UCL Connect: How to... Work on the Global Stage

Nisreen Farhan

Chief of Public Affairs at IMF (International Monetary Fund)

Nisreen has been working as an Economist and Communications Expert at the IMF since 2001. She is currently Chief of Public Affairs, responsible for the IMF’s engagements and communications with external stakeholders. Prior to this, she was an Advisor on Digital Transformation, focusing on automation of work processes and integration of IT tools with business capabilities, based on better knowledge and content management. Nisreen also has solid IMF experience in economic policy making in countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, including spillovers, economic vulnerabilities, IMF finances, and macroeconomic policy management. Nisreen graduated with a BSc in Economics and Statistics from UCL in 1993. 

Natalie Kwok

Program Manager at Meta (Facebook)

Natalie graduated from UCL with a Bachelor of Art & Sciences in 2015. She currently serves as a Program Manager of Meta (Facebook) in the Greater China region. Prior to Meta, Natalie was a management consultant specialising in corporate strategy and operations for multinational institutions across APAC. 

Alistair Lobo

Tax & Economic Growth Lead at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Chief Operating Officer at Future Leaders Network

Alistair studied Philosophy and Economics at UCL, graduating in 2012.  Alistair now works for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as the ‘Tax and Economic Growth Lead’, in a team that partners with countries to raise, and manage, their public finances more effectively and equitably.

Alistair’s route into the Civil Service was via HM's Treasury graduate scheme, where he worked on spending issues and then the UK's G20 and G7 policy.  He has also worked on crisis response teams; on Brexit and on the global economic response to COVID-19. Before HM Treasury, Alistair taught in Ghana, analysed social welfare schemes for the Govt of Goa, India, and worked for an international development consultancy.

Outside of the Civil Service he is Chief Operating Officer of the Future Leaders Network (FLN), which aims to discover and develop the next generation of social, political and economic leaders.  Alistair’s passions are international development, youth empowerment and socioeconomic diversity; as well as football and spoken word poetry.

Fabiana Maglio

Senior Specialist in Education and International Development (previously at UNICEF)

As a Senior Education Expert, Fabiana has a proven track record in designing and managing large-scale research programmes and policy initiatives related to education, gender equality and social justice. Following almost a decade working as Expert for the Italian Development Cooperation Agency - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fabiana served as senior consultant for UNHCR and UNICEF.

Fabiana graduated from IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society with an MA in Education, Gender and International Development in 2015.

Catherine Casale (Chair)

Careers Consultant at UCL Careers

Catherine is a Careers Consultant at UCL Careers, working with undergraduates, post-graduates, and alumni. Many of these clients are from outside the UK or wish to work globally. She brings an international perspective to her work having lived in four countries. Prior to UCL she worked in a variety of roles and her most interesting ones required negotiating between the values and priorities of the head office and the local country.