Sarah Leck

Sarah Leck has more than 12 years’ experience in undertaking economic evaluations, cost benefit analysis, business case development and reporting across a wide range of sectors including water, agriculture and environmental management. Sarah has extensive experience developing business cases for government and in leading cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and economic modelling projects.

Sarah has led a range of CBA and evaluation projects with a focus on non-market valuation of environmental and social benefits. She led the CBA modelling for the Safe and Secure Water Program Business Case. Other projects include a CBA of options for a desalination plant to address water quality issues, development of an economic and financial model to assess infrastructure investment opportunities for Sunwater, and a CBA of recycled water schemes for Barwon Water. Sarah recently developed detailed guidance for Water Research Australia on economic evaluation of tangible and intangible benefits of research in the water industry, including guidance on the application of non-market values. She also produced guidance for the Victorian DEECA on how to develop successful adaptation business cases for the water industry.

Previously, Sarah Leck worked in the UK on development and review of climate change and energy-intensive industry policies at the Committee on Climate Change and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Whilst working in climate change policy Sarah worked on multiple CBAs and business cases, applying best practise in modelling techniques and economic appraisal. Sarah has an MSc in Development Economics with a focus on the application of environmental economics in developing countries.