Chris Caton


Lifestyle | Finance, Business, Motivational

Chris Caton is a Chief Economist and a former Executive Vice President for BT Funds Management. He was Chief Economist of Bankers Trust from 1991 till July 1999. His major role is to provide advice on the implication for financial markets of economic developments, including major economic statistics and policy pronouncements, and major political developments.  Chris was also Chairman of the Indicative Planning Council, which advised the Government on matters relating to the housing industry.

Chris graduated from the University of Adelaide with a first-class honours degree in Arts (with an economics major) in 1966 and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974.

From 1972 to 1973, he worked in the econometric applications section of the (then) Bureau of Census and Statistics, before transferring to the forecasting section of the Treasury, where he remained until late 1976. In this time, he worked extensively on the NIF model of the economy.

From 1977 to 1990, Chris held various positions in the prestigious U.S. economic consulting firm, DRI/McGraw-Hill. He spent most of this time modelling and forecasting the U.S. economy. When he left DRI he was a senior Vice-President and Director of Forecasting. In November 1990, Chris returned to Australia to head the Economic Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Chris has given economic presentations to a wide range of industry groups, including many that are dominated by small businesses.

Chris makes economics understandable and relevant at all levels and injects a healthy dose of humour into every presentation.