# Dr. Patrick Caragata

> Dr. Patrick James Caragata is the founder and first CEO of RapidRatings, an economist and author whose career spans Canadian banking, New Zealand economic policy and software-based corporate risk assessment. He developed the company’s models and methodologies and partnered with James Gellert and Douglas Cameron to bring the business to New York in 2007. RapidRatings announced his retirement in 2024; EESTech’s 2025 annual disclosure lists him as a director and head of its strategy and risk management committee.

- **Role:** Director and Head of Strategy and Risk Management Committee at EESTech (2025 annual disclosure)
- **Organizations:** RapidRatings, EESTech, Toronto-Dominion Bank, New Zealand Ministry of Energy, New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, McCallum Petterson Financial Diagnostics, Rotary Club of Brisbane
- **From:** Toronto, Canada
- **Nationality:** Canadian, New Zealander and Australian
- **Education:** PhD in political economy; thesis on non-fuel minerals and Canadian foreign policy, University of Toronto
- **Known for:** Founded the business that became RapidRatings., Developed RapidRatings’ models, methodologies and programmed language for automated reports., Redesigned New Zealand’s petroleum royalty regime.

## Career timeline

- **1981** — Completed a PhD at the University of Toronto.
- **1983–1986** — Led the country risk analysis group at Toronto-Dominion Bank, covering 65 countries.
- **1986–1988** — Seconded to the Canadian government to examine investment risks of the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.
- **1988** — Moved to New Zealand and became chief economist at the Ministry of Energy.
- **1991–1997** — Served as chief tax policy adviser and then special adviser, taxation economics, at New Zealand Inland Revenue.
- **1997-10** — Became managing director of McCallum Petterson Financial Diagnostics in Wellington, the predecessor to RapidRatings.
- **2001-06** — Moved the business to Brisbane, where RapidRatings was named and incorporated.
- **2004** — Secured a five-year independent second-opinion contract for Lehman Brothers equity trades.
- **2005-10** — Met SEC staff to discuss proposed ratings-agency recognition rules.
- **2007-02** — Partnered with James Gellert and Douglas Cameron to acquire RapidRatings and bring the business to New York.
- **2013** — Began developing the Mentors for Charities project in Brisbane.
- **2019-02** — EESTech announced his appointment to its board, following advisory-board involvement since 2010.
- **2024-09** — Retirement from RapidRatings was scheduled for September 30, 2024.
- **2025** — EESTech annual disclosure listed him as director and head of its strategy and risk management committee.

## Achievements

- Founded the business that became RapidRatings.
- Developed RapidRatings’ models, methodologies and programmed language for automated reports.
- Redesigned New Zealand’s petroleum royalty regime.
- Led a research effort at Inland Revenue that produced 37 working papers.
- Developed the Mentors for Charities project over three years beginning in 2013.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — EESTech’s annual disclosure for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists Caragata as director and head of its strategy and risk management committee; this is the reporting period, not an inferred filing date.
- **2024-07** — RapidRatings announced his retirement, effective September 30, 2024.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/patrick-caragata-323380315

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/patrick-caragata
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22