Luke Brander has a background in environmental economics. He obtained his Masters degree in Environmental and Resource Economics at University College London (1997-98). From April 2000 to September 2010 he worked as a researcher at the Institute for Environmental Studies (VU University Amsterdam). He obtained his doctoral degree from the VU University Amsterdam in 2011.
Luke is currently working as a freelance environmental economist based in Hong Kong. He holds part-time positions at the Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, as a senior researcher; and the Faculty of Social Science, Hong Kong University, as a Honorary Associate Professor.
Luke’s main research interests are in the design of economic instruments to control environmental problems and the valuation of natural resources and environmental impacts. He has worked on the valuation of wetlands, forests, grasslands, mangroves, coral reefs and urban open space using primary valuation methods and through meta-analyses of the ecosystem valuation literature. On-going projects include an assessment of ecosystem based adaptation to climate change in Micronesia and Melanesia; the development of methods for mapping and assessing economic values for ecosystem services for the European Union; and the valuation of marine biodiversity in Tolo Harbour for the Hong Kong Government.
Luke is an experienced teacher of environmental economics. He has given university courses at Masters level, tailored workshops to policy makers and practitioners, and supervises PhD research.