Elsie Addo Awadzi has been awarded the inaugural Women in Public Leadership Fellow at the Blavatnik School. This new Fellowship seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in public leadership, particularly in critical domains like economic policy, regulatory reform, and crisis management.
The former Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs Addo Awadzi is a seasoned leader with 30 years of experience in economic policy, financial sector development and regulation, law and finance, both in Ghana and internationally.
During her year as a Fellow, Mrs Addo Awadzi will work on a range of projects drawing from her existing leadership and policy skillset. She will develop a teaching case on key issues affecting the international financial architecture, deliver guest lectures, and lead a masterclass on public leadership for current MPP students; mentor a number of MPP and MSc students, particularly women, on leadership pathways and maintaining a balance between personal and professional life; and design a pilot initiative to support women in senior public sector roles in Africa to foster greater diversity in decision-making and drive stronger governance outcomes.
Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School said:
“Elsie is a trail-blazing public leader from Ghana with deep expertise in economic governance and financial sector development, who has led major public initiatives, including cleaning up Ghana’s financial sector following a crisis that highlighted the need for stronger oversight and governance. She has led public sector organisations and greatly improved their efficiency, has been a trusted advisor to Ministers and Governors, and has mentored women working in public finance across the African continent. We are delighted to welcome Elsie to the School.”
Mrs Addo Awadzi said:
“This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to engage with the School’s academic community to advance thought leadership and practical insights in governance and public policy, drawing on my professional experience across diverse disciplines, systems, and cultures.
“I look forward to a year of rigorous intellectual engagement, meaningful collaboration, and shared learning. The Blavatnik School represents an extraordinary environment of academic and professional excellence under the dynamic leadership of Professor Ngaire Woods. I am deeply grateful for the privilege to contribute in some measure to its mission: a world better led, better served, and better governed.”
At the Bank of Ghana, Mrs Addo Awadzi oversaw financial institutions regulation, supervision, and stability, and was a member of the Board and member of the Monetary Policy Committee. She represented the Bank on numerous national and international boards. Previously, she was Senior Counsel at the IMF, advising member countries on banking reforms, crisis management, and fiscal governance, and taught courses for IMF member-country officials globally.
Mrs Addo Awadzi is a Blavatnik executive education alumna, having participated in the School’s Executive Public Leaders Programme.
