Duncan Wood, Ph.D., is a globally recognized expert on international affairs, North American cooperation, and strategic supply chains. He is the CEO of Hurst International Consulting LLC and previously served as President of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles.
With over three decades of experience spanning academia, think tank leadership, and civil society engagement, Dr. Wood has shaped public discourse on issues ranging from trade and energy to critical minerals and geopolitical risk.
Dr. Wood has held senior positions including Vice President for Strategy & New Initiatives at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., where he also directed the Center’s Mexico Institute. He has advised governments, corporations, and multilateral institutions on economic competitiveness, sustainability, and regional integration. A political economist by training, he has authored 13 books, numerous reports and op-eds and frequently provides commentary in English and
Spanish-language media.
Originally from the U.K. where he received his BA (hons) in Politics from Leicester University, Dr. Wood earned his M.A. at McMaster University and his Ph.D. in Political Studies from Queen’s University in Canada. He spent almost two decades in Mexico as a professor at the Mexican Autonomous Institute of Technology (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México or ITAM) and continues to promote cross-border collaboration through his consultancy work. He was also the co-owner of a speakeasy in Mexico City.
A passionate advocate for smart policy, inclusive dialogue, and evidence-based solutions, Dr. Wood has testified several times before the U.S. Congress as well as the UK Parliaments and contributed to policy reforms in multiple countries. He has ongoing projects with the World Economic Forum and is a board member of several civil society organizations. His current work focuses on the intersection of energy, technology, and national security in the Americas.