Linda Jones
Manager, International Centre for Women's Leadership

Dr. Linda Jones joined the Coady International Institute in 2011 to head up the International Centre for Women’s Leadership and build its programs. She came to the Coady from her senior management position at the prestigious Aga Khan Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, following several years with Canadian NGO MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) where she was Technical Director.

Linda is a well-known authority on women’s economic empowerment with extensive implementation experience in Asia and Africa including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania among many others. She has contributed to the overall advancement of the development industry through positions such as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the SEEP Network, Editor of the Enterprise Development and Microfinance Journal, Founder and Chair of Women Advancing Microfinance, Canada, and Advisor to the Eurasia Foundation on women’s entrepreneurship.

Linda has published extensively in the field of women’s economic development but takes the most pride in her practical work to develop capacities and programs in the global south. In addition to designing and leading innovative and successful empowerment projects, Linda has been a facilitator/trainer with the Southern New Hampshire University and the International Labour Organisation among others. Linda holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology, a post-degree diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies, and managed an international multi-disciplinary research Centre at the University of Waterloo.