2022 UTS Behavioural Lab Conference

The impact of public and private sector policies depends critically on the behaviour of individuals, groups, and organisations. A clear understanding of the power of behavioural science research and interventions can provide innovative solutions for addressing challenges faced by policymakers and practitioners. This understanding can only be achieved by bringing together those who research behavioural science and those who apply it. The purpose of this conference is to bring these two groups together. 

The UTS Behavioural Lab, in partnership with the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists, invites you to join us at the iconic Dr Chau Chak Wing Building as we hear from leading academics and practitioners of behavioural science.

Invited speakers include Professor Loretti Isabella Dobrescu (University of New South Wales), Professor Rebekah Russell-Bennett (Queensland University of Technology), Professor Ben Newell (University of New South Wales), and William Mailer (Commonwealth Bank of Australia). In addition, you will hear numerous "blitz" presentations from 10 members of the UTS Behavioural Lab.

This free event will be of interest to researchers and practitioners of behavioural science looking to form new research collaborations and networks. 

Format

This is a face-to-face event only.

Event Location

The event will take place in person only at UTS Building 08, Level 3, Room 005 (i.e., CB08.03.005), which is located at 14-28 Ultimo Road, Ultimo NSW 2007.

Catering

Lunch will be provided prior to the commencement of the conference. Networking and light refreshments to follow after the conference.

Event Program

11:30am - Guest arrival and lunch.
12:30pm - Conference commences.
3:40pm - Networking and light refreshments.
4:30pm - Conference concludes.

About the Presenters

Loretti Isabella Dobrescu is a Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Her interests are in labour, public finance, health and applied econometrics. She has primarily focused her structural work on topics related to consumption and saving dynamics, as well as studying risk-taking and cognition via nonparametric partial identification methods. More recently, she combines theory, empirical analysis and randomised controlled trials to help design interventions that aim to improve educational outcomes using technology. Isabella is also the Deputy Head of the School of Economics, co-chair of the STEP UP initiative in Education, a CEPAR Associate Investigator, and an editor of the Journal of Pension Economics & Finance (JPEF).

Rebekah Russell-Bennett is a Professor of Marketing at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She is also the co-director of the QUT Centre for Behavioural Economics, Society and Technology (BEST). Her work is situated within the social marketing domain and in particular social services provided by the government and non-profit organisations where she facilitates the design of innovative services to improve wellbeing, the environment, and society. She has attracted more than $20m in funding from the ARC, industry, and government organisations. She has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and was The Australian’s 2019 top researcher in the field of marketing.

Ben Newell is a Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Technology Sydney (UNSW). His research focuses on the cognitive processes underlying judgment, choice and decision making, and the application of this knowledge to environmental, medical, financial and forensic contexts. Since 2005, Ben’s research has been supported by 14 highly competitive Australian Research Grants. He is the lead author of the book Straight Choices: The Psychology of Decision Making. He is also a member of the inaugural Academic Advisory Panel of the Behavioural Economics Team of Australia (BETA).

William Mailer leads the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) Behavioural Economics Team. This multi-disciplinary unit works across CBA’s business lines to improve the financial well-being of customers and communities. Prior to joining CBA, Will established and led the PwC Behavioural Economics team, an international network of practice groups providing specialist consulting services to retail, health, financial services, and government sectors. Prior to founding the PwC and CBA teams, Will studied Behavioural and Experimental Economics at the Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics (CeDEx) in Nottingham, UK.

Queries

Please direct questions and queries to BehaviouralLab@uts.edu.au.