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Birkbeck Business Breakfast tackles the future of the UK economy

Looking into the future of the UK’s economy was the subject of Birkbeck’s first Business Breakfast, held in the heart of the City of London.

Professor Trevor Williams and Kemi Badenoch talk economics

Looking into the future of the UK’s economy was the subject of Birkbeck’s first Business Breakfast, held in the heart of the City of London.

The discussion – centred on the question of Building certainty in uncertain times: what does the future hold for the UK economy? – saw a panel of distinguished alumni and former staff of Birkbeck range across interest rates, the property market, immigration, Britain’s relationship with the EU, technological disruption and job creation as areas weighing into the unpredictability of forecasting the economy’s future direction. 

Trevor Williams, former Chief Economist at Lloyds Banking Group, now Visiting Professor of Banking and Finance at the University of Derby, chaired the discussion – hosted by Lloyds – and was joined by:

  • Kemi Badenoch (LLB (Accelerated) Law), Conservative London Assembly Spokesperson for policing and crime;
  • Professor David Miles, CBE, a lecturer in economics at Birkbeck between 1989 and 1993, as well as latterly being a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee until 2015;
  • Geraldine Sundstrom (MSc Finance), a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at PIMCO Investments.

Joining the panel were Birkbeck alumni drawn from across politics, economics and finance, many of whom took the opportunity to participate in the discussion and add their expertise to addressing the challenge, during a lively question and answer session following the main discussion.

Commenting on the event, Professor David Latchman, Master of Birkbeck, said:

“Bringing together some of the City’s leading lights from across finance, economics, politics and business, it was heartening to see how studying at Birkbeck has consistently been a turning point in their career progression.

“The passion and affection that members of our community from the City have for Birkbeck, even in some cases many years after their studies, was a powerful demonstration of what a significant effect being part of our community has not only professionally, but personally, too.”

Photos from the event can be found here.

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