Ann Pettifor | Keynote Speaker

Introduction

Ann Pettifor is a globally respected economist, author and political thinker renowned for her prescient analysis of financial crises and her pioneering advocacy for economic reform. As Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME) and a leading voice in international debates on money, debt and climate policy, she continues to shape global conversations on how to build a fair, sustainable economy that serves both people and the planet.

Professional Background & Credentials

Based in London, Ann serves as Director of PRIME, a network of economists promoting Keynesian monetary theory and the critical role of the financial sector in supporting a stable economy. She is a Fellow of the New Economics Foundation, an Honorary Research Fellow at the Political Economy Research Centre at City University, and a Council Member of the Progressive Economy Forum.

Ann first rose to global prominence as a leading voice in the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which successfully secured the cancellation of around $100 billion in debt owed by the world’s poorest nations. Her leadership also contributed to Nigeria’s landmark clearance of $30 billion in sovereign debt in 2005.

A sharp critic of mainstream economic orthodoxy, Ann predicted the 2008 global financial crisis in her influential book The Coming First World Debt Crisis (2006), which made her one of the few economists to foresee the systemic collapse. She has since become a leading advocate for a just economic transition through policy reform and responsible finance.

Books and Publications

Ann Pettifor is the author of several widely acclaimed books that challenge conventional thinking and offer practical solutions for sustainable prosperity:

• The Case for the Green New Deal (Verso, 2019) – a visionary call for government-led investment in a green economy. 
• The Production of Money (Verso, 2017) – an accessible guide to the nature of money, debt and the financial system. 
• The Coming First World Debt Crisis (Palgrave, 2006) – a groundbreaking work predicting the 2008 financial collapse. 

Her works have been translated into multiple languages and are used globally by policymakers, academics and business leaders alike.

Awards and Recognition

Ann has received numerous awards for her contribution to economic thought and global justice. In 2018, she was awarded the Hannah Arendt Prize by the Heinrich Böll Foundation for political thought, and she holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Newcastle for her leadership on international debt cancellation. She has also received the Lambeth Degree (Masters of Letters) from the Archbishop of Canterbury and was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the President of Nigeria.

Teaching, Research and Policy Roles

Ann has held influential academic and advisory positions, including Chair of the Advisory Board at the Political Economy Research Centre, Goldsmiths College, and Honorary Fellow at City University’s Political Economy Research Centre. She has advised the British Labour Party as a member of its Council of Economic Advisers and served on its Task Force on International Development.

She has co-authored major policy analyses, including The Economic Consequences of Mr Osborne (2010), a radical review of a century of UK public debt co-written with Professor Victoria Chick and Dr Geoff Tily.

Speaking Style & Audience Value

Ann is an articulate, insightful and passionate speaker who delivers complex economic ideas with clarity and conviction. Her presentations combine rigorous analysis with real-world relevance, engaging business leaders, policymakers and global audiences in critical discussions about the financial system, sustainability and the future of capitalism.

She has addressed international conferences, corporate events and academic forums across Europe and beyond, consistently inspiring audiences to think differently about how economic systems can be reimagined for long-term prosperity and climate resilience.

Contact us now for more information on how Ann can inspire your audience with thought-provoking insights into global finance, sustainable growth and the future of economic reform.