Frances Donald is a Canadian-born economist and the Chief Economist of Manulife Financial,[1] Educated at Queen's University and New York University she is a sought-after commentator on global economic conditions.[2] In 2019 she was recognized as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100.[3]
Donald was born in Montreal and attended school at the CEGEP John Abbot College.[4] She obtained her Bachelor of Economics from Queen's University in 2008. Donald worked as a research analyst for the Bank of Canada before attending New York University where she earned her master's degree in economics in 2010.[5]
Prior to joining Manulife, Donald worked as a financial economist for Scotiabank in Toronto, and before that as a global macro analyst for Pavilion Global Markets in Montreal.[6] Her early experience included various positions at Deloitte and Roubini Global Economics.[citation needed]
She joined Manulife in 2016 as a senior economist working to become Head of Macro-Economic Strategy in 2018. In 2019, at age 33 she became the youngest Chief Economist in Canada and one of only two women to hold the title in Canada.[7]