Current Employment
Professor in Practice at International Development Department of London School of Economics and the LSE Centre for Public Authority in International Development. Responsibilities include teaching and research.
Director of the Global Executive Leadership Initiative course on influencing, run by UNOPS and hosted by LSE, which since early 2022 has been training hand-picked groups of senior leaders at national level (UN, INGOs, Red Cross/Crescent and national NGOs).
Adviser to Building Community Engagement in Papua New Guinea programme, on strategy, theories of change and mentoring for senior leadership.
Various consultancies around influencing, advocacy and campaigns for Chatham House, the Asfari Foundation and others
Education
Post Graduate: PhD by published work, Oxford Brookes University (2010). Thesis title ‘Active Citizens and Effective States: Definitions and Interactions’
Undergraduate: Natural Science – Physics (first class honours), Oxford University, UK, 1979
Secondary School: Beechen Cliff Comprehensive, Bath, UK (1969-76)
Languages
English (mother tongue)
Spanish (fluent)
French (basic)
Portuguese (basic)
Academic Positions
London School of Economics: Professor in Practice at International Development Department and the LSE Centre for Public Authority in International Development (2015 - present)
University of Cardiff Professor of International Development (honorary, 2011 - present)
Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University, Visiting Fellow 2010-present
University of Notre Dame, Visiting Fellow, 2009
Guildhall University Research Fellow, Department of Language Studies (1994-96)
Oxford University Undergraduate scholarship awarded for all 3 years (1976-9)
Advisory Board Memberships
Current:
Thinking and Working Politically Community of Practice
Anti Corruption Evidence research consortium (British Academy/SOAS)
SOAS Development for Transformation Centre
Friends Provident Foundation, Programme Advisory Group, Shifting Cultural Perceptions of the Economy 2024-2027
Previous:
Action for Empowerment and Accountability (IDS)
ESRC/DFID Joint Scheme International Advisory Committee
ESRC/DFID Joint Scheme Commissioning Panel
National Audit Office Expert Panel on DFID’s Multilateral Aid Review
UNICEF Social and Economic Policy Advisory Board
Effective States and Inclusive Development Research Centre - Consortium Advisory Group (University of Manchester)
Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (ODI)
OECD States of Fragility Report
Previous Positions
2012-24: Senior Strategic Adviser, Oxfam GB: Responsibilities included horizon scanning and strategic advice to senior management; representing Oxfam in wide range of media, public, government and academic debates and writing and curating the ‘From Poverty to Power’ blog.
2004-12: Head of Research, Oxfam GB
2004: Department for International Development (DFID), UK (2004): Senior Policy Adviser on Trade and Development
1997-2004: CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), England and Wales: Policy Analyst on trade and globalization
2001-2004: Just Pensions project on socially responsible investment. Head of Research and Engagement
1989-1997: Latin America Bureau, London. Writer/Researcher
1981-89: Freelance writer/researcher. Clients included FT Business Information (Latin American Markets, World Insurance Report); Economist Intelligence Unit; Central America Report.