Alison Preston is the Professor of Economics at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and between September 2013 and December 2016, she was Deputy Dean of UWA's Faculty of Business where she worked closely with the Dean in strategically leading the Faculty and overseeing its operational performance and leading its international accreditations (AACSB and EQUIS). Prior to commencing at UWA, Prof Preston was Director of the Curtin Graduate School of Business (CGSB) (2009-2013) and a Professor of Economics at Curtin University (2005-2013). She received her PhD in Economics and Industrial Relations (with distinction) from UWA in 1998, and an MBA (with distinction) from Curtin University in 2007. She completed her BA (honours) in Economics and Marketing at Strathclyde University in Scotland. Her area of interest is in labour economics, specifically wage determination and labour market structures. Prof Preston held visiting appointments at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva and served as an expert witness on wage setting tribunals. Prior to entering academia, she was Senior Economist with UnionsWA and later as Director of Workplace Research with the Department of Industrial Relations in Canberra. Prof Preston is also serving on the editorial boards of the UK-based Journal of Industrial Relations and Australian-based Australian Bulletin of Labour. Prof Preston continues to be involved with industry through her research and consulting and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).
