Holly Welborn Benner is the World Bank Group (WBG) Country Manager for Qatar, based in Doha.
Ms. Benner has over 20 years of experience promoting development solutions for countries facing complex transition and reform-related challenges. Prior to this role, Ms. Benner served as the World Bank’s Resident Representative for Jordan, where she focused on promoting inclusive and sustainable growth and job creation in alignment with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision.
Ms. Benner joined the World Bank in 2009 as Coordinator for the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development and then served in the WBG’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, including as Manager for the State- and Peace-Building Fund. Ms. Benner also worked in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region, leading on operations and analytics on conflict-recovery in Ukraine and programs in Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic that combined energy infrastructure with community-based development.
Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Benner managed a project on the reform of the multilateral system at the Brookings Institution and served in the U.S. Embassy in Nepal and in the U.S. Department of State’s Office for Reconstruction and Stabilization.
Ms. Benner holds a Master’s Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado College.