Penny Bamber is a global value chain expert, with over a decade of experience in research and consulting at the intersection of international economics and economic development. Her work focuses on how countries, companies and workers – particularly those in developing countries – can more sustainably compete in the global economy. Her expertise lies in examining global industry dynamics to identify opportunities for different actors to engage before developing strategies and solutions for them to do so. Widely-cited, her work has covered a broad range of sectors and geographies, from inserting marginalized actors into the agricultural and mining industries in Latin America, advising on industrial policy development in the Philippines and identifying nearshoring opportunities in the healthcare sector for Central America, to examining the impact of automation on the future of Chinese industry.
With extensive contributions to the development of the GVC framework, Bamber has authored and contributed to numerous books, reports and journal articles on economic growth and development, circular economy, gender and trade, technology, and skills for the future. She has consulted and provided policy analysis widely for national and international organizations, including the World Bank, the OECD, UNCTAD, ILO, the African Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. She has led capacity building programs for policymakers to boost national competitiveness in global trade in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Bamber has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chile, a Diploma in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.
