Grant Scobie

Grant Scobie has now retired from his work as Principal Advisor in Policy Coordination and Development in The New Zealand Treasury and his time at the New Zealand Productivity Commission.

Grant received his undergraduate degree from Massey University in Palmerston North. After completing a Master’s degree in Australia, he was awarded a PhD in Economics from North Carolina State University. His major areas of interest and research have been in the economics of research and development, agricultural research, international trade, and more latterly in household savings, wealth, retirement income and housing.

As well as holding research positions in the Australian and New Zealand governments, Grant has been an Associate Professor of Economics in the United States, and was Professor of Economics and Chair of the department at the University of Waikato. From 1995 to 1999 he was the Director General of CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical) in Colombia. Grant received the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Economics Award for 2004. He joins a small but select group who have received this prestigious award.

He is a former National Board Member for Save the Children, having served as Chair of their Overseas Programme Committee and Audit and Risk Committee. Grant was a Motu Trustee and the Founding Chairperson from September 2000 through October 2006.