Alex Sundakov
Director, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research

This speaker's paper is available here.

As Director (Chief Executive) of NZIER since July 1997, Alex Sundakov has been responsible for the overall direction of the Institute, including staff management, financial performance, and quality assurance to ensure the provision of research and economic commentary of the highest quality and value. About one third of his time is spent working directly for the Institute's clients on consulting assignments both in New Zealand and overseas. These deal with various aspects of regulatory policy, corporate strategy, competition issues and public sector management.

Recent consulting assignments include:

• functional review and restructuring of the Ukrainian Ministries of Finance and Economy, funded by the United States Agency for International Development;
• economic advice to a foreign manufacturer regarding an anti-dumping application in New Zealand;
• review of management of policy advice, New Zealand Ministry of Health;
• developing a strategic market framework for a New Zealand tertiary education providers group following changes in the government funding formula;
• review of the economic effects of parallel importing policies for the Ministry of Commerce; and
• numerous strategic briefings on economic developments for New Zealand companies.

From November 1994 until July 1997, Alex was one of two Kyiv-based staff reporting to the Mission Chief for Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund Headquarters. Alex was responsible for liaising with the key economic decision-makers in the government of Ukraine. He provided day-to-day economic policy advice within the framework of the IMF program in Ukraine, and monitored program implementation. Specific accomplishments included acting as a mediator in the Ukraine/Russia debt restructuring talks, and assisting the Government in initiating reforms of public sector management.

Earlier, Alex worked as a Country Economist for the International Monetary Fund based in Washington DC and, before that, for the Treasury in New Zealand.

Alex Sundakov is also a member of the New Zealand Medical Council.