Kirsten Jensen is a principal advisor economist at the New Zealand Treasury, where she focuses on public finance and leads CBAx. CBAx is Treasury’s cost-benefit analysis tool, which is publicly available. Kirsten is responsible for the design and implementation of CBAx. The CBAx model and the application has evolved since its introduction in 2015. In “Valuing Impacts”, she shares the practical experiences from working with agencies to improve policy analysis. Agencies can use CBAx to support wellbeing analysis in budget initiatives and inform budget decision making. She teaches cost-benefit analysis at the New Zealand Government Economic Network and at Victoria University of Wellington.

Kirsten has more than 20 years leadership experience at the New Zealand Treasury. She has led the Treasury budget and fiscal reporting teams delivering five New Zealand budgets. She was the lead advisor to the parliamentary select committee and led the cross agency team that amended the Public Finance Act and the State Sector Act and created the Crown Entities Act. Common themes in her work include fiscal management and public sector system reforms. She has a keen interest in lifting public policy practices and capability.

Kirsten is Director on Board of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis (SBCA).  She works for greater down under engagement and presence in SBCA. The annual SBCA conference is a highlight.

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