Mark Ahern was appointed Program Leader for economic issues in West Bank and Gaza in June 2015. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Ahern was a Lead Public Sector Specialist based in the Jakarta office working on public financial management.

He is familiar with the Palestinian program as from 2008 to 2012 Mr. Ahern worked here as the Governance Advisor in his first role with the World Bank.  Before joining the Bank, Mr. Ahern spent eight years with the IMF in a range of developing and transition countries.  He is originally from New Zealand where he worked with the New Zealand Treasury for 15 years including three years as the Budget Director overseeing the preparation of the New Zealand Government’s budget.