Dr Roli Asthana

Biography

Dr Roli Asthana was the Development Counsellor and Head of DFID China. She took up this role on 10 August 2017.

Previously she was Deputy Head and Head of Development Partnerships in DFID India, leading DFID’s National, State, Multilateral and Civil Society Partnerships & grant Programmes on Economic Growth, Governance, Health & Nutrition, Education, Urbanisation, Water & Sanitation and Women & Girls.

She has worked in a variety of roles in DFID for 14 years covering countries and regions in the Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South-East Asia and Central Asia.

Dr Asthana is an Economist by profession. Prior to joining DFID, Dr Asthana was an academic and has taught at the London School of Economics as well as the University of East Anglia. She has spent most of her working life in London, and is currently posted in Beijing.