Kenyon the go-to man on economic matters

ONE of Western Australia’s most highly regarded economists passed away last week, just a fortnight after his 60th birthday.

Curtin University’s Peter Kenyon was described as a ‘one-man party’ and the ‘go-to man’ for economic comment, and was known for the quality of his economic research.

However, his most enduring legacy will rest with the vast number of students he taught during nearly 30 years in academia.

He was professor of economic policy at Curtin’s Graduate School of Business up until his death last Wednesday, and was also responsible for developing the economic curriculum for the MBA program.

Professor Kenyon’s association with Curtin first began in 1983 when he was appointed to teach at the (then) Western Australian Institute of Technology.

A few years later he moved to Murdoch University, where he and the current director of Curtin’s Graduate School of Business, Alison Preston, met.

She said Professor Kenyon’s personality “filled the room”.

“He always had something interesting to share and he did it in a positive way,” Professor Preston said. 

“He really helped make economics accessible because he was informed and involved, he could bring real-life experiences into his teaching, which made it much easier for his students to understand.”

Professor Kenyon’s economic interests were varied – from labour economics both in Australia and internationally, to macroeconomics. He was also responsible for co-founding the Australian Society of Labour Economists and editing the Australian Economic Review and the Australian Journal of Labour Economics.

During his career, Professor Kenyon was sought out to consult on various economic projects, including advising governments on economic policy. 

On a day-to-day basis he was regularly called upon to provide economic comment, which Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief economist John Nicolaou said was due to his friendly and approachable personality.

“He was a very smart person but also very friendly,” Mr Nicolaou said.

“He played a big role in teaching the very technical science of economics and communicating on a very complex field in a clear and concise manner so that everyone has a feel for what’s happening.”

Professor Kenyon returned to Curtin University in 1997 after working at the Melbourne Institute for Applied Economic and Social Research. He held various roles before taking up the economic policy professorship in 2008.

In 2002, he also became chair of the WA advisory board of The Big Issue – a social enterprise that encourages homeless, long-term unemployed and disadvantaged people to earn an income by selling a street paper.

The project’s state manager, Jim Petrie, said Professor Kenyon was instrumental in initially setting up the project, and then played leading roles in furthering its success around the state.

“You’ve got to remember this is a very busy person who is giving up his time freely, so that gives you a picture of his generosity,” he said.

“He was one of those people you could approach at any time – if I had a challenge I could call him and he would say ‘ok, let’s go get a coffee’ and he would give me his advice.”

Professor Kenyon also had interests outside of economics, including jazz and cooking – to such an extent that he established his own cooking school – ‘The Cooking Professor’.

Friends said he had probably one of the best wine cellars in all of Australia, and often took trips abroad with his wife Jan to indulge in food and wine.

Professor Kenyon was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2010. Despite going into remission last year, it returned in January.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held in Hyde Park today, Thursday February 23, from 4pm.