Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Selected Publications and Thought Leadership
Hobbies and Interests
Languages
Recommendations (LinkedIn)
Websites
References
Timeline
Generic
Dana A. Jensen

Dana A. Jensen

Bedford,NY

Summary

Dynamic leader with extensive experience driving strategic planning and international standards adoption across Middle East North Africa and the Caribbean. Proven track record in stakeholder engagement and capacity building, successfully managing high-impact initiatives and fostering multilateral partnerships to enhance market integrity and investor protection.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of Engagement, MENA & the Caribbean | Senior Manager

International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
New York, NY
12.2016 - Current
  • Serve as strategic advisor to IFAC leadership and standard-setting boards on outreach priorities, regional strategy, and global positioning across 40+ member organizations across Middle East North Africa and the Caribbean.
  • Increased membership by 17% and jurisdictional coverage by 36% (2019–2024) through tailored engagement strategies.
  • Elevated IFAC PAO Development Advisory Group (PAODAG) into a global thought leadership platform, shaping strategic planning frameworks, and expanding its influence across emerging markets.
  • Forged strategic alliances with regulators, multilateral organizations, and PAOs, driving alignment with international standards and enhancing the profession's public interest role in investor protection and market integrity.
  • Lead team comprising one direct report and 22 PAODAG volunteer experts to deliver flagship tools such as the IFAC Strategic Planning Toolkit and Value Proposition Framework.
  • Manage nominations processes including interviewing and assessing PAODAG candidates.
  • Lead membership pipeline, readiness assessments, and formal evaluations submitted to Board and Council.
  • Produce and present regional insights reports, such as Dashboard Reports and the MENA Adoption Insights Report, advancing adoption of international standards.
  • Spearhead Islamic Finance thought leadership with global partners (e.g., World Bank), producing the Islamic Finance Hub on IFAC.org and convening global roundtables.
  • Conceptualize and deliver high-profile regional events.

Regional Manager, MENA & the Caribbean

IFAC
New York, NY
02.2014 - 12.2016
  • Led capacity-building initiatives under DFID-funded programs and led outreach aligned with IFAC Compliance and Membership Program.
  • Develop regional diagnostics (Dashboard Reports) published on IFAC website and guided member organizations across 30+ jurisdictions in fulfilling IFAC membership requirements.
  • Spearhead tailored interventions to advance readiness of aspiring member organizations.

Associate

IFAC
New York, NY
03.2011 - 02.2014
  • Support operations of Compliance Program and IFAC Membership Committee, including data collection and assessment coordination.
  • Manage and maintain MOSAIC website, a World Bank-funded global initiative aimed at enhancing donor coordination for PAO development.

Policy Coordinator

United Nations (Mines Action Service)
New York, NY
01.2010 - 02.2011
  • Conduct research on institutional vulnerabilities in post-conflict zones.
  • Liaise with Saudi Permanent Mission on global policy coordination.

Education

M.Sc. - Neuroscience

Columbia University
New York, NY

B.A. - Psychology

Catholic University of America
Washington, DC

Fellowship - Islamic Finance

Prince Sultan University
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Skills

  • Strategic planning and execution
  • Capacity building and technical assistance
  • Multilateral and government relations
  • Stakeholder and donor engagement
  • International standards adoption
  • Public policy and advocacy
  • Program management

Selected Publications and Thought Leadership

  • Unleashing the Potential of Islamic Finance: Global Perspectives on Achieving the SDGs
  • Strategic Planning Toolkit for Small and New PAOs: Global Launch

Hobbies and Interests

  • International travel
  • Athlete (USTA Tennis & CrossFit)

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Native/ Bilingual
French
Professional

Recommendations (LinkedIn)

IFAC Leadership

  • Praised by IFAC leadership for advancing global strategy and stakeholder alignment across MENA and Caribbean regions (Stathis Gould, IFAC Director).
  • Recognized for elevating PAODAG’s global influence through strategic leadership and regional engagement (Scott Hanson, IFAC Director).

IFAC Staff

  • Praised for collaborative leadership and creative problem-solving in global strategy execution and talent development (Jia Ling Adrian Lim, Principal, IFAC).
  • Acknowledged for stakeholder engagement expertise and project management excellence, ensuring high-quality deliverables across member organizations (Sarah Gagnon, Senior Manager, IFAC).

Stakeholders

  • Recognized by IESBA leadership for advancing adoption of the IESBA Code of Ethics and fostering stakeholder alignment across diverse perspectives (Rania Uwaydah, IESBA Board Member).
  • Commended for visionary leadership and strategic influence in driving PAO development and capacity-building in the Caribbean (Denise Chinipre O'Reilly, CEO, K.S. Chinipre Contracting).
  • Commended for exceptional leadership, vision, and fostering impactful collaborations in the global accountancy profession (Dr. Roger Loutfi, Former Secretary General, LACPA).

References

References available upon request.

Work Type

Full Time

Work Location

On-SiteRemoteHybrid

Timeline

Head of Engagement, MENA & the Caribbean | Senior Manager

International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
12.2016 - Current

Regional Manager, MENA & the Caribbean

IFAC
02.2014 - 12.2016

Associate

IFAC
03.2011 - 02.2014

Policy Coordinator

United Nations (Mines Action Service)
01.2010 - 02.2011

M.Sc. - Neuroscience

Columbia University

B.A. - Psychology

Catholic University of America

Fellowship - Islamic Finance

Prince Sultan University

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