Dr Claude Lopez has been appointed as the new Head of the Economic Research Department at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), effective 1 September 2025.

In her new position, Dr Lopez will be responsible for leading efforts to define and deliver the RBA’s long-term research agenda. This includes work on economic issues, monetary policy, and other topics relevant to the central bank’s responsibilities.

Dr Lopez joined the RBA in 2023 as Deputy Head of the Financial Stability department. Before joining the RBA, she served as Chief Research Officer at the Milken Institute, held senior roles at Banque de France, and was a Professor of Economics at the University of Cincinnati.

She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Houston and a Master of Science in Econometrics from Toulouse School of Economics.