Alumnus and well-known Kiwi Economist Shamubeel Eaqub visited campus in November to present a special alumni address for staff and attendees of the alumni Christmas lunch and 1958 to 1960 reunion on the topic: 'A Futurist View of New Zealand in 2050'. 

Gaining a Bachelor in Commerce (Honours in Economics) at Lincoln University, Shamubeel expressed his respect and fondness for his lecturers. He shared that he co-wrote his first book, The New Zealand Economy: An Introduction, with the late Professor Ralph Lattimore, who he considered his mentor. 

When Shamubeel started working at the ANZ Bank in Wellington, the second email he received was from a Lincoln alumni welcoming him to the organisation. To this day, he continues to be amazed by the network of alumni he meets around the world.

Exploring what New Zealand may look like in 2050, Shamubeel discussed several economic levers such as emerging markets, demographic changes, geopolitics, supply chains and climate change that will impact the economy. 

During his talk, Shamubeel shared the vital role Lincoln University and other educational institutions will play in helping shape our economy. 

With climate change requiring greater adaption and response, there will be a real need for research to help counter the disruption to food systems. 

New Zealand has always navigated world events well, says Shamubeel. With geopolitics becoming more unpredictable, we need to continue focusing on building and maintaining strong international relations. Our physical distance from the rest of the world requires us to ensure we form ties with other countries, not only through trade agreements but also through institutions like Lincoln University. 

As demographics change worldwide with an ageing population and a falling birthrate, Shamubeel sees the need for young people to have greater expertise and says Lincoln University will continue to be vital for conducting research and discovering new technologies. With close ties to industry, Lincoln plays an important role in taking science and helping businesses implement it into everyday practice. By doing so, this will support New Zealand to be productive and resilient while producing outputs that are less harmful to the environment.