Economic Development

Driving Resilient Economic Growth

Sapere has a deep understanding of all aspects of economic development. Our team has vast experience in the development of complex plans, strategies and analytical pieces.

We are recognised as a respected and trusted authority in the field, known for providing actionable intelligence that stands up to scrutiny.

What we do

As part of our service delivery, we prepare all types of economic development materials for every level of government.

Our team also prepares business cases and cost-benefit analyses for regionally significant projects and supporting analyses, such as trend and scenario reports of industry sectors.

Examples of our work in economic development

Assistance in identifying industry sectors where a local authority has a comparative advantage and providing advice on how to further develop specialisations
Significant input into major pieces of work in Māori economic development for the Māori Economic Taskforce, iwi and other agencies
Assessment of the regional economic impacts of transport projects, events, tourism initiatives, and other government policies across a range of sectors including justice, education and social assistance
Assistance with the preparation of economic development plans in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Wellington
Industry strategies to promote economic development in primary industries such as the seafood, wool, and aquaculture sectors.

Our experts are highly regarded for their important contributions to the theory and practice of economic development in both Australasia and Asia.

Key contacts

Preston Davies

Director
AUCKLAND
pdavies@thinkSapere.com

David Graham

Managing Director
MELBOURNE
dgraham@thinkSapere.com

David Moore

Managing Director
WELLINGTON
dmoore@thinkSapere.com

Sally Carrick

Director
MELBOURNE
scarrick@thinkSapere.com

William Li

Principal
MELBOURNE
wli@thinkSapere.com

Some of our recent articles of interest

Staff spotlight – Sue Friend

This month we spotlight Sue Friend, a Managing Director in our Forensics team. Sue shares her love of the outdoors and hiking and finds this brings balance to her work at Sapere.

Thinking about utility customer engagement

In this article Dr Richard Tooth examines developments in how regulated utilities engage with their customers, the problem of uninformed respondent bias and other issues.

Sunset review of the regulations for Victorian private health service establishments

Client: Victorian Department of Health

This report analyses proposed changes to Victoria's Health Service Establishment Regulations, focusing on improving clinical governance, safety, and quality. The RIS reviewed the impact of these changes and provided recommendations.

Staff spotlight – Dr Jamie O’Hare

This month, we spotlight Dr Jamie O'Hare, Managing Economist and proud new dad to baby Stirling, as he shares his professional insights and personal joys.

Distilling success for Victorian spirit exports

Client: Agriculture Victoria

The Australian craft distillery sector has grown significantly, with Victoria now having 188 distilleries. Sapere, commissioned by Agriculture Victoria, identified priority markets and developed market entry strategies for Victorian spirit exporters.

Staff spotlight – Jeremy Thorpe

Sapere welcomes Jeremy Thorpe, our new Director, recently featured in the Australian Financial Review. Kicking off our staff spotlight series, Jeremy generously shared fascinating insights into his career and background.

Unveiling the intrinsic value of nature

Explore the value of nature beyond its aesthetic appeal. Environmental valuation frameworks and techniques allow us to understand the economic value of nature and make informed decisions in environmental policy and management.

How can governments effectively assess and manage climate risk to ensure a sustainable future?

Client: Department of Treasury (Western Australia)

Sapere provided expert advice on the design of a Climate Risk Framework for the WA government, exploring options for a staged approach, and aligning with international standards for climate risk disclosure, to support Western Australia's climate resilience efforts.