Helena Hofbauer earned a BA in International Relations at El Colegio de México, and an MA in International Peace Studies, at the University of Notre Dame. Helena worked on refugee issues and human rights in Mexico before becoming the founding Director of Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación, one of the leading budget groups around the world. Helena worked on health and budgets and transparency, at the same time of engaging in the development of comprehensive budget advocacy strategies throughout Mexico and the Latin American region. At the beginning of 2007 she joined the International Budget Partnership as Manager for Innovation and Partnership Development. Helena is based at IBP-Mexico City, and works with groups throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the development of capacities for civil society budget work and a South-South transfer and sharing of knowledge in the field.