Francesca Brown

Francesca Brown is Director of Policy at Women’s World Banking, where she leads global policy advocacy to advance women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. With over 25 years’ experience at the nexus of policy, financial inclusion, and international development, Francesca advises policymakers worldwide on creating inclusive policies that truly impact women’s financial lives.

Previously, Francesca was Head of Global Community Programmes at Standard Chartered Bank, launching the flagship Futuremakers initiative for economic inclusion, establishing the Standard Chartered Foundation, overseeing NGO partnerships combatting avoidable blindness, and developing a robust impact monitoring framework. She also served as a Trustee for Quaker Social Action, an NGO supporting those affected by poverty in the UK.

At the UK Department for International Development (now FCDO), Francesca led as Head of Profession for Private Sector Advisors and as the financial inclusion lead, representing the UK at the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion and co-chairing the G20 Sub-Group on Standard Setting Bodies. She also managed a £50m international programme to enhance cross-border payments and create innovative financial products in conflict-affected countries.

Earlier, she held senior public affairs roles at Standard Chartered, engaging with the G20, B20, and World Economic Forum. Her career began in regulatory advisory at Standard Chartered, Royal & Sun Alliance, and Deloitte, where she supported regulatory reforms and spent time at the UK Financial Services Authority developing a new UK customer protection framework.

Francesca holds a Masters in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and a degree in Economics from Durham University, UK.