Professor Philip Okeefe
BA (Hons), Sydney University
LLB, Sydney University
LLM, London School of Economics
MSc., Oxford University
Philip (Pip) O’Keefe is Professor of Practice at the University of New South Wales Centre for Population Ageing Research (CEPAR). He leads a policy research program on societal ageing in Asia, covering issues from macro-fiscal, to labor markets, social protection, health and care, silver economy, and inequality and ageing. Between 1993 and 2021, he worked at the World Bank, most recently as Practice Manager for Social Protection and Jobs for EAP region. Prior to that, he was Lead Economist based in Washington DC, Beijing, New Delhi, Budapest and Sydney. Between 1989 and 1993, he was Lecturer at the University of Warwick, UK.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
I am a development economist and lead the research stream on Ageing in Asia within the Centre for Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), which sits within the School of Economics under the Business School.
My research interests focus primarily on emerging economies of Asia and the various dimensions of societal ageing, and their social and economic implications. This includes macro-fiscal impacts of demographic transitions, labor markets and upskilling across the life course, pension and social protection systems, health and long-term care systems, silver economy, and inequality and ageing. I also undertake regular consultancies with organizations such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Prior to joining CEPAR in 2021, between 1993 and 2021, I worked at the World Bank where I led analytical and policy advisory work on various aspects of social policy with around 20 countries in East and Southeast, South and Central Asia, the Western Balkans, and Pacific Islands, as well as investment and budget support lending operations.
June 2026: Conference framing presentation at ASEAN High-Level Forum on Unlocking the Silver Economy, held in Manila, Philippines. "Framing the Silver Economy: Definitions, Status and Potential for ASEAN".
March 2026: Panelist at Boao Forum (China Development Forum) in Hainan, China on Silver Economy in Asia. Annual event organized by Chinese Government - invited by China National Committee on Ageing.
March 2026. Presentations to DFAT Canberra and field staff for Southeast Asia Department and Office of the Pacific: (i) "Demographic Transition in Southeast Asia: Navigating the Challenges of Population Ageing"; and (ii) "Population Ageing in a Young Region: Navigating the Challenges of Population Ageing in Pacific Island Countries."
February 2026 and February 2025: Guest lectures at University of Southern California (USC), San Diego: "Social Insurance in Emerging Economies: Status, Challenges and Responses".
January 2026: Conference presentation at Prince Mahidol Award Conference, Bangkok, Thailand: "Harnessing the second demographic dividend in emerging Asia: the contribution of savings and pensions". Also presenter and panelist at side event to PMAC conference organized by World Bank on Long-Term Care in Developing Countries.
January 2026: Presentation to DFAT economic and human development staff at Australian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam: "Population Ageing in Vietnam and Emerging Asia: Crisis, Opportunity, or Both?"
December 2025: Conference presentation and panelist at Australian Aid Conference at ANU, Canberra: "Societal Ageing and Financial Security at Older Ages in Asia and Pacific" (with accompanying jointly authored blog on DevPolicy series: "Old-age pensions in the Pacific: Ensuring Dignity in Late life" in April 2026: https://devpolicy.org/old-age-pensions-in-the-pacific-ensuring-dignity-in-later-life-20260402/.
November 2025: Keynote conference presentation "Inclusive Development in the Context of Population Ageing in Developing Countries", at Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics Conference in Ha Long, Vietnam, Rights of Older Persons in the Context of Population Ageing in Viet Nam: Practice and Challenges" (invited by Australian Human Rights Commission).
November 2025: Podcast with Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. Pekingology podcast series. "China’s Demographic Dilemma". https://www.csis.org/podcasts/pekingology/ chinas-demographic-dilemma.
November 2025: Conference presentation, "Counteracting the Impact of Societal Ageing on Income Inequality: A Case Study of Malaysia and Social Pensions". Presented at CEPAR Pensions and Retriement Colloquium.
November 2025: Keynote presentation for ASEAN-UNFPA Forum on Population Dynamics and Development, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "From Youth Bulge to Ageing Societies: Turning Challenges into Opportunities".
August 2025: Presentation to US-China Forum, annual conference of University of Southern California (USC) China Institute: "China's Demographic Transition: Economic, Societal and Strategic Implications".
July 2025: Presentation at Malaysia Department of Statistics, World Population Day Workshop in Kuala Lumpur: "How Can Malaysia Navigate its Demographic Transition?".
