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Welcome to RBC Economics
RBC Economics provides timely and relevant analysis and forecasts of the economy and financial markets in Canada, the United States and key international markets to RBC and its clients.
Meet our Research Team
Craig Wright
Senior Vice President & Chief Economist
As chief economist, Craig leads a team of economists providing economic, fixed income and foreign exchange research to RBC clients. Craig is a regular contributor to a number of RBC publications and is a key player in delivering economic analysis to clients and the media through the Economics Department’s regular economic briefings.
A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Toronto, Craig was appointed Chief Economist in 2001 having joined RBC 1994 after working at another financial institution for seven years. Craig is a participant in a number of the key RBC internal committees and is a member of the CD Howe Monetary Policy Council, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics Wilfrid Laurier University, Dean’s Advisory Council at Wilfrid Laurier University and the British Columbia Economic Forecast Council.
Craig and his wife Susan live in Toronto with their three children Emily, Bradley and Jacob.
Dawn Desjardins
Vice President & Deputy Chief Economist
Dawn Desjardins joined the RBC Economics team in January 2006. She is a key contributor to the macroeconomic forecasts for Canada and the U.S. and is part of a team that is responsible for the interest rate forecasts for both countries. Dawn delivers economic analysis to RBC’s clients through a variety of publications and presentations. She is often interviewed by media from across North America to discuss developments in the economy and financial markets.
Prior to joining RBC, Dawn worked as a reporter for Bloomberg Financial News in Toronto covering the Canadian bond and currency markets and was the Canadian bond market strategist for a major U.S. bank for ten years. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto.
Cynthia Leach
Senior Director, Economic Thought Leadership
Cynthia helps shape the narratives and research agenda around the RBC Economics and Thought Leadership team’s forward-looking economic and policy analysis. She joined the team in 2020.
Previously, Cynthia was an executive at Finance Canada, most recently heading a team responsible for housing finance policy covering housing-related risks, mortgage lending and funding markets, and the commercial activities of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. She also has experience in current economic analysis and fiscal policy.
Cynthia holds an M.A. Economics degree from the University of Toronto.
Robert Hogue
Senior Economist
Robert Hogue is a member of the Macroeconomic and Regional Analysis Group, with RBC Economics. He is responsible for providing analysis and forecasts for the Canadian housing market and for the provincial economies. His publications include Housing Trends and Affordability, Provincial Outlook and provincial budget commentaries.
In his functions, he is frequently called to comment on the economy both internally within RBC and externally with clients and the media.
Mr. Hogue joined RBC in May 2008 after spending 15 years with another Canadian financial institution as a senior economist specializing in industrial analysis. At the outset of his career, he spent four years as an economist with Ontario Hydro, where he specialized in industrial and macroeconomic analysis. Mr. Hogue holds a Master’s degree in economics from Queen’s University and a Bachelor’s degree from Université de Montréal.
Nathan Janzen
Senior Economist
Nathan has been with RBC since 2008 with a focus on covering the macroeconomic outlook for Canada and the United States. He has a MA in economics from McMaster University and a BA in economics from the University of Regina.
Josh Nye
Senior Economist
Josh joined RBC Economics as an economist in 2012. He holds a bachelor of arts (honours) in economics from the University of Western Ontario and a master of science in economics from the London School of Economics.
Colin Guldimann
Economist
Colin joined RBC in 2019 as an economist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa, and Master of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining RBC, Colin worked on mortgage, housing, and economic policy at the Department of Finance Canada.
Rannella Billy-Ochieng
Economist
Rannella joined the RBC Economics team in 2017 as an economist. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Economics & Accounting from University of the West Indies, Master of Research in Money, and Banking & Finance from Lancaster University and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Guelph.
Prior to joining RBC, Rannella worked at another Canadian based Financial Institution and abroad at the Ministry of Finance, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
Claire Fan
Economist
Claire joined the RBC Economics team in 2019 as an economist. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Toronto and a Master of Financial Economics from Western University.
Carolyn Freestone
Economist
Carolyn joined RBC Economics in 2019 as an economist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (honours) in Economics from Queen’s University and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Ottawa.
Naomi Powell
Economics Editor and Writer
Naomi joined RBC’s Thought Leadership group in 2020. She is responsible for editing and writing pieces for RBC Economics and Thought Leadership. Prior to joining RBC, she worked as a business journalist in Canada and Europe, most recently reporting on international trade and economics for the Financial Post.
Ben Richardson
Research Associate
Ben Richardson researches pieces for RBC Economics and Thought Leadership. Prior to joining RBC, he obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto and worked in Washington, D.C., at the Woodrow Wilson Center, researching topics concerning Canada-U.S. relations.
Farhad Panahov
Research Associate
Farhad first joined RBC as a Banking Advisor in 2018. He later joined RBC Economics as a Research Associate in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from University of British Columbia.