David McWilliams is a well-known Irish economist, writer, journalist, and broadcaster. He started his career at the Central Bank of Ireland and later worked in London as a senior European economist at UBS and led Emerging Markets research at Banque Nationale de Paris. This background gave him a deep understanding of global economic trends. David is famous for coining the term "Celtic Tiger" to describe Ireland's rapid economic growth in the 1990s. He also warned about potential risks, predicting a recession by 2005 and a housing market bubble similar to those in Boston and Thailand. Initially seen as alarmist, his warnings about the Irish housing market bubble were later proven correct. Since 1999, David has been a prominent figure in Irish media as a broadcaster and economic commentator. He has written five best-selling books, including "The Pope's Children" and "Renaissance Nation," which aim to simplify complex economic ideas for the public.
Internationally, David is recognized for his accurate economic predictions, being the only Irish economist to foresee the strong UK Brexit vote, Donald Trump's victory, and the 2008 global financial crash. He is regarded as one of the most influential economists in the world and is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. As a keynote speaker, David makes economics engaging and has participated in Google’s Zeitgeist conference. With over 238,000 followers, he is one of the most followed economists globally. He has also created award-winning documentaries and a successful economics stand-up show at Ireland’s Abbey Theatre. David founded Kilkenomics, the world’s only economics and stand-up comedy festival, and the Dalkey Book Festival. He is an adjunct professor of global economics at Trinity College Dublin, writes a weekly column for The Irish Times, and offers an online course titled "Economics without Boundaries." His animated series, "Punk Economics," has received over 2.5 million views. Contact the PepTalk team today for fee information and a speaker availability check.
Want to book David McWilliams for your next event?
Email david.mcwilliams@getapeptalk.com, and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Please note: we can only assist with speaking requests. For anything else, we recommend reaching out to David McWilliams directly.
What topics does David McWilliams specialise in?
David McWilliams specialises in talking about economics, media commentary, public engagement and more.
What is David McWilliams's speaking style like?
David delivers engaging and entertaining presentations, expertly blending wit and intelligence. His speeches resonate well with audiences, enhancing the profile of events and leaving a lasting impression. AI summary based on real event feedback.
Does David McWilliams offer virtual speaking engagements?
Yes, David McWilliams offers virtual speaker bookings for webinars, online conferences, and remote or distributed team engagements.
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