Tom joined National Australia Bank in July 2001 as an economist and is now a Director and Head of Market Economics, Europe. He also acts as Chief Economist for both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks in the United Kingdom.

He has extensive experience covering forecasting, economic analysis and related client advice in both the banking and financial markets sphere and also within the public sector, having spent seven years as an economist with the Bank of England. His roles there ranged from covering the Japanese economy during the debate as to whether ‘Zero Interest Rate Policy’ would actually work, to analysing foreign exchange markets and in particular the efficacy of central bank intervention.

Tom’s wide ranging role includes advising the bank on hedging its own balance sheet, forecasting the outlook for UK growth, inflation and interest rates in conjunction with colleagues as well as interacting with National Australia Bank’s own traders and clients. He also represents both Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks in the UK as well as National Australia Bank as a speaker at a variety of conferences including; the outlook for the UK commercial and residential property markets, through to commenting on prospects for agricultural commodity prices. Tom particularly enjoys the opportunity this brings for close interaction with clients of National Australia Bank as it provides a useful health check on his own forecasts on the UK and European economies.

Tom is a regular commentator on the economy and markets with the financial media on TV, radio and the print media. He has a BSc (Econ) degree from the London School of Economics and an Msc (Econ) degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies (London University), writing his dissertation on ‘Chinese Technology Policy: 1955 to the present day’.