Rachel McCarthy

Chief Operating Officer

MSc, BSc

Rachel McCarthy is an accomplished international development professional with over a decade of experience leading large-scale business transformation and strategic economic initiatives across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. As a senior leader within the organization, she plays a pivotal role in shaping strategy, overseeing operations, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-impact development programs.

Her career spans a wide range of sectors, including investment promotion and attraction, export development and trade facilitation, SME development and entrepreneurship, special economic zones, legal and regulatory reform, agriculture and rural development, tourism, and innovation. Rachel has collaborated extensively with international funding institutions such as the World Bank, European Commission, and African Development Bank, providing both technical and strategic support throughout all phases of project lifecycles.

Previously, Rachel served as Head of Direct Projects at International Development Ireland (IDI), where she led a global team of project managers and was instrumental in delivering complex, multi-country programs. Her expertise in stakeholder engagement, risk management, and performance oversight has been critical to the success of initiatives in countries including the UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Bahrain, Kosovo, and Turkey.

Rachel holds an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from University College Dublin, a BSc in International Development and Food Policy from University College Cork, and a diploma in Accounting and Finance from Dublin Business School. She is a PRINCE2-certified project management professional who combines technical knowledge with practical leadership to drive sustainable economic outcomes across emerging markets.