Frances Cairncross

Dame Frances Cairncross DBE, CBE, FRSE

Frances Cairncross is the former Rector of Exeter College, Oxford University. Prior to her decade at Oxford, she was a journalist, spending 13 years on The Guardian as an economic columnist and 20 years at The Economist magazine as a senior editor.

She is the author of a number of books, including "The Death of Distance: How the Communications Revolution is Changing our Lives" and "Costing the Earth: The Challenge for Governments, the Opportunities for Business." She chairs the executive committee of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and in 2001-07 she chaired the Economic and Social Research Council.

In June 2015 she was made a Dame of the British (DBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to education and in recognition of a very successful career as a leading British economist, journalist and academic.

The presenter of Radio 4’s Analysis programme and ex-Management Editor at The Economist surveys the landscape. Frances argues that the pace and stability of UK recovery will be held back until we make real progress on deficit reduction, involving difficult cuts in areas like top-up benefits. And with the EU such a big market, stagnation represents a real threat. In the meantime we’re set for a workplace revolution, with even more of us continuing into our 70s.

Frances Cairncross is one of the UK’s most respected economic commentators. Formerly Management Editor of The Economist (for whom she wrote for 20 years), she has held senior positions at The Times, The Banker, The Observer and The Guardian. Her broad-based knowledge of economics encompasses environmental change, the internet and mass communications.

Frances draws on a wealth of experience and research to provide insightful and practical assessments of the economic scene and what the future holds for business. As well as an overview of the macroeconomic and global scenes, she examines the forces that will shape twenty-first century businesses and economies. Her book on the subject, The Company of the Future, won her the Institute of Internal Auditors' award for business and management journalism. To Book Frances to Speak at your event please call a Prime Performers Agent on 020 3500 3331 or email your enquiry to info@primeperformers.co.uk