Hamish McRae is the principal economic commentator for The Independent newspaper. He is a visiting professor at Lancaster University and a council member of the Royal Economic Society. His latest work focuses on excellence in the world economy, the shift of economic power to Asia and how technology interacts with human capital to shift competitive advantage.

He has been a financial and business editor for major national newspapers and has won several awards for his journalistic work. His most recent award was Business and Finance Journalist of the Year in the 2006 British Press Awards. Currently, he is working on a new book studying how excellence is developed in different economic situations around the world.

Insights into how the world may develop are underpinned by his knowledge of the global economy.

He argues that the true wealth of a nation is as much measured by the ability to manage its cultural, intellectual and social resources, as by its economic output.

As a result, he demonstrates how strategies can be developed to uphold sustainability

He presents in a light and relaxed way, conveying complex issues with great transparency.