In her address to the IIEA, Kirsty McNeill MP, UK Minister of State for International Development, will discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities facing international development policy. She will explore the UK's approach to development cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, including the role of international partnerships, multilateral institutions, and responses to major global crises. The discussion is also expected to consider the growing links between development, climate action, and international security.

Kirsty McNeill is the Scottish Labour and Co-operative MP for Midlothian and was appointed Minister of State for International Development in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 21 July 2026. In her ministerial roles, she has responsibility for: Africa; development and humanitarian; international finance; and climate and energy security. She was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland in the Scotland Office between July 2024 and July 2026. Before entering Parliament, McNeill was an Executive Director at Save the Children, leading work on global health, education, poverty, and humanitarian issues, and earlier served as an adviser to former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. She has also held a number of leadership and advisory roles across public policy, international affairs and civil society.

This lecture is part of the Development Matters series, which is kindly supported by Irish Aid.