Login
iscover
The accounting and advisory firm has welcomed the appointment of its new chief economist, Besa Deda.
William Buck marks Aussie first with chief economist appointment
09 May 2025
•
8 minute read
William Buck is the first mid-tier accounting and advisory firm in Australia to appoint a chief economist, in a move to enhance the firm’s capacity to deliver economic advice and tailored advisory services.
William Buck's recently appointed chief economist, Besa Deda, joined the firm with over 15 years of experience in the occupation and is well-versed in Australian and international economic policy and market strategy.
You’re out of free articles for this month
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
According to the firm, Deda was the first female chief economist of an Australian bank when she joined St. George Bank in 2008, which was followed by a merger with Westpac that broadened her remit to also include Westpac Business Bank, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA and BT.
Greg Travers, chair of William Buck, said this was a “transformative” appointment that would carry impact as Besa’s extensive experience was set to help the firm strengthen its leadership in the mid-market.
“We are thrilled to have Besa join the William Buck team as our first ever chief economist. Her expertise will be a key contributor to our continued growth, enhancing our ability to anticipate market trends and provide tailored solutions for our clients’ success,” he said.
“Besa’s expertise and focus on the mid-market adds a new dimension of value we can offer to our clients. The mid-market is hugely important to Australia, but it has unique drivers that not many experts analyse and provide comment on. Besa’s economic perspective, coupled with our technical expertise, will enable us to provide clients with a holistic view that differentiates us from other firms.”
Deda was also noted to be an experienced media commentator and Chair of Australian Business Economists, an organisation focused on fostering debate on key economic issues and policy, along with being a member of The Australian National University’s Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis Reserve Bank Shadow Board.
Commenting on her appointment, Besa said SMEs were the backbone of the Australian economy, and her passion for the mid-market aligns perfectly with William Buck’s commitment to serving clients in this segment.
“The policy and regulation landscape can be overwhelming for large organisations, let alone SMEs. My economic commentary will make sense of what’s important to mid-market clients,” she said.
“Together with the integrated advice from other specialisations across William Buck, it will help SMEs, which are the powerhouse of the Australian economy, grow through all stages of the business cycle. I’m excited about joining William Buck as chief economist, and I look forward to giving mid-market clients concise guidance on the economic landscape, allowing them to make informed business decisions.”
You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member for free today!
