Professor Ngaire Woods is one of the world’s leading thinkers on global leadership, governance, and the future of international cooperation. As the Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University and Professor of Global Economic Governance, she brings unmatched insight into how nations, institutions, and businesses can work together to navigate an increasingly fractured world.
NGAIRE WOODS
Professor Ngaire Woods | Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government | Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford University
NGAIRE WOOLDS
Ngaire Woods is a Global Authority on Economic Governance and Public Leadership
Ngaire Woods is a globally renowned expert on economic governance, institutional reform, and the future of public leadership. As the Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford since 2012, she has built one of the world’s leading centres for public policy education and leadership development. Known for bridging rigorous research with real‑world impact, Ngaire helps institutions and leaders navigate complexity, rebuild trust, and drive meaningful change in turbulent times.
Her research explores how global institutions evolve, how globalization reshapes power, and how advanced and emerging economies can collaborate for shared prosperity. She has advised the International Monetary Fund, served on the G20’s High‑Level Independent Panel on financing global commons, and held leadership roles with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and several international policy bodies.
A Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Ngaire is widely respected for her intellectual authority and policy influence. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts.
A prolific author and commentator, her acclaimed works include The Politics of Global Regulation, Networks of Influence, and The Globalizers: The IMF, the World Bank and their Borrowers. Since 2013, her monthly columns for Project Syndicate have offered sharp, balanced insight into shifting global economic and political trends.
As a keynote speaker, Ngaire Woods brings clarity, perspective, and strategic foresight to audiences across government, business, and civil society. Her talks inspire leaders to think systemically, build resilient institutions, and lead with integrity in an age of global disruption.
For Ngaire’s full Bio see below:
BIOGRAPHY
A compelling and visionary speaker, Ngaire explores themes such as trust in leadership, reimagining global governance, the future of multilateralism, inequality and development, and how governments and companies can build legitimacy in a changing world. Her talks draw on decades of research and advisory experience with world leaders, international institutions, and major corporations.
Ngaire founded Oxford’s Global Economic Governance Programme and co-founded the Oxford–Princeton Global Leaders Fellowship, nurturing a new generation of global changemakers. She has advised the IMF, World Economic Forum, African Development Bank, and G20, and currently serves on the boards of organisations spanning business, education, and policy – from Rio Tinto and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, to the Berggruen Institute and L’Institut National du Service Public.
Her research, books, and BBC documentaries have shaped thinking around how power and governance evolve in a globalised world. Ngaire is also known for her practical insights on how governments, businesses, and civil society can collaborate effectively to respond to crises — from pandemic preparedness to economic inequality and the rapid rise of AI.
Educated in New Zealand and at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, Ngaire has held academic roles at Harvard and Oxford, and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to higher education and public policy.
Today, Professor Ngaire Woods speaks to audiences around the world on:
The Future of Global Leadership: Building legitimacy and trust across fractured systems
The Role of Business in Society: Rethinking capitalism and corporate responsibility
Governing in an Age of Complexity: Lessons for leaders in government, business, and NGOs
Geopolitics and the Global Economy: What a shifting world order means for decision-makers
Rebuilding Trust in Institutions: Navigating misinformation, inequality, and global uncertainty
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