It is very difficult to describe in words the contribution of Perran Penrose over the 40 years of work as development economist and practitioner. Perran has had an impact on all facets of development work.

As a practitioner he was advisor to governments in several countries around the globe, managed two consultancy groups, worked in senior positions for NGOs as well as served on NGO boards.

His contribution to knowledge and intellectual discourse was as remarkable. Perran designed courses for, and taught in, distinguished academic institutions such as the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the Dubai School of Government, the Maastricht Graduate School of Government, the National Chenchi University in Taipei, the Centre of Financial Management Studies (CeFiMS) in the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, for which he directed short executive courses, including the Budget Reform Executive Programme and wrote the CeFiMS distance learning module for the MSc degree in Public Finance Management. He had also been a Visiting Fellow in the University of East Anglia and an Associate of the Cambridge University Centre for International Business and Management in the Judge Management School. He designed innovative courses and tutored numerous executives in international agencies such as the European Commission, the Swedish International Development Agency and the African Development Bank.

What stood out above all was the combination of his personal and professional integrity and his incredible charisma as a mentor and teacher. We at 4Assist had the benefit and privilege to have known him. He was our mentor and advisor, always enthusiastic to help and advise us on every aspect of our work.

We shall miss Perran greatly but we shall always be driven by his guidance and ideas that will never be forgotten.