Portrait of Sean Thomas

Sean Thomas : Principal

Sean is one of Oxera’s leading experts in impact assessment and the economics of public policy. He focuses on helping clients understand the impact of investments and policy or regulatory change on firms, consumers and the wider economy.

Sean has extensive knowledge of the application of economic appraisal techniques, development of business cases and design of economic regulation. He is experienced in using these tools across a broad range of markets to assist clients with challenging and complex questions.

Working across a range of sectors, Sean has provided advice to clients on many of the most important issues of the day. These includes key issues in infrastructure sectors (where he has supported clients on UK rail reform, energy security and the capacity debate in the London aviation market), professional services (such as the statutory audit market), pharmaceuticals and the digital economy. He also has experience in financial services (including in the wholesale insurance sector and retail payments), which is his current area of specialism.

Sean has previous experience working in the economic advisory practice at Deloitte. Prior to joining Oxera, he worked in the Government Economic Service where he advised on a broad range of areas including transport, taxation, business & regional policy and energy markets.

Sean speaks English.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3839 9873

Sean's specialisms include:

Selected
professional experience

  • Support for the UK Department for Transport (DfT) as part of the rail reform programme on design of competition and regulatory framework in rail (2021–22)

  • Development of options for the inter-company charging regime for a large public cross-sector venture (2021)

  • Support for the CAA in the development of the H7 regulatory regime for Heathrow Airport (2021)

  • Advice to Defra on charging approaches for, and wider economic impacts of, UK Border Control Posts (2022)

  • Local and regional economic impact assessment of the expansion of a major London airport (2021)

  • Competition assessment of a public sector rail freight operator (2021)

Qualifications

  • MSc Economics, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

  • BA Economics, University of Reading, UK