FAI celebrates 50 years
The Fraser of Allander Institute is marking 50 years in 2025 with a range of events lined up to mark this special milestone.
Founded in 1975, the FAI has grown into a powerful voice in Scottish and UK economics. Now, five decades later, its legacy is being honoured with a dynamic programme of events and themed outputs throughout the year, showcasing the FAI’s history, impact, and future direction.
Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said, “I have had the privilege to be the Institute’s Director since 2021, after joining in 2019 as the Deputy Director. In some ways, taking over such an established, respected institute makes my job easier: the reputation of our work and expertise allows our voice to be heard. In other ways, it is a huge pressure: our reputation is so precious, and must be continually nurtured, ensuring an ongoing pipeline of excellent and impactful research to help bring insight to key policy issues.
“In my role, I have met amazing people from across Government, Business and the third sector, and we have worked with a diverse range of funders and partners to deliver our research. Part of the University of Strathclyde, we have been able to grow the team over the last five years to increase our impact. The Institute is nothing without its amazing team, whose energy, enthusiasm and excellence in their work never ceases to amaze me. The events this year are part of us ensuring that we continue to make an impact.”
There will be flagship 50th Anniversary Applied Economics two-day conference in September, bringing together leading economists, policymakers, and researchers and an Autumn Lecture Series with thought-provoking discussions reflecting on the work of the Institute and today’s economic and fiscal challenges. The Fraser also has celebratory receptions taking place in Edinburgh and London, where politicians, policymakers, analysts, and supporters can come together and mark 50 years of impact.
The Fraser team is also calling for anyone who has worked with the FAI at any point in their career to get in touch. The FAI would like to bring former contributors together with the present team to celebrate this 50th anniversary.
If you’ve worked with the FAI at any point in your career and would like to be part of our events for former contributors, please email fraser50@strath.ac.uk with “Former FAI” in the subject line.