Dr Karishma Banga

Karishma is a Lecturer in Digital Economy at King’s College London. She is also a Digital Trade Policy Advisor at the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network, UK. Her research explores the implications of Industry 4.0, digital trade negotiations, and Global Value Chains (GVCs) for socio-economic development. She has worked extensively with international organisations, including the UNECA, UNCTAD, Commonwealth Secretariat, and the WTO.

Karishma’s research has been widely published in high-impact journals. It has also informed policy discussions at the UK Government, African Union, OECD-G20 working groups, and other global institutions. Her work has been featured across several major media outlets such as BBC World, BBC Africa, and The Conversation.

She is currently working on a book examining the uneven impact of digital trade on economic development, with a focus on India, South Africa, and Indonesia.

Career highlights

• Serves as a Digital Trade Policy Advisor at the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network, UK.
• Holds a PhD in Development Economics from the University of Manchester and an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
• Presented research to high-level policymakers, including the Chief Economic Advisor of India, the African Union, the OECD-G20 working group, and the UK Government.
• Held research positions at the Institute of Development Studies (Brighton), ODI (London), and the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (Geneva).
• Published extensively in highly reputed journals such as The Journal of International Economic Law, The World Economy, Review of Development Economics, European Journal of Development Research, and Journal of International Trade & Economic Development.
• Her digitisation research has been published in media outlets including BBC World, BBC Africa, Voice of America, South China Morning Post, and The Conversation.