Hi, I’m Richard Wilson.

I am a Doctor of Philosophy Candidate at the University of Oxford in Sustainable Urban Development. My research focuses on the Economics of Innovation, specifically how the policies of local, regional and national governments can grow and foster knowledge economies and innovation, with a focus on Australia.

My research? It’s all about the smart policies that governments can put into play to help knowledge economies thrive.

I’m curious about things like tax regimes, education standards, zoning laws, transport systems, green policies, public-private partnerships, innovation clusters, R&D funding, and the kinds of jobs we’re creating. I’m using data to get a clearer picture of how these factors can make Australian cities better at coming up with new ideas and solutions.

This work sits right at the crossroads of a few things that have kept me busy and motivated over the years. I’ve got a Master of Public Policy from ANU and have been part of the policy-making machinery in both the Australian and Western Australian public services. I’ve also offered my two cents as an adviser to a State Premier and have seen the corporate side of things in government and regulatory affairs.

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of ‘knowledge economies’—places that really value learning, innovation, and skills. This goes back to my undergrad days at UWA, where I looked at how we can make our labor force stronger and smarter through education policy, and more recently, how industries like mining can add more value rather than simply exporting everything offshore.

Lastly, I believe in the power of data to shine a light on issues we sometimes miss. That’s a toolkit I’ve built up through my time as a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group and during my IE Brown EMBA.