Evidence‑Based Advice To Support Investment, Policy And Project Decisions.
Pioneering Economic Intelligence Since 1984
NIEIR’s Story
NIEIR is Australia’s leading independent authority on regional economics. For over 40 years, we’ve delivered rigorous, unbiased economic analysis that informs strategy, policy, and investment decisions. Trusted by government, industry, and community leaders, our work is grounded in detailed regional data and locally-informed economic modeling.
Trusted Economic Insights for Government & Industry
40 Years of Leading Industry Data
Founded in 1984, NIEIR was created to give Australian policymakers and business leaders access to rigorous, independent regional economic analysis. What began as a focused research initiative has grown into the country’s most trusted regional economics authority — supporting infrastructure, investment, policy, and academic research nationwide.
The NIEIR Database: Our Competitive Advantage
- Coverage - All 543 LGAs across Australia; SA2, SA3 levels; custom geographic areas
- Time Series - 40+ years of continuous, validated economic data from 1984 onwards
- Granularity - 86 ANZSIC industry subdivisions; 2,000+ data points per LGA
- Indicators - GRP, employment by industry and occupation, industry structure, trade flows, financial flows, demographics, housing, productivity, wages
- Update Cycle - Quarterly updates with latest estimates and forecasts
- Validation - Continuously tested against actual outcomes—models are proven, not theoretical
Our commitment to excellence has seen us complete over 2,500 projects, supporting over 300 local councils and numerous industry leaders.
Advancing Australia’s Economic Intelligence Since 1984
Our History
Since 1984, NIEIR has grown from a small independent research institute into Australia’s most trusted authority on regional economics. Our milestones reflect a long-standing commitment to data integrity, modelling innovation, and real-world economic impact.
From 1984 to Today: A Journey of Insight, Innovation, and Impact
- 1984 - NIEIR is established: Founded to deliver independent regional economic research for government and industry.
- Late 1980s - Bottom-up modelling begins: Developed one of Australia’s first bottom-up economic models, capturing true local economic structures.
- 1990s - Policy & infrastructure advisory expands: Became a key partner for major impact studies, regional planning, long-term infrastructure assessments, and State of the Regions Established.
- 2000s - National LGA database created: Built Australia’s most comprehensive regional database, covering every LGA with 40+ years of comparable data.
- 2010s - Forecasting & scenario tools strengthened: Enhanced long-range forecasting across labour markets, population, housing, trade, and industry. Partnership with .id Consulting begins.
- 2020s - Leading regional economics authority: Provided evidence-based intelligence to 300+ councils, major industries, and all levels of government. Carbon and Energy reporting released. New Innovations in up-to-data local economic data.
- Today - Trusted, independent, future-focused: Remains economist-owned and operated, delivering rigorous analysis that supports resilient regional economies.
Navigating the Future with Data-Driven Insights
Our Mission & Values
At NIEIR, we believe informed decision-making is the foundation of resilient, sustainable economic growth. Our mission is to deliver comprehensive, accurate and accessible regional economic intelligence so our clients can plan strategically, shape policy with confidence, and invest with clarity.
Our bottom-up modelling approach is fundamentally different from conventional top-down methods. We build from the LGA level upward, capturing unique local economic structures, supply chain relationships, and market dynamics. Our system integrates industry cluster analysis, infrastructure impact assessment, skills utilisation mapping, and inter-industry trade flows to reveal how regions actually work.
- Rigour in everything we do—methodological integrity, data quality, peer review
- Independence from political and commercial pressure—evidence leads, not stakeholder preference
- Transparency in methodology and findings—clients understand assumptions and limitations
- Respect for regional diversity and local knowledge—data combined with practical understanding
- Commitment to evidence-based decision-making—analysis that informs better choices
- Long-term partnership—consistency, reliability, and demonstrated impact
Experts in Economic Intelligence
Meet Our Team
Our team is the backbone of NIEIR, bringing together experienced economists, industry specialists, researchers, and data scientists who combine academic rigour with practical market insight. With expertise spanning sectors and regions across Australia, we approach complex economic challenges with depth, clarity, and independence. Many of our team members have been with NIEIR for over a decade, providing strong institutional continuity and a deep understanding of Australia’s regional economies.
Led by Dr Peter Brain, Executive Director and one of Australia’s most respected economists, NIEIR is guided by long-term thinking and evidence-based strategy. Dr Brain’s work in economic forecasting, industry policy, and regional and energy economics has shaped national decision-making for decades.
Our strength lies in cross-disciplinary collaboration:
- Senior economists with 25+ years’ experience in modelling, forecasting, and policy
- Industry specialists across energy, infrastructure, resources, agriculture, and defence
- Data scientists and modellers maintaining and validating proprietary systems
- Consultants and researchers delivering independent, data-led insights
Peter Brain
Executive Director
Nick Marinopoulos
Director & Senior Statistician
Jane Cunningham
Director & Senior Consultant
Peter Hylands
Senior Consultant
Brad Vakulcyzk
Economist
Ryan James
Data Solutions Manager
Ling Zhuang
Data Analyst
Tony O'Dwyer
Senior Consultant, Energy Forecasting
Economic Intelligence for Smarter Policy & Planning
Data That Powers Decisions
NIEIR’s independence and analytical rigour are built on two foundations: Australia’s most comprehensive regional economic database and a proprietary bottom-up modelling system refined over four decades. Together, they ensure every insight reflects real economic relationships and local market dynamics, not theoretical averages.
Why We Are Different:
- Independent, economist-owned and operated — not beholden to government or industry agendas.
- Granular modelling at LGA, SA2 and SA1 levels, capturing true local structure.
- 40+ years of validated time series data — proven against real outcomes.
- Integrated indicator framework (industry, labour, trade, demographics, housing and more).
- Trusted by 300+ LGAs and all levels of government for evidence-based decisions.
NIEIR's Services
Strategic consulting, economic forecasting, and extensive regional data services
Our personalised services empower businesses and governments to make informed, data-driven decisions.