Business approaches to development sector challenges promise faster, more scalable, and sustainable outcomes - overcoming the longstanding problems of more traditional approaches that were overly reliant upon aid
Resilient Design
Stemming from my first job working in Ghana to my formative time with the Peace Corps in the South Pacific, my career in international development has been shaped by a need to understand how natural resources, climate change, and conservation platforms will impact communities and biodiversity in the future. I believe development policies should ensure that healthy ecosystems, the basis for long-term prosperity, are not sacrificed for short-term economic gains. By integrating a resilient systems approach to development and responsible management of the ecosystems that support local economies, programs can become more cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable. Further, assistance programs should support developing countries in gaining capacity to meet economic and environmental objectives without costly trade-offs.
Supply/Value chain dynamics
Quantitative/ qualitative data collection
Strategic marketing
Photography and graphic/web design
Social impact branding
Business development
Technical research and design
Oral presentations and briefings
Written reports and analysis
Project appraisal and evaluation
Technical Skills and Capacities
Climate change adaptation strategies
Vulnerability and risk assessments
Social and environmental impact assessment
ESG Safeguards and due diligence
Environmental policy/management
Payment for ecosystem services
Natural resource management
Community needs assessment (PACA)
Stakeholder engagement
Gender-based risks
Recent Role(s)
Adaption and Resilience Advisor, Department of State Overseas Building and Operations Bureau (2019-Present)
Devised the initial concept and structure for the Climate Security and Resilience (CS&R) initiative for OBO. Technical Advisor tasked with guiding OBO staff on climate risk management through review/oversight and integration of work products developed for the CS&R Program; guidance on policy development; assessment and integration of climate risk to OBO’s assets and operations throughout the standard project life-cycle; development of risk-based prioritization to inform global portfolio planning; and acts as OBO’s CS&R Expert, providing industry expertise while explaining the significance of the program and its outcomes to OBO stakeholders.
Resiliency Consultant, USAID, AECOM, Architecture and Engineering (A&E) IDIQ (2014-2015). Educated USAID staff and climate adaptation practitioners on climate resilient infrastructure under the A&E IDIQ by developing climate change framework methodology and training on the use of vulnerability and risk assessments and selection of adaptation strategies.
Development Articles
The refugee threat: Dialogue on Syrian refugees and security in Iraq
The culture-development nexus: Critique of the U.N.'s response to the 2000 flooding in Mozambique
Is there a solution for genocide: Reflection on Daniel Jonah Goldhagen's final chapter in Worse than War
The forgotten girl soldiers of Uganda
A missionary's perspective on 'refugeeness' and rights
Sri Lanka's undeclared war
Cholera prevention proposal: Mock health and humanitarian project for tackling the outbreak of cholera in Haiti following the earthquake of 2010
Project Management Plan: Water, sanitation, and agriculture project in the Pader district, Uganda
Program Performance and Impact Evaluation: Afghanistan alternative development program/northeast region (ADP/N)
Do we still need the World Bank
Business Articles
External debt and growth in Pacific Island Countries
Culture and "doing business" in the South Pacific
MBA Capstone: AECOM AID rebranding strategy
The Olympus scandal 2012: Exposing ethical issues in consulting practice
Working the Guanxi: Exploring why some see the guanxi as a cultural obstacle to ethical business practices