Shannen Nicole Chua

MPS in Global Development, 2021-22
  • Hometown: Manila, Philippines
  • Colleges attended and degree earned: Ateneo de Manila University: Bachelor of Science in Management, Major in Legal Management, Minor in Finance
What are the big challenges you want to tackle in the world?

A big challenge I want to tackle is the protection gap of many countries (and vulnerable communities) against shocks resulting from natural disasters. For many countries, natural disasters cause a strain on a government’s fiscal balance, loss of human capital, reduction of economic activity and growth, and increased poverty. The immense negative impact is emphasized when large-scale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 for the United States, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 for the Philippines occur. Whether the natural disaster is severe or not, these all add up and puts pressure not just on the government's fiscal balances, but even on the financial capacity of many vulnerable communities.

What were you doing before the MPS program?

Prior to starting my MPS program, I worked at the Bureau of the Treasury. While at the Treasury, I handled various climate and disaster risk finance programs and non-financial asset management initiatives. A key project of mine under the disaster risk finance program was the Philippine-Sponsored Catastrophe Bond.

I likewise took part in various fundraising activities such as the issuances of Retail Treasury Bonds (domestic), the Samurai Bonds, and the Panda Bonds.

What does global development mean to you?

Global Development is a multi- and inter-disciplinary approach to understanding development in a variety of contexts, each unique to a society. Global Development allows one to look into sample cases of addressing problems/challenges from one country and understanding how it can be adapted to be implemented to another. Global Development makes use of knowledge and information across several disciplines to arrive at effective, adaptable, and living (not static) solutions for various global and local challenges.

How do you envision the MPS program contributing to your career?

I believe the MPS program can equip me with the necessary knowledge and experience to help my government in crafting policies and programs that can enhance the country's physical, social, and financial resilience against climate and disaster shocks.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I knit and crochet for fun. I've made many crochet toys and was even able to have a book published on it!

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