Rising to the challenge: Meet Renée Fry-McKibbin

07 May 2020

Crawford School introduces our fantastic staff, so you can meet the people of Asia and the Pacific’s leading graduate policy school.

Today, Economics Professor Renée Fry-McKibbin tells us why she enjoys seeing her students presenting in front of other economists, and encourages people not to feel guilty about taking time to adapt to this new COVID-19 world.

What do you enjoy most about working here?

The positive environment, the expectation of excellence, and friendly people from lots of disciplines.

What is – in your opinion – the most interesting development in your research area?

Economics going forward will be all about the effects of and economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Can you tell us about a student that made you particularly proud?

I can’t choose just one student. However, I am always proud of my students when they give their first presentation at a conference or workshop in front of other economists (not their student peers). Most find it a scary experience, but they always do well because they are well prepared and have worked hard on their papers. It is wonderful to experience their relief with them after their success and to watch their confidence grow afterward.

If you could go back and choose a different career path, what would it be?

I would’ve liked to become a chef.

Can you give us your top 3 tips about how to stay positive during the COVID-19 outbreak?

  1. Don’t feel guilty about taking the time to adapt yourself and your home environment to the changes that we have all had to make suddenly. You feel better when everything that you can control runs smoothly.
  2. Keep in touch with family and friends using zoom.
  3. Go for a walk or cycle outside every day.
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