Emma Thomas is the Head of Corporate Strategy and Impact for UK Export Finance, the UK’s Export Credit Agency and a ministerial government department. Her responsibilities range from overseeing strategic risk, fiscal events, and the annual planning cycle, to pioneering a new approach to better understand, evaluate and communicate the impact of UKEF’s support across economic, environmental and social outcomes.
Emma previously led the Green Trade Strategy team at the Department for International Trade where she played a leading role shaping the Government’s policy to end support for fossil fuel projects overseas and spent time leading a Commonwealth initiative for the UK Government based in South Africa. She has also held policy roles at BEIS and the Ministry of Justice. Prior to joining the UK Government, Emma worked for a development consultancy focused on fragile and conflict-affected states where she managed the delivery of a programme in Somalia. She also spent a short period living and working in Laos for an iNGO.
Emma has a MSc in Violence, Conflict & Development from SOAS, where she wrote her thesis on service delivery and state legitimacy in Somalia, and a BA in Art History & Spanish from UCL. She is passionate about tackling society’s most complex challenges and empowering others to deliver positive change that has real-world impact.
In her free time, Emma enjoys writing, visiting art galleries, going to the theatre, and being active.