Paul Ladd is a development economist and policy leader with more than 30 years of experience across the United Nations, government, and civil society. He currently serves as Director of Sustainable Development and Population at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Principal Adviser to the Executive Secretary, leading work on sustainable development, demographic change, social policy, and regional cooperation across 56 countries. Before joining UNECE, Paul served as Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) from 2015 to 2024. He played a central role in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and advised the Office of the UN Secretary-General during the global economic and financial crisis on the implications for developing countries and for international economic governance. Earlier in his career, Paul held senior policy and economic advisory roles with the UK Treasury, the UK Department for International Development, Christian Aid, and the Central Bank of Guyana. He holds degrees in economics from the University of Warwick, which awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) in 2016. He is a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society and the Royal Society of Arts.
