Palesa Shipalana’s research portfolio focuses on public finance management and fiscal policy, regional integration with a particular focus on financial sector integration, infrastructure finance and economic development policy. Previously she worked as an economist in the South African public sector for 10 years focusing on macroeconomic policy analysis, public finance management/fiscal policy, public entities oversight and management, provincial economic planning and turnaround strategies, and on various policy reform programmes in the pensions and medical schemes sector. She also worked for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange focusing on capital markets developments and financial markets integration in Africa. She holds a Masters in Commerce in economics from Wits University and an LLB from the University of South Africa.