Brad
Olsen

Brad Olsen is a Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics. He is a leading economic commentator across New Zealand who focuses on getting useful information to businesses, decision makers, and the public.

Current work
At present, Brad is focused on the economic effects of COVID-19 and the reimagination of the New Zealand economy, as jobs are lost, business practices change, and a “new” normal emerges. In March 2021, he was named 2020 Young Wellingtonian of the Year.
Since joining Infometrics in July 2015 as a part time data analyst while studying at Victoria University of Wellington, Brad has risen to be one of New Zealand’s more prominent (and youngest) economic commentators, regularly featuring across TV, radio, print, and online.
Brad’s role at Infometrics covers all parts of the business. In the regional and sector space, he is responsible for interacting with clients and providing key regional and industry-level economic insights. He is also a part of the forecasting team, analysing the latest trends and looking at how the economy is shifting. He has completed a range of bespoke consulting projects, including public policy costings in the education and healthcare space. Brad’s role includes regularly making presentations across the country (or now by Zoom) to examine current and emerging trends.

Author
In 2019, Brad co-authored the Regional Wellbeing: A broader view of community outcomes around New Zealand Infometrics report, and designed the Regional Wellbeing Framework, allowing local leaders and their communities to better understand how their area functions and design innovative actions to improve the wellbeing of the wider community.

Background
Originally from Whangarei, Brad completed his undergraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington, finishing with a BCom and BA (majoring in Economics, Public Policy, International Relations and Political Science). He is interested in the fiscal and public implications of economics, alongside wellbeing and advancing regional growth.

Outside of work, Brad’s an active and engaged member of the Wellington community and is currently New Zealand’s youngest Justice of the Peace (JP). He is also a member of the Global Shapers Community Wellington Hub, Wellington City Youth Council, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network, the Wellington District Licensing Committee, and volunteers with Take10. In 2016, he was announced as New Zealand’s Queen’s Young Leader and has met with the Queen on three occasions.