Global Value Chains: Trading for Development

Sheila Jagannathan serves as a distinguished leader in digital education as the Global Head of Digital Learning & Capacity Building at the World Bank. With over 35 years of experience, she has established herself as an internationally recognized thought leader, advisor, and author specializing in educational technology and human capital development. Her expertise spans crucial areas including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, workforce education, MOOCs, experiential pedagogy, and emerging technologies like AR/VR, AI/ML, IoT, and blockchain in education

Aaditya Mattoo currently serves as Chief Economist of the East Asia and Pacific Region at the World Bank, where he has made significant contributions to international trade policy and development economics. His career trajectory includes serving as Research Manager in the Trade and Integration unit and Economic Counsellor at the World Trade Organization, along with teaching positions at the University of Sussex and Churchill College, Cambridge University. After completing his M.Phil from Oxford and PhD from Cambridge, he has established himself as a leading voice in international trade policy, particularly focusing on services trade, development economics, and global value chains. His research impact is evidenced by extensive citations in major publications like the Economist, Financial Times, New York Times, and Time Magazine. As Co-Director of the World Development Report 2020 on Global Value Chains, he has shaped global understanding of international trade dynamics. His recent work examines critical issues such as the impact of COVID-19 on global trade, the resilience of services trade, and the effects of trade liberalization on manufacturing performance. His expertise spans policy analysis, international cooperation, and the intersection of trade with development, making him a key figure in shaping contemporary understanding of global economic integration.

Anabel González, born in Costa Rica in 1963, is a distinguished expert in international trade and economic development with over three decades of experience across major global institutions. After earning her law degree from the University of Costa Rica and a master's in International Trade Law and Policy from Georgetown University, she has built an impressive career spanning public service and international organizations. Her professional journey includes serving as Costa Rica's Minister of Trade (2010-2014) where she led the country's OECD accession strategy and attracted over 140 foreign investment projects, Senior Director at the World Bank's Global Practice on Trade & Competitiveness (2014-2018), and Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization (2021-2023). She currently serves as Vice President for Countries at the Inter-American Development Bank, appointed in September 2023. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to trade policy and economic integration, including leading Costa Rica's negotiation of the CAFTA-DR agreement and launching the "Trade Winds" virtual interview series at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Her expertise in trade, investment, and economic development has led her to present in over 70 countries and publish extensively on these topics, establishing herself as a leading voice in international economic policy.

Davida Connon serves as the World Development Report (WDR) Manager and Private Sector Development Specialist at the World Bank, where she has established herself as an expert in international trade and market access since 2014. After completing her legal education at the University of Glasgow and Harvard University, she began her career as an international trade attorney in Geneva and Washington, DC, working with global law firms and gaining experience at the World Trade Organization and European Commission. At the World Bank, she has made significant contributions to multiple World Development Reports, including WDR 2019, 2020, and 2021, focusing on digital markets, global value chains, data governance, and competition policy. Her work has particularly emphasized agricultural market access, leading the trade team within the Enabling the Business of Agriculture project that assessed regulations in over 60 countries. Beyond her research contributions, she manages the production of World Development Reports and collaborates with the Global Competition Policy team on matters relating to state-owned enterprises, investment climate, and digital markets, demonstrating her comprehensive expertise in international trade and development policy.

Kate Henvey DeMoss has established herself as an accomplished policy specialist with over fifteen years of experience across major international financial institutions. Her career spans prestigious organizations including the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of International Affairs, and the North American Development Bank. Her academic credentials include an MA from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University. Her expertise encompasses international economics, governance, and trade policy, with particular research interests in trade policy, economic and foreign aid policy, and public opinion and political behavior