Penelope Hawkins is the Officer-in-Charge of the Debt and Development Finance Branch within UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a branch that includes the Debt and Development Finance Research Unit as well as the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS) Programme, which currently facilitates the debt recording and management in over 60 developing countries.
In her current position, Ms. Hawkins researches and engages with member country representatives and the broader civil and academic society on sustainable sovereign debt, financing for development, and the nexus between debt and climate finance. She represents UNCTAD at the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meetings and is the G20 Finance Deputy to UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. She also represents UNCTAD in several fora, including most recently at the Fourth International Finance for Development Conference (FFD4), G24 meetings in Washington DC and BRICS meetings.
Previously, as the founder and Managing Director of Feasibility (Pty) Ltd, Ms. Hawkins undertook leading research projects in the financial sector in Southern Africa, commissioned by regulators, policy makers and the private sector.
Her expertise in the financial sector stems from her published work. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of Stirling, Scotland, and an M.A. in economics (cum laude) from the University of South Africa.