David McWilliams

David McWilliams

David McWilliams: Leading Global Economist, Bestselling Author & Financial Forecaster

Core Intelligence Domain: Economics & Global Finance
Location: Dublin, Ireland | Languages: English
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

David McWilliams is one of the world’s foremost economic commentators, uniquely blending financial acumen, historical perspective, and demographic foresight to decode the complexities of the modern global economy. Recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, he possesses an unparalleled ability to translate macroeconomic data into actionable strategic insights for C-Suite leaders, policymakers, and institutional investors.

A Distinguished Career in Global Finance

With a career forged at the highest levels of international finance, David’s expertise is rooted in rigorous institutional experience. He began his trajectory at the Central Bank of Ireland before joining UBS in London as a senior European economist. Subsequently, he served as Head of Emerging Markets Research at Banque Nationale de Paris, where he accurately forecasted critical geopolitical and market shifts.

Today, David bridges the gap between academia and real-world application as an Adjunct Professor of Global Economics at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin. He is also the driving force behind The David McWilliams Podcast, consistently ranked among the top independent business and economics podcasts globally, where he dissects global trends with clarity and wit.

Pioneering Public Economics & Authorship

David is renowned for democratising economics. He is the co-founder of Kilkenomics, the world’s first economics and comedy festival, which the Financial Times has dubbed “simply the best economics conference in the world.” He is also the co-founder of the highly influential Dalkey Book Festival.

A prolific and bestselling author, his proprietary frameworks on social and economic behaviour have reshaped how institutions understand consumer development. His landmark books include The Pope’s Children, The Generation Game, The Good Room, Renaissance Nation, and his latest globally acclaimed work, Money: A Story of Humanity, which explores the profound historical and future trajectory of currency, credit, and global trade.

Primary Speaking Topics & Strategic Masterclasses

• The Future of the Global Economy: Navigating inflation, interest rate fluctuations, and market volatility in an unpredictable commercial landscape.
• Geopolitics and Macroeconomics: Understanding the economic fallout of the new multipolar world order, trade wars, and shifting global supply chains.
• The Evolution of Money: A deep dive into the history of currency, the rise of decentralised finance, and the systemic impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
• Demographic Destiny: How ageing populations, migration, and intergenerational wealth transfers are fundamentally rewriting the rules of global consumption and labour.
• The European Economic Landscape: Strategic analysis of the Eurozone’s challenges, growth opportunities, and necessary structural reforms.

Key Takeaways

• Macroeconomic Clarity: Equip leadership teams with a lucid understanding of complex economic indicators to drive robust corporate strategy and resource allocation.
• Trend Identification: Learn to identify and capitalise on subtle demographic and technological shifts before they become mainstream disruptions.
• Risk Mitigation: Develop mental frameworks to safeguard assets and corporate operations against unexpected geopolitical shocks and market downturns.
• Contextual Foresight: Foster an institutional mindset that leverages historical economic cycles to better predict and navigate future financial realities.