{
  "title": "Catriona Purfield",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/about/senior-officials/bios/catriona-purfield",
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  "summary": "Director of the Institute for Capacity Development",
  "publishDate": "2025-09-16",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Current position",
      "content": "- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) appointed Catriona Purfield Director of the Institute for Capacity Development, effective September 1, 2025."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Career history and roles at the IMF and beyond",
      "content": "- Director, Human Resources Department (position held prior to Institute appointment).\n- Deputy Director, Africa Department:\n  - Oversaw production of the Regional Economic Update for Sub Saharan Africa.\n  - Oversaw the Fund’s program and surveillance engagements in Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Togo.\n- Assistant Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, between 2016 and 2019:\n  - Led the department’s policy and analytical work on inclusive growth.\n  - Led the IMF’s surveillance missions to Iran.\n- World Bank, based in South Africa, between 2013 and 2016:\n  - Program Lead on Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions for Southern Africa.\n- Other IMF experience since joining the Fund in 1998:\n  - Worked in the European, Asia Pacific and Fiscal Affairs Departments."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Research interests and publications",
      "content": "- Research interests and publications cover:\n  - Macroeconomics\n  - Economic growth\n  - Inequality\n  - Fiscal policy\n  - Natural resource management\n  - Competition policy\n  - Unemployment and labor market issues"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Education and nationality",
      "content": "- A national of Ireland.\n- Degrees:\n  - B.A. (Hons) in Economics and Geography, Trinity College Dublin.\n  - PhD in Economics, Trinity College Dublin.\n- Graduate of the Kiel Institute of World Economics Graduate Program on International Macroeconomics."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Administrative details",
      "content": "- The IMF biography was last updated September 16, 2025."
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) appointed Catriona Purfield Director of the Institute for Capacity Development, effective September 1, 2025.",
    "Director, Human Resources Department (position held prior to Institute appointment).",
    "Deputy Director, Africa Department:",
    "Assistant Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, between 2016 and 2019:",
    "World Bank, based in South Africa, between 2013 and 2016:",
    "Other IMF experience since joining the Fund in 1998:",
    "Research interests and publications cover:",
    "A national of Ireland.",
    "Degrees:",
    "Graduate of the Kiel Institute of World Economics Graduate Program on International Macroeconomics.",
    "The IMF biography was last updated September 16, 2025."
  ],
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  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-29T02:15:39.258Z"
}