Catherine A. Novelli

Catherine A. Novelli
Name	Catherine A. Novelli
Occupation	Lawyer, diplomat, trade official, academic
Alma mater	Tufts University, Yale Law School

Catherine A. Novelli

Catherine A. Novelli is an American lawyer, diplomat, and trade official who served as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. She has held senior roles in United States Department of State, Office of the United States Trade Representative, multinational corporations, and academic institutions, and has worked on matters involving World Trade Organization, United Nations, European Union, and bilateral relations with countries such as China, Japan, and Brazil.

Early life and education

Novelli was educated at Tufts University and earned a Juris Doctor at Yale Law School. Her early affiliations included internships and clerkships linked to entities such as United States Congress, United States Senate Judiciary Committee, and regional organizations in New England. During her studies she engaged with programs associated with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and legal clinics connected to American Civil Liberties Union initiatives.

Career in law and international trade

Novelli's legal career included roles at law firms and corporate legal departments interacting with institutions like International Chamber of Commerce, World Intellectual Property Organization, and the United States International Trade Commission. She worked on trade policy and intellectual property matters involving Toyota, General Electric, Apple Inc., and other multinational firms, while collaborating with regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission. Her expertise connected her with policy dialogues at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

United States Department of State service

At the United States Department of State, Novelli served as Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, coordinating with counterparts in United States Department of Commerce, United States Department of the Treasury, and the United States Agency for International Development. She represented the United States in engagements with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and G7 and G20 ministerial meetings. Her portfolio encompassed energy diplomacy with actors like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Norway, environmental initiatives with European Commission and Environmental Protection Agency, and trade- and investment-related diplomacy interfacing with the World Trade Organization and bilateral partners such as Mexico and Canada.

Post-government career and consultancy

After government service, Novelli joined think tanks and consultancies collaborating with organizations like the Brookings Institution, Atlantic Council, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She provided advisory services to corporations and non-governmental organizations including Microsoft, IBM, Pfizer, and environmental NGOs such as World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy. Her consulting work addressed issues that brought her into contact with regional institutions such as the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and national governments including India and South Africa.

Academic roles and teaching

Novelli has held academic appointments and guest lectureships at universities and programs including Georgetown University, Columbia University, Harvard Kennedy School, and Yale School of Management. She has participated in seminars and courses connected with Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and the London School of Economics. Her teaching and mentoring extended to students and professionals affiliated with Fulbright Program, Rhodes Trust events, and fellowship networks such as Marshall Scholarships and Fulbright Scholars.

Publications and public speaking

Novelli has written and spoken on topics published in outlets and forums like Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Project Syndicate, and industry platforms associated with Bloomberg and Reuters. She has delivered keynote addresses at conferences organized by World Economic Forum, Milken Institute, Aspen Institute, and academic symposia at Georgetown, Columbia, and Harvard. Her public commentary often engages with topics discussed at events such as the United Nations General Assembly, COP climate conferences, APEC meetings, and ministerial gatherings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Category:American lawyers Category:American diplomats Category:Yale Law School alumni