Jodie Thorpe has over 20 years of research, policy and strategy experience related to the societal role of business and economic activity, particularly in the food and agriculture sector. This research has also explored partnerships between value chain actors, and between these actors and the state.

Across Jodie’s work, her emphasis is on understanding the interplay between policy interventions, contextual conditions and the societal outcomes that emerge from these.

Jodie has an MSc in Comparative Politics (LSE) and is currently completing a PhD (Wageningen) based on her work to date.

In recent years, Jodie’s work has increasingly focused on economic governance structures and processes, including alternative models intended to advance economic justice. Her work is informed by realist and systems thinking, and she is currently involved in projects to identify and enhance the systemic effects of agricultural value chain governance and development projects for IDH and for Heifer International. She is also actively engaged in IDS’s work on trade and development. Her advisory experience includes work with FCDO/DFID, GAIN, IFAD and OSF. Prior to joining IDS, Jodie was a Private Sector Adviser at Oxfam GB, and a Director at SustainAbility, a global think-tank and strategy consultancy on business risks and opportunities for sustainable development. She led SustainAbility’s Emerging Economies programme, working with businesses and organisations in Brazil and India.

Teaching

Jodie co-convenes the MA Globalisation, Business and Development. She also lectures on the Business as a Development Actor module, and tutors students on research design. In the past she taught on IDS specialist short courses on Making Trade Policy Inclusive and Transform Nutrition.

Office Hours: 14:00-15:00 on Wednesdays during term time, room 235. (Walk-ins welcome).