UNESCO-IOC is pledging to coordinate a global and regional assessment of capacity development needs in the field of marine scientific research and ocean observation in developing nations and SIDS, leading to the formulation and implementation of a global capacity development strategy to fill identified gaps.

UNESCO: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

He served as Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at Paramount Pictures and also ran Global Wireless Strategy and Business Development for the digital media division at Microsoft Corporation.

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The website said his expertise was in "Global Business Development, Sales, Global Account Management, Global Leadership and Global Strategy Deployment" and listed his education as a degree in international economics from York University in Toronto, an MBA from Paris and some training at the London School of Economics.

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But in a global economy based on knowledge, based on innovation, no development strategy can be based solely upon what comes out of the ground.

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As head of strategy and corporate development, he is in charge of mergers and acquisitions, venture capital relationships and global strategic alliances.

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