Meredith Walker is a Global Economist and Head of Prize Advancement for XPRIZE—the world leader of international prize competitions that achieve radical breakthroughs for humanity, thereby launching profitable businesses, innovative industries, and revitalized markets.
Ms. Walker has over 25 years of experience conducting economic research on global issues and building international relationships to deliver innovative solutions. She activates a worldwide network of visionary leaders to provide the multi-million-dollar prize purses that incentivize teams to solve complex problems. A public speaker and published author, she delivers positive, proactive messages on economic growth, transformational technologies, and entrepreneurial, market-driven, cross-sector solutions to global problems in security, sustainability, and resilience.
Ms. Walker is a Fellow at the SMU Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity and a member of the National Association for Business Economics. She serves on the Board of Councilors for the EastWest Institute and is a member of Business Executives for National Security, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Board of Directors Alumni, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum Leadership Council. She is the America’s Future Series Advisory Board Chair and Megellas Award Trustee.
Prior to joining XPRIZE, Ms. Walker served as Chief Economist for EarthX, an international environmental forum, and led fundraising efforts for multiple non-profit organizations. She began her career as an economist at the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and New York and an international business consultant.
When asked what motivates her to do impact work, Ms. Walker said, “Through inclusive innovation guided by concern for environment and equity, we can work together to build a better future for all.”
Ms. Walker completed her MS in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and held a Chinese language and area studies fellowship. She holds a BA from The University of Texas at Austin Plan II liberal arts honors program with a double major in Economics, minors in Asian Studies and French, and interned at the Pentagon and State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary. She is committed to international bridge-building for a better, safer world.
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