Leonora Risse

Bio

Dr Leonora Risse is a Lecturer in Economics at RMIT University, a Research Fellow with the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University, and a Research Fellow with the Women's Leadership Institute Australia.

She was awarded her PhD in Economics from the University of Queensland in 2008 and worked as a Senior Research Economist for the Australian Productivity Commission. She formerly held a Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship at RMIT University.

Her research focuses on understanding gender differentials in the workforce and in broader economic outcomes and what works to close these gender gaps. Her research experience expands to wellbeing and disadvantage, labour economics, population and demographic economics, and education. She engages regularly with government and industry on gender equality issues and applying a gender lens to impact analysis and policy design. She was named by Apolitical in the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy in 2020 globally.

Leonora is available to provide economic analysis and commentary on:

• gender differentials in the workforce (eg. gender gaps in pay, promotion, and leadership) 
• influence of personality traits, attitudes and societal norms in explaining gender gaps in economic and societal outcomes
• the use of psychology to understand behavioural change and design policy 
• indicators of disadvantage, inequality and wellbeing
• gender lensing and gender-responsive budgeting in policy design
• diversity and inclusion through an economics lens

Leonora currently serves as the National Chair of the Women in Economics Network. She is also available to speak about the creation of WEN; the value of diversity in policy and economic decision-making; and the research and policy insights that can inform the pursuit of gender equality in economics and other traditionally male-concentrated domains.

She has ten years of university teaching and lecturing experience, including in macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics. She has contributed to various initiatives to broaden students' awareness about the practical usefulness of economics, and to foster a greater diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging within the next generation of economics students.

Contact details

Email leonora.risse@rmit.edu.au
Mobile +61 401 360 733 (Australia)
RMIT Staff Profile Page
LinkedIn
Twitter
Personal website

Areas of Expertise