RBC Economics and Thought Leadership aims to build a prosperous and innovative future by harnessing ideas, insights and data to help RBC clients and communities understand the forces shaping the world around us.

Our team of economists and researchers deliver economic analyses, comprehensive reports and conversations with world-leading thinkers that inspire and empower informed decisions in an evolving world.

  • In-depth research reports on sustainable growth, climate change, innovation and human capital.
  • Timely analysis and forecasts of the economy and financial markets.
  • Quarterly economic updates and monthly Canadian housing analysis.
  • An ongoing series of conversations with leading thinkers about reimagining Canada’s economy in a time of unprecedented change.

Meet Our Team

Abbey Xu

Economist

Abbey Xu is an economist at RBC. She focuses on macroeconomic models as inputs into the Bank’s forward looking provisioning for credit losses and stress testing process. Her education background includes a MA in Business Economics, and a BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Aidan Smith-Edgell

Research Associate

Aidan joined RBC as a Banking Advisor in 2018. He later joined RBC Economics as a Research Associate in 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (honours) in Economics with a specialization in Econometrics from the University of Waterloo.

Carrie Freestone

Economist

Carrie Freestone is an economist at RBC. She is a member of the macroeconomic analysis group and is responsible for monitoring key indicators including consumer spending, labour markets, GDP, and inflation. Carrie produces economic analysis that she delivers to clients and the public through publications and presentations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Queen’s University and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Ottawa.

Claire Fan

Economist

Claire Fan joined RBC as an economist since 2019 after graduating with a bachelor of business administration from the University of Toronto, and a master in financial economics from Western University. At RBC, she focuses on covering the macroeconomic outlook for Canada and the United States, and is responsible for projecting key indicators including GDP, employment and inflation. Her publications include the inflation watch series and various other analyses on labour market trends, recession probabilities and inequalities.

Cynthia Leach

Assistant Chief Economist

Cynthia is the Assistant Chief Economist, Thought Leadership at RBC. She helps shape the narratives and research agenda for the team’s structural economic and policy analysis, covering topics such as human capital, innovation, and trade. She joined the team in 2020.

Previously, Cynthia was an executive at Finance Canada, most recently heading a team responsible for housing finance policy. Cynthia holds an M.A. Economics degree from the University of Toronto.

Darren Chow

Director, Content Strategy and Creative Production

Darren Chow manages the overall look and feel of RBC Thought Leadership and RBC Economics content. A graduate of the York University/Sheridan College Bachelor of Design program and a post-graduate degree in computer animation from Sheridan College.

Darren is well versed in all things multimedia and is involved in all stages of the design process, from concept development and storyboarding to testing and deployment. He brings a wealth of experience to the team, previously working with Autodesk, Blackberry, CIBC, CTV, HOK, and Appleby College.

Farhad Panahov

Economist

Farhad Panahov is an economist RBC. He studies the labour market – largely focusing on the future of work, demographic change, diversity, and human capital. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of British Columbia, and Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Development Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

John Stackhouse

Senior Vice President, Office of the CEO

As Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, John advises the executive leadership on emerging trends in Canada’s economy, providing insights grounded in his travels across the country and around the world. His work focuses on technological change and innovation, examining how to successfully navigate the new economy so more people can thrive in the age of disruption. Prior to joining RBC, John spent nearly 25 years at the Globe and Mail, where he served as editor-in-chief, editor of Report on Business, and a foreign correspondent in New Delhi, India. Having interviewed a range of prominent world leaders and figures, including Vladimir Putin, Kofi Annan, and Benazir Bhutto, he possesses a deep understanding of national and international affairs. In the community, John serves as a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, C.D. ‎Howe Institute and is a member of the advisory council for both the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute and the Canadian International Council. John is the author of four books: Out of Poverty, Timbit Nation, and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution and Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future.

Kyle English

Senior Manager, Communications and Media Relations

Kyle English manages communications and media relations for RBC Economics and Thought Leadership. Before joining RBC, Kyle worked as a consultant at a Toronto-based public affairs agency, and he previously served in the Canadian Navy. Kyle holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Note: Please contact Kyle English with media inquiries for RBC Economics and Thought Leadership.

Nathan Janzen

Assistant Chief Economist

Nathan Janzen is an Assistant Chief Economist, leading the macroeconomic analysis group. His focus is on analysis and forecasting macroeconomic developments in Canada and the United States. Nathan has been with RBC since 2008 with a focus on covering the macroeconomic outlook for Canada and the United States. He has a MA in economics from McMaster University and a BA in economics from the University of Regina.

Rachel Battaglia

Economist

Rachel Battaglia is an economist at RBC. She is a member of the Macro and Regional Analysis Group, providing analysis for the provincial macroeconomic outlook. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (honours) from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Science from the Amsterdam School of Economics.

Robert Hogue

Assistant Chief Economist

Robert Hogue is responsible for providing analysis and forecasts on the Canadian housing market and provincial economies. His publications include Housing Trends and Affordability, Provincial Outlook and provincial budget commentaries. In his functions, he is frequently called to comment on the economy both internally within RBC and externally with clients and the media.

Robert joined RBC in May 2008 after spending 15 years with another Canadian financial institution as a senior economist specializing in industrial analysis. At the outset of his career, he spent four years as an economist with Ontario Hydro, where he specialized in industrial and macroeconomic analysis. Robert holds a Master’s degree in economics from Queen’s University and a Bachelor’s degree from Université de Montréal.

Trinh Theresa Do

Director, Strategic Programs

Trinh Theresa Do (she goes by Theresa) is responsible for strategy development on the Thought Leadership & Economics team, with occasional forays into podcasting, research, and writing. Previously, she was a strategy advisor to senior management and executives at RBC’s Personal & Commercial Banking business. Prior to joining RBC, Theresa was a national political journalist at CBC News and co-founded a nonprofit that promoted civic engagement through technology innovation.

Yadullah Hussain

Managing Editor, Climate and Energy

Yadullah Hussain is Managing Editor, Climate & Energy, at RBC Economics and Thought Leadership. Before joining RBC, Hussain was Deputy Managing Editor at the Financial Post in Toronto, and has worked as a business journalist in Karachi, Dubai and London covering the economy, energy and financial markets in a career spanning two decades.

Myha Truong-Regan

Head of Research, RBC Climate Action Institute

Myha Truong-Regan is a strategist, economist, researcher, public policy maker, and former urban planner working in a variety of fields, in Canada and internationally.

Shiplu Talukder

Digital Publishing Specialist

Shiplu Talukder is a Digital Publishing Specialist at RBC Thought Leadership and Economics teams where he is responsible for web publishing, site improvement, and accessibility. With prior experience at Bell Canada as a Web Integrator, Shiplu has contributed to various projects aimed at enhancing the user experience of the Bell Canada website. Shiplu is a graduate of George Brown College, where he earned a diploma in Graphic Design, and Humber College, where he completed a diploma in Web Design, Development, and Maintenance. Before joining RBC, Shiplu has worked for various government organizations, where he held roles such as Creative Services Coordinator, Web Coordinator, and Video Editor.

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