Catherine Simonet is a Research Associate in the Risk and Resilience team. She is a development economist with research interests in climate change adaptation, environmental and economic vulnerability, climate information and resilience.

Her previous work has centred on adaptation in the Least Developed Countries and the impact of climate shocks on economic development and climate vulnerability. She holds a PhD in Development Economics from the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales (CERDI), France, and has previously worked for the French think tank Foundation for International Development Study and the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC). Her country experience is focused on sub-Saharan Africa in countries including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, and in Pacific countries including Tonga and Polynesia.