June 2025: Presentation and panelist (with Office of PM, Finance Ministry and others) for World Bank launch of co-authored social pensions paper: "Should Malaysia Expand its Social Pension? Global Evidence, Design Issues and Options".
June 2025: Presentation to Ministry of Economy, Malaysia: "How can Malaysia Navigate its Demographic Transition and Unlock Opportunities in the Silver Economy?".
February 2025. Presentations in India: (i) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; and (ii) Government of West Bengal Finance Department, "Aged Care Sydney Development in Emerging East and Southeast Asia", and (iii) NITI Aayog (formerly Planning Commission, Government of India); and (iv) Government of Kerala State Planning Board: "Maximizing India's Demographic Transition for Viksit Bharat 2047".
January 2025: Presentation (with John Piggott and Han Gao) to Development Research Center (State Council, China) and ADB "High-Quality Growth Workshop", Beijing: "The Dynamic Evolution of China's Pension System, and Future Prospects and Policy Issues".
September 2024: Presenter and plenary moderator at World Bank Ageing and Pensions Core Course (training program attended by officials from 27 developing countries) in Barcelona, Spain: "Expanding Income Support at Older Ages through Non-Contributory Pensions: What do we see and what do we need to think about?" (with Ignacio Apella, World Bank).
September 2024: Presenter at World Bank and Government of Malaysia Pensions Core Course (training program for Malaysian officials), Kuala Lumpur: "Pensions Across Asia: Overview and Challenges".
September 2024: Co-organizer, presenter and moderator of Pensions and Financial Security at Older Ages pillar of Government of Indonesia and HelpAge International Asia Regional Ageing Conference in Bali, Indonesia. Presentation: "Contributory Pensions in Emerging Asia-Pacific Economies".
July 2024: Presentation at 3rd ASEAN Conference on Healthy Ageing, Penang, Malaysia: "Managing Societal Ageing in Asia".
July 2024. Podcast with Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. China Power podcast series. "China’s Demographic Headwinds: A Conversation with Philip O'Keefe".
https://www.csis.org/podcasts/chinapower/chinas-demographic-headwinds-conversation-philip okeefe
April 2024: Presentation to Ministry of Civil Affairs, China in Beijing: "China's Social Assistance Reforms in the New Era" (not for public release).
2024: 4 Quarter Lives podcast: "Asia’s Challenge: Baby busts, ageing populations and male cultures: A conversation with Philip O’Keefe, CEPAR". https://elderberries.substack.com/podcast. x
September 2023-May 2024: Member of Expert Advisory Group to Asian Development Bank Chief Economist Office on population ageing in Asia for 2024 ADB regional flagship report "Ageing Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report".
July 2023: July 2023: Quoted in New York Times, “How a Vast Demographic Shift Will Reshape the World”. July 16, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/07/16/world/world-demographics.html
June 2023: Presentation at OECD-International Pension Regulators Association (IPRA) Conference, Paris, France: "Pre-funded Pensions in Developing Countries: Experience and Challenges".
March 2023: Presentation to Ministry of Civil Affairs, China and five provincial government representatives in Beijing, China: "Social Registries for Social Protection: Concepts, Uses and International Experience".
January 2023: BBC World Service Radio: Interview on China’s demographics with Razia Iqbal on Newshour, January 17, 2023 (rebroadcast on National Public Radio in US in January 2023).
January 2023: Presentation to World Bank East Asia and Pacific Senior Management Team, Washington DC: "Navigating Population Ageing in EAP Region".
January 2023: Quoted in New York Times, “As Asian Societies Age, ‘Retirement’ Just Means More Work”. January 7. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/world/asia/japan-workers-retirement.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare.
July 2022-June 2024: Consultant and advisor to World Bank and Malaysian Ministry of Economy in preparation of Government of Malaysia "National Ageing Blueprint" (government strategy on ageing-related policy reforms for period 2024-2046).
July 2022-June 2024: Advisor to Government of Papua New Guinea and World Bank on preparation of the country's first National Social Protection Policy (endorsed by national Cabinet in 2025).
May 2022: Presentation to World Bank Healthy Longevity Initiative Workshop, Mexico City: "Impact Pathways between Human Capital, NCDs, Healthy Longevity and Economic Outcomes".
February 2022: Presentation for Government of Papua New Guinea and World Bank in Port Moresby, PNG: "Cash Transfers in Developing Countries: The Good News".
October 2021: Guest Lecture at Sydney University Law School: "The World Bank: Some Basics of its Operations, Critiques and Evolution".