Karen Maguire

Karen Maguire is a Head of Division managing the OECD’s Local Employment and Economic Development Programme in the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities. The Programme provides data, policy analysis and capacity building to national and subnational governments in the areas of local economic development, local actions for employment and skills, the social economy and culture, among other topics. She also oversees the OECD Local Development Forum, a stakeholder network of thousands of local development practitioners from around the world. The Programme supports the implementation of the OECD Recommendation on Global Events and Local Development as well as the OECD Recommendation on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation. Over the last 17 years at the OECD, she has authored numerous publications on local development. Prior to joining the OECD, Maguire worked as an investment banker for UBS in New York, an international consultant in economic development, and a research analyst for the Urban Institute in Washington, DC. She holds a BA in economics and sociology from the University of Chicago and an MPP from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.