Jillian Popkins

Chief Commissioner

Jillian is an international development professional, with a career focusing on poverty and social justice. She has worked for the UK government, international organisations, and leading NGOs in the UK, Ethiopia and China, where she has held a range of executive, policy and programme management roles.   

Jillian began her career in international development with the Voluntary Service Overseas, teacher training in rural China.  She then worked in policy, advisory and leadership roles at the UK’s former Department for International Development (now part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), before moving to lead UNICEF’s social policy work in China.  

More recently, she has held executive positions for UK-based NGOs and been an independent consultant, advising government and global organisations on gender equality and social inclusion.  She is currently a Trustee of the Baring Foundation.