic thinking can shape the way we understand society, policy and markets.

In Episode 2 of Markets & Motives, Dr Diaswati (Asti) Mardiasmo, Chief Economist at PRD Real Estate and member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Liaison Program, joins the podcast to discuss how economic thinking shapes real-world decisions.

Interviewed by Young Economist Emma Foots, Dr Mardiasmo reflects on the many ways economists contribute beyond charts and models. From analysing housing markets to advising on Olympic legacy planning and contributing insights through the Reserve Bank’s liaison program, she shares how economic thinking is applied across policy, property and the broader economy.

The conversation also explores why interpretation and communication are becoming increasingly important skills for economists today. As Dr Mardiasmo notes, data will always be data, but the real difference lies in who can tell the story behind it.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in how economics shapes the world around us.

What role does economics play in shaping the policies that influence our everyday lives?

In this episode of Markets & Motives, Dr Danielle Wood, Chair of the Productivity Commission and co-founder of the Women in Economics Network, speaks with Isabella Sciacca from Queensland Young Economists about how economic thinking helps policymakers tackle some of society’s biggest challenges.

Danielle reflects on why productivity is fundamental to long-term prosperity, the growing challenges involved in maintaining quality of life, and how economics has evolved as a discipline. She also discusses the role economists play across policy areas including climate, health and inequality, and why the next generation of economists will increasingly work across multiple disciplines.

As Danielle puts it, “economics is the language of policy.”

Markets & Motives is a podcast series by the Economics Society of Australia (Queensland), featuring conversations between young economists and senior leaders working across a wide range of industries. Each episode explores their career journey, area of expertise and how economic thinking is applied in real-world decision-making.