Ann Pettifor | Economist and Keynote Speaker

Ann Pettifor is an international political economist, author and campaigner whose work focuses on the global financial system, sovereign debt, monetary policy and climate change.

She is Director of PRIME, Policy Research in Macroeconomics, a network of economists and professionals working on macroeconomic theory, financial reform and economic policy. She is also a Fellow of the New Economics Foundation and has held a number of academic and advisory roles during her career.

Ann is widely known for her work on sovereign debt and the international financial system. She was a leading figure in the Jubilee 2000 campaign, part of an international movement calling for the cancellation of debts owed by some of the world’s poorest countries.

The campaign contributed to the cancellation of approximately $100 billion of debt, while Ann was also involved in work surrounding the Nigerian government’s clearance of around $30 billion in sovereign debt in 2005.

Ann Pettifor and the Global Financial Crisis

Ann attracted considerable attention for warning about the risks building within the financial system before the global financial crisis.

Her 2006 book, The Coming First World Debt Crisis, examined rising private debt and financial instability ahead of the crisis that unfolded in 2007 and 2008. Her analysis established her as a prominent critic of the structures and economic policies governing international finance.

Since then, she has continued to examine how banks, financial markets, credit and monetary policy influence the wider economy.

Her work challenges the idea that finance operates separately from everyday economic life. Instead, she explains how decisions within the financial system can affect employment, investment, public services, housing, energy prices and the ability of governments to respond to climate change.

The Global Casino and Ann Pettifor’s Latest Book

Ann Pettifor’s latest book, The Global Casino: How Wall Street Gambles with People and the Planet, was published by Verso in 2026.

The book examines the scale and power of global financial markets and considers how activity within the international financial system affects the price of essentials such as food, housing and energy.

It also explores the relationship between financial speculation and climate change, arguing that reform of global finance is necessary if governments are to address economic instability and environmental pressures effectively.

For audiences trying to understand global economies, financial markets and the changing relationship between governments and finance, The Global Casino brings many of Ann’s long-standing areas of expertise into a contemporary debate.

The Green New Deal and Climate Economics

Climate economics is another major part of Ann Pettifor’s work.

In 2008, she was one of the authors of the original UK Green New Deal report, which proposed coordinated action on the financial crisis, climate change and energy security.

She developed those ideas further in her 2019 book, The Case for the Green New Deal. The book argues that addressing climate change requires changes to finance, public investment and the monetary system rather than relying solely on individual behaviour or market forces.

Ann also served as a member of the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission until March 2026, contributing to discussions around the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Her work in this field allows her to connect climate policy with questions about investment, employment, financial reform and the wider British and global economy.

Ann Pettifor as a Keynote Speaker

As a keynote speaker, Ann Pettifor brings complex economic subjects into focus for audiences outside academic economics.

Her speeches can cover the global financial system, monetary policy, sovereign debt, climate change, the Green New Deal and the economic forces influencing businesses and governments.

She combines an understanding of economic theory with decades of experience in campaigning, policy research and public debate. This allows her to explain not only how the monetary system works, but also why changes in finance and economic policy have consequences for organisations, communities and individuals.

For event organisers looking to hire Ann Pettifor, her subject matter is particularly relevant to conferences focused on finance, economics, sustainability, public policy, climate change and international affairs.

Her experience also makes her a strong choice for business audiences seeking a clearer understanding of global financial trends and the political decisions influencing markets.

Books, Research and Economic Policy

Alongside The Global Casino, Ann is the author of several books exploring money, finance and economic reform.

The Production of Money, published in 2017, explains the nature of money, debt and the monetary system while examining the power exercised by the financial sector.

The Case for the Green New Deal, published in 2019, connects economic reform with the challenge of tackling climate change.

Her earlier work, The Coming First World Debt Crisis, helped establish her reputation for analysing the risks created by excessive debt and an increasingly deregulated financial system.

Ann has also contributed to research on UK public debt. Together with Professor Victoria Chick and Dr Geoff Tily, she examined around 100 years of UK public debt and its impact on the British economy.

Her wider public policy experience has included economic advisory work for the British Labour Party and membership of its Task Force on International Development.

Recognition and International Experience

Ann’s work on economics and debt has received international recognition.

She received the Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought in 2018 and holds honorary doctorates from Newcastle University, the University of Helsinki and SOAS University of London.

She was also appointed a Member of the Order of the Niger in recognition of her contribution to Nigeria’s work on sovereign debt.

From Jubilee 2000 to today’s debates around climate finance and the global financial system, Ann Pettifor has spent much of her career questioning how money and economic power are organised.

As a speaker, she gives audiences the knowledge and context needed to understand those systems and consider how they could work differently.

Contact us to find out more about booking Ann Pettifor as a keynote speaker for your next event.