Minoli Ratnatunga is an economist dedicated to helping communities prosper. Her work at think tanks, nonprofits, and public institutions aims to inform and improve decision-making. 

Minoli brings her curiosity and research skills to the firm’s engagements with mission-driven organizations, acting as both a source and a sounding board to leaders thinking through complex strategic choices. She draws upon her experience gathering input and distilling information to help organizations better understand and address critical issues. 

Enthusiastic about the impact of mission-driven entrepreneurship, Minoli started her career at Social Enterprise London, a small nonprofit that aimed to build capacity in the social business sector in the U.K. Two decades later, she continues to support cross-sector collaborations that take novel approaches in creating community benefit.

Before joining the firm, Minoli led the regional economics research group at the Milken Institute. Her work focused on the strategies and best practices that create prosperity, including the economic role of universities. She regularly reached out to policy makers and the media in cities around the US to help them understand and use her findings. 

This connection to local practitioners was driven by Minoli’s own experiences in economic development; for eight years, at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, she analyzed and advanced policy solutions to improve Pittsburgh’s competitiveness and quality of life. Minoli led their economic impact practice, conducting in-depth studies for nonprofit and industry clients. 

Minoli continues her pursuit of pragmatic and effective policies to spur economic renewal as a fellow with Heartland Forward.

Minoli loves a good debate, sidewalk cafes, and exploring the world with her family.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Two years in the public sector helping the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging with long-term planning, coalition building, and stakeholder consultation as a FUSE Corps executive fellow and trusted advisor to senior management.
• Rapidly built and streamlined internal systems to help Los Angeles County efficiently provide essential food support to more than 10,000 vulnerable older Angelinos during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Partnered with civic leaders to identify barriers to local economic prosperity and developed data-driven recommendations that resulted in positive changes to state policies.

Credentials

• Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University
• Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from the London School of Economics