Thilak Mallawaarachchi

Worked as a senior economist at ABARES, concurrently with UQ, conducting policy analysis on climate adaptation, water policy reform, land use change, food and agricultural policy in general.

I earned a Bachelor in Agricultural sciences from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1979. Also completed a Master in Agricultural Development Economics at ANU (1983-1985) and a PhD in Resource Economics at the James Cook University (1997-2000), under the supervision of Prof John Quiggin.

My focus in research has been to use economic modelling and farm case studies to understand the sources of market failures in natural resource use, impediments to improving agricultural productivity, farming systems and how to improve rural economies through good public policy. Through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research I have worked with developing country researchers in examining ways to improve agricultural productivity in smallholder farming systems. Knowledge is transferable only when the context is better understood.