Who We Are

Rethinking Economics is an international network of students, academics and professionals building a better economics in society and the classroom.

Through a mixture of campaigning, events and engaging projects, Rethinking Economics connects people globally to discuss and enact the change needed for the future of economics, and to propel the vital debate on what economics is today.

Our Staff Team:

Maeve Cohen – Director – 

Contact Maeve on: maeve.cohen@rethinkeconomics.org

Maeve got involved with Rethinking whilst she was a student at the University of Manchester, co-founding the Post-Crash Economics Society there. After graduating, she continued to maintain her involvement with Rethinking, volunteering as a trustee, as she was working in external affairs at IPPR North.

Laurence Jones-Williams – Head of Operations – 

Contact Laurence on laurence.jones-williams@rethinkeconomics.org

Laurence started as Head of Operations in July 2017. He began his career helping build a website to connect campaigns in Manchester and London called Pando. He then got involved in the anti-austerity movement to reverse the severe cuts hitting the UK. After that he set up the Tenants Union, a membership based organisation created to connect housing campaigners across the UK to build a national organisation to tackle the housing crisis. As Head of Operations Laurence oversees all finances, HR and governance. He would like Tilda Swinton to play him in a film of his life.

Hannah Dewhirst – Head of Membership – 

Contact Hannah on hannah.dewhirst@rethinkeconomics.org

Hannah started as Head of Membership in January 2017. She got involved with Rethinking through the Post-Crash Economics Society at Manchester whilst studying for her masters in Peace and Conflict Studies. Having previously studied PPE for her undergrad at Mansfield College, Oxford, Hannah strongly agrees with REs mission to reform economics education to create better economists for the future. She oversees the induction processes for individuals and groups from across the globe.

Rowan Mataram – Head of Campaigns – 

Contact Rowan on rowan.mataram@rethinkeconomics.org or 07561481264

Rowan started working at RE as the Head of Campaigns and Movement Building in July 2017. After several years of working on issues surrounding trade agreements and trade justice, she felt the need to interrogate and challenge the economic systems underpinning these agreements. Rowan oversees campaigns at RE, supporting groups and members on their campaigns or projects; and is passionate about movement building with the wider new economy movement.

Ross Cathcart – Head of Local Communications and Events – 

Contact Ross on ross.cathcart@rethinkeconomics.org or 07704541973

Call our office number on 07380874091

Our Trustee Board:

Yuan Yang

Yuan started studying Economics and Philosophy at Oxford in 2008, the year she discovered economics teaching isn’t geared to help students understand the economy. Helped by critical-minded tutors, she carried on learning more about the philosophy of social science, and went on to study an MSc in Economics at the London School of Economics, where she set up the first Rethinking Economics network of student groups in 2013, and was part of the first RE staff team in 2015. She is now a correspondent for the Financial Times in Beijing, writing on China’s economic and technological developments.

Christine Berry

Christine is part-time director of the Policy and Government unit at the New Economics Foundation think tank, whilst studying for her PhD at the University of Sheffield. Prior to this she worked as a researcher for both the pensions charity FairAction and for David Haworth MP after obtaining her degree in Social and Political Science from the University of Cambridge.

Marco Schneebalg

Marco started campaigning for curriculum reform while studying for his Diploma and MPhil in Economics, where he became frustrated by the lack of focus on the philosophical underpinnings of models, and the exclusion of alternative economic theories and methods. Unsatisfied by the absence of debates about the real-world events that brought him to the topic, he became an organiser with the Cambridge Society for Economic Pluralism. He helped set up economics events, a survey of students and a campaign to change the curriculum in the department. He has now been a trustee of Rethinking Economics for 3 years, overseeing campaigns and membership. He is a policy analyst at the Bank of England and is involved in a cross-public service network of economists aiming to change the way economic analysis is conducted in government.

Laurie Laybourn-Langton

Laurie is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, where his work covers transport and Anthropocene policy and political economy. He is also the founder of Bring Back the NHS, a campaign to improve understanding of the UK’s public healthcare system, and formerly worked for Lord Skidelsky, the Institute for New Economic Thinking at Oxford University, and Purpose. Laurie became a trustee because he believes the lack of critical thought and accessibility in economics to be one of the greatest barriers to developing solutions to 21st century problems.

Ben Pringle

Ben has been a part of the Rethinking Economics movement since his first semester at University when he became involved in the Post-Crash Economics Society at the University of Manchester. Over his time involved in the society, his roles included Chair, Treasurer and Blog Editor. He was also Chair during the first PCES conference and was the lead on the second conference. Since then he has continued to be involved in the local, national and international campaign for pluralism within economics. His role as Trustee involves building and sustaining membership of Rethinking Economics.

Aoife O’Leary

Aoife an experienced environmental advocate and qualified lawyer in Ireland, England, Wales and New York. Having done her training as a solicitor in Ireland, Aoife then moved into the NGO sector in Brussels and London. She has wide experience of EU climate and energy policy and law, with a speciality in international transport climate law and policy. Aoife took up economics after being told repeatedly that it was all about the economy when trying to persuade policy-makers to do something (anything!) for the climate. Dissatisfied with mainstream economic environmental thinking, Aoife is delighted to be able to assist RE in their campaign to broaden the view of the next (and current) generation of economists.

Rafe Martyn

Rafe is PhD student in Economics at the University of Cambridge. His background is in Theoretical Physics where he holds an MSci. Together with two classmates in 2011 he founded the Cambridge Society for Economics Pluralism, one of the founding member groups of Rethinking Economics. He became a trustee of  Rethinking Economics in 2011 to play his part in fostering critical-thinking and tackling dogma in economics teaching.

Ben Glover

After chairing the Post-Crash Economics Society at Manchester, Ben joined the Civil Service Fast Stream working on policy at the Ministry of Justice, Department for Transport and HMRC. Ben then founded a network – Exploring Economics – that aims to reform economics in government.  

Our Advisory Board:

Lawrie Simanowitz

Lawrie is a lawyer at Bates Wells Braithwaite specialising in charitable organisations. His advice to Rethinking Economics has been invaluable when considering fundraising opportunities and writing contracts, as well as during our merger with Post-Crash Economics in 2015. He is also the Chair of 38 Degrees Trust, a UK-based progressive political activism organisation.

John Ashton

Now an independent speaker, John previously served as the UK Government’s Special Representative for Climate Change between 2006-2012. To Rethinking Economics, he provides expertise as we attempt to influence those institutions responsible for higher education policy. John is also a visiting professor at London School of Economics and SOAS, as well as serving asa Trustee for the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

Andrew Thompson

Andrew  works as Grant Manager for the Friends Provident Foundation, one of Rethinking Economics’ core funders. Andrew’s support ever since Rethinking was established as a charity has been invaluable and he is always on hand to answer questions and provide feedback on our work.

Victoria Chick

Victoria is Emeritus Professor at University College London. Her contribution to our understanding of Keynes’s General Theory made her a respected member of the economics community. Victoria helps us understand the academic community and how we can ensure our voice is heard in these circles.

Dan Vockins

The New Economics Foundation, which Dan works for, have been a good friend of Rethinking Economics since our inception. Dan has a good understanding of how to build a strong network of voluntary organisers, and has contributed much to making sure our community feels ownership of Rethinking Economics.

Karel Williams

Karel is Professor of Accounting and Political Economy at Alliance Manchester Business School. Karel was also a director of the Centre for Research and Socio-Cultural Change a major ESRC research centre which ran between 2004-2014. Karel has been a great supporter of the student movement since its early days and provides crucial input which helps us develop our strategy effectively.