Ian Goldin

Professor Ian Goldin was the founding Director of the Oxford Martin School from September 2006 to September 2016. He is currently Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development, Senior Fellow at the Oxford Martin School, Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change and a Professorial Fellow at the University’s Balliol College.

A global futurist , Ian is highly sought-after as a corporate speaker  on a range of topics including future trends in science, technology, climate change and demography, and the impact of the governments and corporations.

Ian was Vice President of the World Bank from 2003-2006 and before that the Bank's Director of Development Policy. He served on the Bank's senior management team, and was directly responsible for its relationship with the UK and all other European, North America and developed countries. He led the Bank's collaboration with the United Nations and other partners and, as Director of Development Policy, played a pivotal role in the research and strategy agenda of the Bank.

From 1996 to 2001 Ian was Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and served as an adviser to President Nelson Mandela. He succeeded in transforming the Bank to become the leading agent of development in the 14 countries of Southern Africa. During this period, Ian served on several Government committees and Boards, and was Finance Director for South Africa’s Olympic Bid.

Previously, Ian was Principal Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, and Program Director at the OECD Development Centre in Paris, where he directed the Programs on Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development.

Born in South Africa, Goldin has a BA (Hons) and a BSc from the University of Cape Town, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a Doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Ian has received wide recognition for his contributions to development and research, including having been knighted by the French Government and nominated Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.

He has published over 50 articles and 22 books, the two most well-known being  "The Economics of Sustainable Development" and "Globalisation for Development: Trade, Finance, Aid, Migration and Ideas". The latter has been commended as "essential reading" by Nobel Prize economist, Joseph Stiglitz.