Dr Abbas Valadkhani was born in

Abbas was born in Tehran. He received his MEc from The University of Tehran and his PhD in Economics at The University of Queensland. Currently, Dr Valadkhani is an A/Professor of Economics at The University of Wollongong.

Previously, he was head of the Macroeconometric Modelling Group of the Management and Planning Organization. He had also been an economics lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology and The University of Newcastle.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS

· Received the 2008 Faculty of Commerce Service to Research Award, UOW.

· Received the 2008 Faculty of Commerce Research Excellence Award, UOW.

· Received the 2006 Faculty of Commerce Researcher of the Year Award, UOW.

· Received the 2006 Faculty of Commerce Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award, UOW.

· Nominated for the 2007 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning, The University of Wollongong.

· Received the 2003 Faculty of Business New Teacher Award, QUT.

· Received the 2003 School of Economics and Finance Teaching Award, QUT.