Ngaire Woods

Professor Ngaire Woods is the inaugural Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance. Prof. Woods is a recognized world authority on international relations, global economic governance, the challenges of globalization, and the role of international institutions. She founded and is the Director of the Global Economic Governance Programme. She helped to lead the creation of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University and, before her appointment as Dean, served as the School’s Academic Director.
Her recent books include Networks of Influence? Developing Countries in a Networked Global Order (with Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, Oxford University Press, 2009), The Politics of Global Regulation (with Walter Mattli, Oxford University Press, 2009), The Globalizers: the IMF, the World Bank and their Borrowers (Cornell University Press, 2006), Exporting Good Governance: Temptations and Challenges in Canada’s Aid Program (with Jennifer Welsh, Laurier University Press, 2007), and Making Self-Regulation Effective in Developing Countries (with Dana Brown, Oxford University Press, 2007). She has previously published The Political Economy of Globalization (Macmillan, 2000), Inequality, Globalization and World Politics (with Andrew Hurrell: Oxford University Press, 1999), Explaining International Relations since 1945 (Oxford University Press, 1986), and numerous articles on international institutions, globalization, and governance.
Ngaire Woods was educated at Auckland University (BA in economics, LLB Hons in law). She studied at Balliol College, Oxford as a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, completing an M.Phil in International Relations (with Distinction) and D.Phil. She won a Junior Research Fellowship at New College, Oxford (1990-1992) and subsequently taught at Harvard University (Government Department) before taking up her Fellowship at University College, Oxford. She has served as an Advisor to the IMF Board, the UNDP’s Human Development Report, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government.
Other activities include: World Economic Forum GAC Chair; member of the IMF European Regional Advisory Group; Rhodes Trustee; member of the Advisory Group of the Center for Global Development (Washington DC) and the Board of the Overseas Development Institute (London); editorial board of the series Cambridge Studies in International Relations; advisory boards of: Prospect (a British monthly); The Round Table: Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs; Demos (the British policy think-tank); the Journal of Global Social Policy; International Relations of the Asia Pacific; the Link Foundation for UK-NZ Relations; and Governor of the Ditchley Foundation.
(photo © John Cairns)

TORCH | The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities

The University of Oxford is home to an impressive range and depth of research activitie...

Journey of a Molecular Detective; David Sherratt

The Facts Facing the UK's Future: A Colloquium at The Queen's College

Politics and International Relations Podcasts

Podcasts from the Department of Politics and International relations and its centres. ...

Annual Oxford Fulbright Distinguished Lectures in International Relations

Alumni Weekend

The annual Oxford University Alumni Weekend aims to showcase the Collegiate University ...

Leaders for the world's future - The Rhodes Trust

Rhodes Scholars and friends of the Rhodes Scholarships speak about global challenges an...

Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative

Podcasts of lectures and seminars held at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Init...

Global Economic Governance Programme

The Global Economic Governance Programme was established at University College in 2003 ...

