Foreign Service Officer
US Agency for International Development (USAID), Worldwide
USAID Asia Regional Mission, Bangkok, Thailand Aug 2023 – Present
Sustainable Energy and Safeguards Lead
Oversee a team of five experts and manage a $77 million portfolio of energy, environment, and water resources management programs
Lead a novel public-private partnership with four Southeast Asian oil and gas companies to reduce methane emissions
Orchestrate U.S. delegations to high level annual events such as the Asia Clean Energy Forum in Manila and the ASEAN Energy Business Forum
USAID Power Africa, Washington DC & Pretoria, South Africa Apr 2017 – July 2023
Energy Access Lead
Managed a $21 million annual clean energy budget and a team of three experts, in effect achieving first-time electricity access for 100+ million sub-Saharan Africans
Devised strategic partnerships with Mastercard and 36 private energy companies, helping them access new markets and reach “last mile” customers with life-changing energy solutions
Delivered affordable, reliable energy to 230 rural health clinics to power ventilators and other critical health services during the Covid-19 pandemic
Developed a first-of-its-kind playbook to help energy developers in Kenya derisk power projects though improved community engagement
USAID Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia Sept 2013 – April 2017
Deputy Director, Democracy and Governance
Oversaw a team of seven experts and a $70 million assistance portfolio focused on rule of law, elections, good governance, civil society strengthening and independent media
As Chair of the U.S. Embassy’s Democracy and Governance Working Group, coordinated efforts among different U.S. agencies, developed a mission-wide strategy, and led planning for U.S Congressional visits to Georgia’s Parliament
Led U.S. efforts to counter violent extremism and ISIS recruitment in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge, in partnership with local community organizations
USAID Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan Aug 2012 – Aug 2013
Sub-National Governance Advisor
Managed a $270 million municipal governance initiative that enabled mayors in 34 Afghan municipalities to improve urban service delivery
Improved quality of life for urban populations through improved infrastructure and community dialogue, thus contributing to conflict stabilization
Served as the U.S. government’s liaison with Afghanistan’s Independent Directorate of Local Governance
USAID Angola, Luanda, Angola Dec 2010 – June 2012
Economic Growth Lead
Forged a financial inclusion partnership with the Central Bank of Angola to provide banking services to lower income households
In partnership with Chevron’s corporate social responsibility arm, revived Angola’s dormant coffee and banana sectors, in turn creating new supply chains for Lavazza and Chiquita
Designed a $47 million program that creatively leveraged malaria and HIV/AIDS funding to strengthen the service delivery and advocacy skills of Angola’s nascent civil society