Dr Leonora Risse is an economist who specialises in gender equality.

Her research focuses on understanding gender gaps in economic outcomes, including the gender pay gap and women’s under-representation in leadership.

She engages regularly with governments and organisations on gender equality issues, including evidence-based strategies to close gender gaps and how to apply a “gender lens” to policy through gender responsive budgeting.

Dr Risse is an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Canberra, and a Research Fellow with the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, and serves as an Expert Panel Member on gender pay equity for the Fair Work Commission. Previously she has held roles with the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University, the Productivity Commission, and RMIT University. She is a co-founder and former Chair of the Women in Economics Network (WEN) in Australia.

Dr Risse holds a PhD in Economics, Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.

Areas of Expertise