Senior Management

Philip Palmedo, Chairman of the Board of Directors, founded International Resources Group in 1978 and, as Chairman and CEO, managed IRG's growth to become an internationally recognized professional services firm. Dr. Palmedo has more than 30 years of experience in energy research, policy analysis, and the design of technology based economic development. He was formerly head of the Energy Policy Analysis Division at Brookhaven National Laboratory and President of the Long Island Research Institute. PhD, Nuclear Engineering, MIT; BA, Physics, Williams College.

Asif M. Shaikh, President and CEO, is a widely recognized authority on the links between economics, governance, and rural production systems, as well as on environmental policy, poverty alleviation and population. A frequent lecturer at universities and international forums on the development challenges of societies in transition, Mr. Shaikh has experience in more than 35 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and North America. MA, Economics, Columbia University; BA, Economics, Yale University. Languages: French.

Benjamin S. Farrah, Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has over 20 years of experience working in a government contractor environment. He served as the chief financial officer and treasurer for an international software engineering firm and an information technology services firm, and he worked for several years as an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency, where he received the 1985 Special Service Award. MT, George Washington University; BS, Accounting, Christopher Newport University.

Doug Clark, Corporate Vice President and Director, Environment and Natural Resources, has more than 30 years of experience in international economic development, including 27 years with USAID. Mr. Clark's former positions include chief of party for the Environmental and Natural Resource Policy and Training project; associate mission director for agricultural resources, USAID/Egypt; and director of the Office of Technical Resources, USAID/Thailand. MPS, International Development, Cornell University. Languages: Thai.

Timothy R. Knight, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Relief and Reconstruction, is a recognized authority on crisis and conflict/post-conflict management and disaster relief. Over a 25-year period, he has organized responses to complex situations in more than 50 countries. Mr. Knight formerly served as assistant director of USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, overseeing emergency assistance and reconstruction programs in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. From 1993 to 1997, he managed the US government’s $240 million humanitarian assistance program in former Yugoslavia. He also served as chief of staff for the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Languages: Spanish, French, and Croation.

Matthew S. Mendis, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Energy and Environmental Management, is internationally recognized for his work in promoting the development, innovative financing, and implementation of alternative energy and greenhouse gas mitigation projects in developing countries. Formerly with the World Bank, Mr. Mendis continues to advise the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UN Development Programme, USAID, and other bilateral development agencies. In over 25 years, he has acquired expertise in more than 40 developing countries around the world. MA, Natural Resource Economics, University of Maryland. Languages: Indonesian, French and Spanish.

Cynthia K. Pflugh, Corporate Vice President and Director, Business Development, has 20 years of international development experience. Since serving with the Peace Corps in the mid-80s, she has focused on marketing, recruitment, corporate communication, and other business information systems design and implementation. She has field experience in Asia and Africa. Graduate coursework in Political Science, Organizational Development, and Information Systems; BA, International Relations, US International University.

Alain Streicher, Vice President, Energy and Environmental Management, is an internationally recognized expert in energy efficiency and the private power industry. He previously served as a Senior Partner at PA Consulting in the Strategy and Marketing division. He was also COO and a Board Member of Hagler, Bailly, Inc., of which he was a co-founder in 1980 and previously CEO of the company's international development subsidiary, Hagler, Bailly Services. Additionally, he served as the chairman of the International Power Forum, an organization of private US power companies active overseas. MS, