Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Policy Leaders Fellow, Centre for Science and Policy

Jenny Bates is Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In this role, she is responsible for FCDO’s work on climate change and energy, science, technology, trade, investment and economic security. She oversees a global portfolio of Official Development Assistance (ODA) across these policy areas, as well as leading the Department’s work on British Investment Partnerships - a core strand of the Department’s development work, focussed on developing the private sector and sustainable economic growth.

Jenny is responsible for the FCDO’s shareholding relationship with the UK’s Development Finance Institution (DFI), British International Investment (BII), dealing with all aspects of funding and strategy. She also leads the Department’s programme of analytical work and development of the evidence base to support policymaking. Jenny is a member of the FCDO’s Management Board, Executive Committee, Development Committee and Financial Transactions Steering Board. She is the Board Champion for both Respectful and Kind Behaviours and Race and is leading the Department’s work on Agility. She is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of FCDO Services.

Previously, Jenny was Director General, Indo-Pacific in FCDO; Director EU Exit and Economic Partnerships; and Chief Economist/Director of Analysis at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Prior to this, Jenny worked for ten years in HM Treasury, including strategic oversight of the Overseas Development (ODA) budget and HM Treasury’s engagement on international development and climate finance. In other roles in HM Treasury, Jenny worked on the global economy and global taxation.

Jenny has an MA in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge.