BA in Geography (Liverpool University) and Master's in Social Policy (London School of Economics). Started career in 1983 with 5 years in the private sector as a commercial manager. This was followed by 5 years living in West Africa first, as a community mobiliser living in a small village on the Atlantic coast of The Gambia working on an artisanal fisheries project; second, as as a Field Director for a CSO; and, finally as a program manager for the UNDP.

Senior manager at the World Bank and IMF for over 16 years. Then spent 6 years as Executive Director of the Africa Progress Panel working directly for Kofi Annan. This was followed by being the Chief Adviser to Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown at the Education Commission and the Secretary General of CARE International. Currently, Senior Advisor at the African Center for Economic Transformation, a Pan African Think Tank. Author of many publications and papers.