Professional Experience

Regional Programme Coordinator for Digital Transformation, Europe/North America

UN Environment Programme — Geneva • 2024–Present
  • Shaped regional contributions to UNEP’s Global Environmental Data Strategy, engaging U.S. government, tech sector, NGOs, and academia.
  • Contributed to flagship reports including the UNCTAD Digital Economy Report (2024), UNEP’s Digital Technologies for Environmental Peacebuilding (2024), and Digital Public Infrastructure for Environmental Sustainability (2024).
  • Explored technical partnerships with ESA, NASA, ISO, OGC, IEEE, Apple, Microsoft, and Google; coordinated grant proposals with Google and EU partners.
  • Represented UNEP in 25+ international forums (WSIS+20, AI for Good, Global Digital Compact), embedding environmental priorities in digital governance.
  • Developed UNEP Europe’s digital transformation strategy and produced UN guidance aligning digital and environmental goals.
  • Contributed environmental content to the Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 process.

Global Programme Coordinator for Digital Transformation

UN Environment Programme — Nairobi/Geneva • 2021–2023
  • Represented UNEP in the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and on the Executive Committee in the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES).
  • Coordinated and launched the CODES Action Plan for a Sustainable Planet in the Digital Age.
  • Published the monthly CODES newsletter reaching 16,250+ subscribers.
  • Managed UNEP’s Digital Champions network of 500 staff and delivered 24 digital discovery sessions with 3,000+ participants.
  • Established partnerships with Microsoft (Environment-GPT), UN System Staff College, and GIZ.
  • Advised on financing, impact reporting, and innovation priorities.

Head of the UNEP Digital Transformation Task Force

UN Environment Programme — Nairobi/Geneva • 2020–2021
  • Managed a US$2.5M budget and 25 members.
  • Co-designed UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work for Digital Transformation (2022–2023).
  • Advised the Executive Director and Senior Management Team.
  • Contributed to the UN SG’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and Roundtable on Digital Public Goods (2020).
  • Launched AI for the Planet annual conference showcasing the best environmental applications of AI
  • Co-led the development of Earth School together with Ted-Ed providing 1 million students educational quests during COVID 19.

Head of Policy and Innovation, Crisis Management Branch

UN Environment Programme — Geneva • 2016–2020
  • Formulated policies to prevent conflicts driven by natural resources, environment, and climate change.
  • Co-developed the STRATA platform for climate security analysis, co-developed the UN Biodiversity Lab and co-directed the MapX environmental platform for spatial data.
  • Raised ~US$20M; advised on digital innovations for field operations in 10 countries.
  • Substantive contributions to the UN-Science Policy Business Forum including co-authorship of major policy report on a Digital Ecosystem for the Environment.
  • Member of the organizing committee for the first International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine.

Head of Programme, Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding

UN Environment Programme — Geneva • 2008–2016
  • Managed a global US$17M programme and expert team across 26 countries.
  • Co-founded the Environmental Peacebuilding Association; delivered a MOOC (25,000+ participants).
  • Co-authored 8 UN policy reports and 6 academic publications demonstrating thought leadership.
  • Co-coordinated an international research programme involving 250 experts resulting in six books containg 150 research papers.
  • Supported the drafting of critical resolutions within the UNEP Governing Council (Res.26/15).
  • UNEP representative within the UN-EU Partnership on Land, Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention.

Policy and Planning Coordinator, Post-Conflict Branch

UN Environment Programme — Geneva • 2005–2008
  • Designed and reported against the annual workprogramme for the branch
  • Served on the Senior Management Team; raised US$50M+ for operations.
  • Designed recovery programmes in 20+ countries.
  • Supported the drafting of critical resolution within the UNEP Governing Council (Res.22/1/IV).
  • Assisted the Office of the UN Secretary General in drafting the annual statement on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

Afghanistan Project Coordinator, Post-Conflict Assessment Unit

UN Environment Programme — Geneva • 2002–2005
  • Led field missions on conflict-related environmental impacts.
  • Raised US$5M; contributed to establishing Afghanistan’s Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Managed a national capacity building programme and international training team.

Environmental Expert

UNOPS — Geneva • 2000–2002
  • Conducted missions in Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia.
  • Supported the production and publication of seven UN environmental reports.

Early Career Experience

  • Project Manager, Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting — Canada (1998–2000): Developed a photopoint monitoring system in protected areas.
  • Aquatic Research Assistant, Sagana Fish Culture Farm — Kenya (1997): Conducted cost-benefit analysis for aquaculture.
  • Technical Advisor, Government of Canada / Province of British Columbia (1993–1997): Supported policy on forestry, land use, and treaty negotiations.