Kalila Helen Mackenzie
PhD Candidate
Economics Department, Durham University, UK
​
kalila.h.mackenzie@durham.ac.uk
+447415924240
About
MY BACKGROUND
I worked for 10 years in economic advisory and strategy consulting roles in Southern Africa, where I gained invaluable work experience. Then, I reached a pivotal point in my life where I evaluated what I wanted for my future. I began teaching economics during my undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Cape Town, a role that I maintained throughout my professional career. I am truly motivated by sharing my enthusiasm for economics with students. I thus set out to become an economics professor.
I achieved my Masters in Economics with Distinction at the University of Exeter, and I am currently close to completion of my Doctorate at Durham University. Throughout my postgraduate studies I have taught economics, primarily on applying economic theory to environmental sustainability.
I believe that tackling climate change is the most critical issue we face globally, and that economic research plays a key role in ensuring policies and practices are effective in achieving this. My research focus is on environmental and energy economics, applying choice modelling to yield impactful policy insights.
Education
Date, Institution, Degree
2022 - Ongoing
Durham University, UK
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Economics
2021 - 2022
University of Exeter, UK
Masters in Economics,
Distinction
2010 - 2011
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Honours in Economics
2007 - 2010
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Bachelor of Business Science
Teaching Experience
Date, Institution, Role, Modules
2022 - Ongoing
Durham University, Teaching Assistant
Modules: Economics of Sustainability, Environmental Economics and Policy, Microeconomics, Principles of Economics
2022 - 2022
University of Exeter, Postgraduate Teaching Associate
Modules: Econometrics
2021 - 2022
MyTutor, Online Tutor
Modules: Economics and Mathematics
2015 - 2020
Namibia University of Science and Technology and University of Namibia, Namibia, Tutor
Modules: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
2011 - 2011
University of Cape Town, Head Tutor
Modules: Finance
2010 - 2011
University of Cape Town, Tutor
Modules: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Game Theory and Quantitative Methods in Economics
Publications & Conferences
Institution,Presentation, Date
-
Durham Energy Institute, UK, Policy Brief: Coal Mines for heat decarbonisation, 2025
​
-
University of Leeds Choice Modelling Centre, UK, Presentation of choice modelling approach: Mixed Logit model, 2025
​
-
​2025 Annual Conference of the Scottish Economic Society, Glasgow, UK, Presentation of Paper: Willingness to pay for low-carbon heating systems by households in the North East of England, 2025
​
-
Empirical Methods in Energy Economics (EMEE) 2025 16th International Workshop, Washington, US, Presentation of Paper: Implicit discount rates across income groups for investment in a low-carbon heating system, 2025
​
-
​34th Young Energy Economists & Engineers Seminar (YEEES), Durham, UK, Peer Review of Paper: Willingness to Pay for low-carbon heating systems by households in the North East of England, 2024
​
-
UK Network for Environmental Economists, Envecon 2024 London, UK, Presentation of research poster: What factors impact households’ willingness to pay for low-carbon heating systems?, 2024
​
-
Durham Energy Institute Energy Day: At Home with Energy, UK, Presentation on geothermal district heating systems, 2024
​
-
Senned (Welsh Parliament) Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, Cardiff, UK, Presentation on households' choices for low-carbon heating systems, 2023
​
-
University of St. Andrews Centre for Energy Ethics, UK, Presentation: The impact of government grants on households’ willingness to pay for microgeneration heating technologies - An empirical analysis of household preferences, 2023
​
-
Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy Launching event, Durham, UK, Presentation: The effect of United Kingdom (UK) policy on households' adoption of microgeneration renewable energy systems, 2023
​​
​
-
Ustinov College Annual Conference, Durham, UK, Presentation: impact of government grants on households’ willingness to pay for microgeneration heating technologies, 2023
Courses & Workshops
Institution, Course, Date
-
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, Short Course on Discrete Choice Analysis: Predicting Individual Behaviour and Market Demand, 2025
​
-
University of Leeds Choice Modelling Centre, UK, Advanced Choice Modelling, 2024
​
-
​KU Leuven, Belgium, REE / JEEM Workshop on Nonmarket Valuation, 2024​
​
-
University of Stirling, UK, Designing Markets for a Sustainable Future: From Experiments to Behaviour, 2024
​
-
Durham University, UK, International Workshop in Experimental and Environmental Economics, 2024
​
-
University of Leeds Choice Modelling Centre, UK, Course in choice modelling and stated choice survey design, 2023
​
-
Envecho and Durham University Business School, UK, Discrete Choice Modelling in the field of environmental valuation, 2023