Dr Roli Asthana

Dr Roli Asthana is a development diplomat and economist with over 30 years of experience in government, multilateral, academic, thinktank and philanthropic institutions in senior positions. She has a track record of strategy and delivery in Asia, Africa and the Middle East; and country leadership roles in China, India and Central Asia.

She has deep expertise across a range of international issues including: international political economy; geopolitics and geoeconomics; economic security; climate change; energy security; food security; supply chains; digital and AI; and risk and resilience. She also has deep expertise in delivering policy reform, results and impact.

Roli regularly writes on the UK’s role in a changing world, as well as the UK ask and the UK offer, drawing on her experience of combining development and diplomacy strategically in different contexts. She has first-hand experience of driving UK partnerships with other states, such as China and India, with a focus on opportunities for growth and job creation, debt and development finance, the climate and environment, and gender issues.

She has led policy and programmes in complex environments including supporting the building of regional connectivity and infrastructure in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East and North Africa, working with governments, multilateral institutions, private sector and civil society.