AICD Chief Economist: Mark Thirlwell GAICD

Focused on what matters most for boards, Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell helps directors navigate the economic forces shaping Australia and the global economy. 

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Weekly economic newsletter

Latest insights

Competing crises for Budget 2026, There and back again for the RBA

Friday, 08 May 2026

As next week’s budget draws closer the fog of war persists, complicating life for policymakers. Conflicting signals are still emerging from Washington and Tehran regarding the likelihood of an agreement. The United States has declared that Operation Epic Fury has concluded while Project Freedom (the plan to guide vessels through the Strait of Hormuz) has been suspended. The oil price continues to fluctuate, with Brent around US$100/b at the time of writing.

Read the latest edition
Competing crises for Budget 2026, There and back again for the RBA
article 01 May 2026
War in the Gulf sends Australian inflation higher
article 24 Apr 2026
War and Budgets
article 10 Apr 2026
A Fragile Outlook
article 08 Apr 2026
All Choked Up: Australia, War in the Persian Gulf, and Supply Chain Risk
article 27 Mar 2026
Inflation, expectations, confidence…and TACOs
article 20 Mar 2026
A split MPB tightens monetary policy as energy prices move higher
article 06 Mar 2026
War and energy shocks, plus Australian growth accelerates
View all economic news

Attend live briefings with AICD’s Chief Economist

Register for upcoming webinars and live events featuring AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell, offering board‑level briefings on the economic and geopolitical issues shaping director decision‑making.

Upcoming webinars and live events

Live webinar

Budget 2026 and the New Economic (dis)Order

Attend this live webinar with AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell exploring how Budget 2026 measures up against current domestic and international economic conditions.

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Live event

National Economic Update 2026


Join this live event for a comprehensive briefing from AICD Chief Economist Mark Thirlwell on the outlook for the Australian economy and the global forces influencing it.

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Webinar series

Engaging China: Developing risk-informed board strategies

Attend this webinar series exploring practical, board‑level approaches to risk‑informed engagement with China, informed by real‑world case studies and director experience.

Register now

About Mark Thirlwell

Mark Thirlwell has more than three decades of experience analysing the Australian and global economy, with a focus on the economic and geopolitical issues facing boards.He has held senior roles across government, financial services and policy institutions, including the Bank of England, JP Morgan and the Lowy Institute, and was previously Chief Economist at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Mark holds economics degrees from Oxford and Cambridge universities and a postgraduate qualification in applied finance.

Mark Thirlwell
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