The Team
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In this section
Geoeconomics was founded by Mark Hepworth and Sarah Forster in May 2007. It operates from offices in Bath and has close links to the Centre for Applied Economic Geography (CAEG), Birkbeck College University of London. The third director of Geoeconomics is Martin Frost. |
Related
Sarah presented the findings of her recent research on equity investment in microfinance at the World Microfinance Forumin Geneva on October 1-2, 2008. This international symposium was aimed at investors looking for profitable investment opportunities in microfinance.The OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) programme have put Mark’s presentation to the June 2008 Trento workshop on "Designing and Delivering City Skills Strategies"on their website.Sarah participated in the European Microfinance Network’s Fifth Annual Conferencein Nice on September 10th. Sarah was a founder of this leading European professional forum for microfinance and has been invited to help celebrate five years of EMN along with its two other co-founders Maria Nowak – EMN President and Jan Evers – EVERS&JUNG Director.
Mark and Martin presented a paper on Micro and Macro Perspectives on the UK Knowledge Economy at the 2008 Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers conferencein London, this August. Other session participants include Professor Ron Martin of Cambridge University. Please contact mark@geoeconomics.co.uk if you would like a copy of our powerpoint slides. |
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Sarah ForsterSarah´s role within Geoeconomics is about listening, thinking, evaluating, managing and innovating. She combines an ability to see the bigger picture with a drive to expand the frontiers of what is possible in areas such as finance and social enterprise. Sarah has 15 years of international development and community finance experience. She began her career working for a non-profit organisation, Afghanaid. In 1992, she joined the World Bank where she worked for nine years on community-based projects aimed at tackling poverty in Africa, East Asia and Eastern Europe. Sarah developed a specialism in microfinance and is known for her contributions to the development of the microfinance industry in Bosnia and Afghanistan. In the UK, Sarah was formerly a Director of the New Economics Foundation (2001-04) responsible for NEF´s work on enterprise, access to finance and the Inner City 100 initiative. Currently, Sarah works part of the time as Director of Development for Big Issue Invest, the leading provider of finance to high-performing social enterprises. She has a BA in law from Cambridge University and a masters degree in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University, New York. |
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Martin FrostMartin is the brain behind Geoeconomics´ quantitative methods and empirical analysis. He develops and implements sophisticated geographical analyses to inform policy development and to monitor and evaluate the impacts of that policy. Martin is a specialist in advanced quantitative and spatial analysis applied to public policy and business strategy. Martin has more than thirty years experience of analysing large data sets in research related to spatial economic development, the structure of local labour markets, and their relationships with public policy. He has led many large-scale projects, including the geographical analyses linked to the government´s £20million National Evaluation of Sure Start, and is known for his innovative analysis of geographic information to evaluate or inform public and corporate policy. Martin has a first degree in Geography from the London School of Economics, where he also obtained masters and doctoral degrees in planning and geography. |
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Mark HepworthMark is the creative force in Geoeconomics. His work combines a vision for social change with a mission for both rigour and innovation. Mark is an 'eclectic economist' whose current focus is on interdependent development and the knowledge economy. Mark has a distinguished career spanning academia (Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, Newcastle University, Public Policy Research Unit, Queen Mary, University of London), private consultancy (Henley Centre, Local Futures) and public policy (UK Government, OECD, European Commission). Mark´s work on the UK knowledge economy has influenced policy at all levels, from the Government´s innovation and skills policies to the economic strategies of regional development agencies, sub-regional partnerships and local authorities. His new analysis of the economics of interdependent development is already being used by regional development agencies and sub-regional economic partnerships. Mark is a Director of the Thames Innovation Centre. He has a first degree in economics from the University of Warwick and masters and doctoral degrees in planning and geography from the University of Toronto. |
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