Clare Saunders

Economist

Clare Saunders joined TheCIE in 2006 as an economist, having completed an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Economics (first class) at the University of Adelaide. She is currently undertaking a Master of Diplomacy and Trade through Monash University.

Clare has undertaken a broad portfolio of work during her time with the CIE, including microeconomic evaluations, industry and economic research, and policy analysis. She has also undertaken several projects on investment and the related issues of facilitation, barriers to investment (at and behind the border) and free trade agreements.

Recent projects include:

• the development of a framework through which the contribution of the red meat industry to environmental sustainability can be assessed. This framework was based upon the Signposts for Agriculture Framework, which Clare evaluated with a pilot study of the grains industry in 2006.


• background research into the benefits foreign direct investment (FDI) and the linkages between the APEC’s Investment Facilitation Action Plan (IFAP) and attracting FDI. This project developed key performance indicators and a corresponding methodology so that the implementation of the IFAP can be measured, and progress towards a better investment facilitation regime be developed in APEC member economies.


• a paper identifying and prioritising choke points in APEC’s supply chain which found that one of the most prominent areas for choke points in the supply chain is in transport infrastructure, which can constrain or increase the cost of market access. This paper was disseminated for discussion prior to a symposium on supply chain connectivity in APEC’s Committee on Trade and Investment.

Other relevant projects include:

• joint author of a publication on the importance of trade liberalisation within, and outside of, the WTO titled Trade policy and developing countries: Where to now? This publication explores the options for trade liberalisation outside of the WTO, reinforcing the fundamental case for trade liberalisation.


• a study to identify and analyse behind-the-border barriers to investment in the APEC region. A key component of the study was the preparation of a number of case studies highlighting successful examples of reform in the APEC region, for which Clare undertook solo consultations with Government and multilateral organisations in Thailand and the Philippines.

In the course of these and other projects Clare has undertaken domestic and international consultations, including Singapore, India, Thailand and the Philippines. She has also consulted extensively with APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Secretariat and delegates in the course of the numerous projects that she has undertaken on behalf of APEC.

Clare joined the Canberra office of CIE after completing the graduate program with the Australian Bureau of Statistics where she undertook methodological research. After a short break travelling overseas, Clare returned to the CIE’s Sydney office in 2009.