Global Economic Governance: Globalisation and the Financial Crisis

Title	Description	People	Date
Live Event: The World After CoVid	TORCH Goes Digital! presents a series of weekly live events Big Tent - Live Events! Humanities and Policy Week Part of the Humanities Cultural Programme, one of the founding stones for the future Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.	Ngaire Woods, Peter Frankopan	13 October, 2020
Round Table Discussion and Questions	Round table discussion, chaired by Ngaire Woods, founding dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and professor of Global Economic Governance at the University of Oxford.	Ngaire Woods	10 January, 2018
Causes and Consequences of Growing Inequality - and what can be done about it	Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz discusses the growing levels of inequality in societies like the United States and Britain, why inequality is a problem, and how the levels of inequality can be reduced.	Joseph Stiglitz, Ngaire Woods, Andrew Hamilton	2 April, 2015
Causes and Consequences of Growing Inequality - and what can be done about it	Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz discusses the growing levels of inequality in societies like the United States and Britain, why inequality is a problem, and how the levels of inequality can be reduced.	Joseph Stiglitz, Ngaire Woods, Andrew Hamilton	6 June, 2014
Alumni Weekend in Asia 2014: Does the 21st Century belong to Asia?	Will this be the Asian Century? Four leading voices from Oxford University debate this motion, moderated by the Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes.	Ranna Mitter, Linda Yueh, Ngaire Woods, Peter Tufano, Chris Patten	2 May, 2014
Can Democracy and Human Rights be internationally imposed by armed force?	Professor Sir Frank Berman, Professor Ngaire Woods and Ambassador R. James Woolsey discuss human rights at the Rhodes House 110th Anniversary event.	Sir Frank Berman, Ngaire Woods, R. James Woolsey	29 October, 2013
Governing the 21st Century: Oxford's new Blavatnik School of Government	With a generous donation from Len Blavatnik, the new Blavatnik School of Government has been set up. Professor Ngaire Woods explains the history and progress of this bold and high-profile new school.	Ngaire Woods	21 October, 2011
Governing Climate Change After Copenhagen	Ngaire Woods chairs a panel discussion looking into the political, economic and environmental consequences of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference last year.	Ngaire Woods, Sir David King, Cameron Hepburn	12 April, 2010
Ngaire Woods, introduction to the International Community's Response to Haiti	Ngaire Woods talks about the international community's humanitarian response to the Haitian Earthquake. Part of a series of presentations entitled 'The International Community's Response to Haiti'.	Ngaire Woods	9 April, 2010
The International Community's Response to Haiti	Series of presentations looking at the international community's humanitarian response to the Haitian earthquake.	Ngaire Woods, John Mitchell, Paul Sherlock, Laurence Whitehead	9 April, 2010
The UN's role in Overcoming Development Challenges	Special Lecture given by former Prime Minister of New Zealand and now Administrator of the United Nations Development Program the Rt Hon. Helen Clark. She is introduced by Director of the Global Economic Governance Program, Professor Ngaire Woods.	Helen Clark, Ngaire Woods	11 March, 2010
Globalisation and the Financial Crisis - Summary	Final part of the podcast series, summarising what was discussed in the series, including what globalisation is, what caused the current financial crisis, what it means for developing countries and what can governments do to ensure it doesn't happen again	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
What does the Financial Crisis mean for Developing Countries?	Where does the credit crunch leave developing countries? In this podcast, Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward and Jeni Wharton discuss the impact of the current financial crisis on the developing world and the G20's responsibility towards developing countries.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
Credit Crunch Global recession why/when/what?	Ngaire Woods, Jeni Wharton and Christina Ward discuss why institutions are pushing toward greater financial regulations in order to prevent another global recession.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
History of Key Institutions IMF/World Bank/G8/G20 - What Why When?	Ngaire Woods, Jeni Whalen and Christina Ward discuss some of the key institutions and groups who are responding to the financial crisis.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
Global Governance and Regulation - why?	In this podcast, Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward and Jeni Whalen discuss the causes of the current recession and asks why governments, financial regulators and banks failed to act responsibly and how we can act now to prevent the next financial crisis.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
Globalisation and the effect on economies	Second part of the Globalisation and the financial crisis series. Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward and Jeni Whalen discuss what Globalisation is and how governments around the world have adapted to it.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
Introduction to globalisation and the current financial crisis	Ngaire Woods introduces the podcast series on globalisation and is place in the current financial crisis - outlining some of the questions they will be discussing.	Ngaire Woods, Christina Ward, Jeni Whalen	17 December, 2009
Economics: Poised to Change?	First panel discussion on 'Economics and the Idea of Justice'. Discussing questions such as Do we need a new economic framework? And should economics change fundamentally in light of the financial crisis?	Ngaire Woods, Sabina Alkire, Avner Offer, Angus Richie, Amartya Sen	3 December, 2009
Weaknesses of the Current System	Second panel discussion on 'Economics and the Idea of Justice'. Discussing questions such as do we need a new economic framework? And should economics change fundamentally in light of the financial crisis?	Ngaire Woods, John Broome, Stefan Dercon, James Purnell, Amartya Sen	3 December, 2009
Power Shift in the Global Economy	The 2008 Oxford University Society Lecture in which Professor Woods talks about the shift in Global Economic Power from private companies in the developed world to national companies in developing countries.	Ngaire Woods	22 September, 2009