Rebecca Cassells

Rebecca is Principal Research Fellow and Head of Research Impact and Engagement at the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. Prior to her role at Curtin, Rebecca worked as an independent consultant, working with state and federal government departments on a number of major economic evaluations. Rebecca previously spent many years with the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), where she led the Women, Children and Families team and oversaw the AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth Series.

Rebecca has a diverse research portfolio that deals both with research methods and policy evaluation. Her principal areas of research include: gender equity, poverty and disadvantage, social exclusion, wealth and superannuation; child wellbeing; education inequality; and the role of geography in influencing social and economic outcomes. Rebecca has published extensively through commissioned and public reports and across academic and policy journals.

She has led major commissioned research reports for a number of organisations including the Department of Health, Department of Defence, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, AMP, Office for Women, CPA, The Smith Family and the Commonwealth Bank. Her work has been influential in driving public debates and influencing policy and legislation. Rebecca has provided evidence to parliamentary inquiries on the economic security for women in retirement, childcare availability, workforce segregation and affordability and the Productivity Commission’s investigation into the childcare workforce and geographic mobility. Rebecca is Chair of the ACT Women in Economics Network and also serves as a panel member on the Workplace and Gender Equality Agency’s Data Consultation Group.