Laura Chappell

Before joining IPPR Laura spent 12 years working on international policy across three government departments. Areas of focus have included the IMF and multilateral development banks; fragility, state-building and the rule of law; private finance including blended finance and global debt markets; climate and nature including deforestation, carbon markets and sustainable agriculture; and economic development and investment in Africa.

Laura has lived and worked across Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific. She has led large, multi-country teams, and overseen portfolios of up to £700m. Laura has held a board seat on a financial institution in Uganda and had a regular column on India in Progress magazine.

Prior to working for government Laura spent five years at IPPR, working on migration, development and UK economic policy. While at IPPR she made regular media appearances, including on the BBC's Today programme, Radio 5 Live, and BBC News 24.

Laura has a masters in development economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies where she won the taught masters prize for excellence 2003 – 2004.