Clay O’Brien has worked as an Advisor on Financial Inclusion, Microfinance and international development for over two decades, currently as Chief of Party for World Vision Myanmar. He was also based in Myanmar from 2019 to 2021, initially to take up the role as CEO of a Microfinance Institution.

Clay’s previous positions include: Managing Director of AYANI Inclusive Financial Sector Consultants; 18 months in Indonesia running an Agricultural Finance project; as the Senior Sector Specialist for Financial Inclusion at AusAID/the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and various roles with the global microfinance network, Opportunity International. In addition, he is a director of Good Return and South Pacific Business Development and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Australian International Development Network.

Prior to that he was the CEO of an investment bank, ING Barings, and began his career as a lawyer with Allens in Sydney and Singapore. Clay holds a Masters of Economics and a Bachelor of Law (with Honours). He has also published articles on financial inclusion topics in technical journals.