Katherine (Katie) Meighan is the Chief Legal & Governance Officer of IFAD since 2017.

As part of the senior management team, she sets IFAD’s strategy to double impact for the rural poor while scaling up investments in resilience, private sector lending, and IT for development. She leads complex initiatives including amending IFAD’s Articles to enable private sector lending and in attaining IFAD’s historic AA+ credit rating (as the first UN fund to be rated). In addition to her legal and governance role, Meighan served as the Fund’s acting Chief Financial Officer (2022 – 2023) and acting Associate VP for External Relations and Governance (2024). During this time, IFAD issued its inaugural bonds and achieved the highest replenishment in its history.

Prior to joining IFAD, she worked for the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), and as Assistant General Counsel. Katie served with IFC in Washington, Buenos Aires and Istanbul, working on investments in emerging markets and debt restructurings. Previously, Meighan practiced law at a global firm in Washington and Paris on capital markets and international projects for financial institutions.

She holds degrees in law and economics from the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary, respectively. She speaks French, Italian and Spanish.