Helen Cabalu

Professor Helen Cabalu is a leading economist at Curtin University, serving as a Professor in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance within the Faculty of Business and Law. Her roles include former Head of the School of Economics, Finance and Property (2012–2019) and her current portfolio in the Office of the Provost. She holds degrees from ANU (PhD Econ, MEcon) and the University of the Philippines (BEcon).

Her research focuses on international trade policy, energy economics, economic development in Asian economies, and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling. Key areas include competition policy in the Asia-Pacific, resource economics, and the impact of macroeconomic policies on economies like the Philippines and Vietnam. She has contributed significantly to energy security studies, including regional cooperation frameworks like ASEAN+3.

Her publications span over 30 years, addressing topics such as trade liberalization effects, CO2 emissions analysis, and energy policy impacts. Notable works include Evaluating Indicators of Energy Security in Asia (2018) and analyses of Philippine energy policies (2015). She has advised international bodies like the World Bank, ADB, and UNOPS, particularly in macroeconomic and energy sector reforms.

Her consultancies include a 2002 secondment to the Asian Development Bank as Macroeconomist Team Leader, overseeing the Asia Recovery Information Centre. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy solutions, emphasizing sustainable development and regional cooperation.