Richard O'Brien (economist)

Richard O'Brien (born 19 November 1950, Banbury, Oxfordshire) is a British economist, futurist, author and co-founding partner of Outsights, an independent scenario planning consultancy based in London.^[1] Since 2009 he has developed a further career as a singer songwriter.^[2]

Early life and work in the world of finance

After graduating from Oxford University (MA Hons. Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and Edinburgh University (Diploma in African Studies), O'Brien worked at Rothschild Intercontinental Bank and American Express Bank for 21 years. At American Express, he was Chief Economist and Executive Director and Editor of The Amex Bank Review where he pioneered much of the new work on country risk analysis in international finance.^[3] O'Brien founded and managed the international economics essay competition, The Amex Bank Review Awards, in memory of EU architect Robert Marjolin. During this time he also worked with the Group of Thirty (G30) on regulation and as a consultant for The World Bank. O'Brien also authored and edited several books on the global economy, in particular the provocative and "iconic text" "Global Financial Integration: the End of Geography", one of the most widely cited books on globalisation of its time.

Later career in future planning

In 1998 O'Brien set up Outsights, an independent scenario planning consultancy, with Tim Bolderson. Prior to this, both O'Brien and Tim headed the London office of the Global Business Network, where they completed large scale scenario planning projects such as The Future of Japan.^[4] O'Brien has led and developed scenarios for business and the UK Government in a wide range of sectors, including "The Future of the International Environment 2010-2020",^[5] and directing the Sigma Scan,^[6] an online database of future trends to 2050. He is currently contributing to a new publication being prepared on the future of UN aid.

Current music career

Since 2009, under his full name Richard Rhys O'Brien, he has been writing and publishing his songs, with his first album I know a little place published in 2012, followed by his second album, "Anguneau sunset", in 2014. His songs range from songs of love to songs of contemporary life.

In addition he sings in the London jazz to classical choir Eclectic Voices and has recently been supporting the establishment of a new community group, Highbury Opera Theatre, which has just completed its first two seasons with the première of Scott Stroman's "As you like it", a musical of the Shakespeare play.

Publications and songs

• "I know a little place", music album 2012
• "Anguneau sunset", music album 2014
• The Annual Register 300th Edition: a personal future, O'Brien, ProQuest,The 2009 Annual Register: World Events, 9-15, 2009. ISBN978-1-60030-828-4
• The Geography of Finance: After the Storm, O'Brien, Keith, Oxford University Press, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Volume 2, Issue 2, July 2009. ISSN 1752-1386
• The Future of the Global Economy, O'Brien, Keith, Prest, Outsights Ltd, 2009
• Corporate Governance, Financial Markets and Global Convergence, Balling, Hennessy, O'Brien, Springer (1997). ISBN 978-0-7923-4825-2
• Risk Management in Volatile Financial Markets, Bruni, Fair, O'Brien, Allen, Springer (1996). ISBN 978-0-7923-4053-9
• Finance and the International Economy 8. The Amex Bank Review Prize Essays, O'Brien (ed), Oxford University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-19-828962-6
• Global Financial Integration: The End of Geography, O'Brien, Council on Foreign Relations Press (1992). ISBN 978-0-87609-123-4
• Banking Perspectives on the Debt Crisis, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 2: 25 - 38, 1986
• Private Bank Lending to Developing Countries: Past, Present and Future, O'Brien, World Bank Staff Working Paper No. 482, World Bank, Washington, DC, 1981

Associations

O'Brien serves and has served on a number of governing councils, and has chaired several international competitions:

• BBC World Challenge^[7]
• Shell/Economist Writing Prize^[8]
• The Annual Register
• Royal Institute of International Affairs
• Society of Business Economists^[9]
• Royal Economic Society
• Research Advisory Board, Economic and Social Science Research Council
• Kingswood School, Bath

References

1. ↑ "Q&A Richard O'Brien" (PDF). ERisk. January 2001. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
2. ↑ http://www.richardrhysobrien.com
3. ↑ Malkin, Lawrence (March 28, 1992). "ECONOMIC SCENE - International Herald Tribune:". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
4. ↑ "Views from 2020 | Economist.com". Economist.com. March 19, 1998. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
5. ↑ "ForeSight". Foresight.gov.uk. May 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
6. ↑ http://www.sigmascan.org Sigma Scan
7. ↑ "World Challenge | 2008 Finalists". Theworldchallenge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
8. ↑ "Press release: Winners announced for the fifth Shell and the Economist writing competition - Shell Chemicals". Corterra.com. November 19, 2004. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
9. ↑ "The Society of Business Economists is the leading organisation serving business economists in the UK". Sbe.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-11-11.