Dave Fernandez is an economist with over three decades of experience at the intersection of public policy, private capital, and academia. His career began in public service with formative roles at the U.S. Federal Reserve and in the Office of the President. In 1998, Dave transitioned to the private sector, relocating to Southeast Asia, where he embarked on a 20+ year career in investment banking.

Dave has remained deeply committed to academia throughout his career. After obtaining a BA at the University of Pennsylvania (where Robert S Mariano was his mentor) and a PhD from Princeton University (where Ben S Bernanke was his dissertation advisor), he held full-time faculty positions at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Singapore’s Sim Kee Boon Institute (SKBI). Currently, he serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Financial and Monetary Economics at the University of the Philippines School of Economics.

In 2014, during a visit to Palawan, Dave was profoundly inspired by the work of Ugat ng Kalusugan and the impact it has on improving the health and well-being of the Philippines’ youth and women. A decade later, Dave is honored to join the team and contribute his expertise to help the organization reach new heights.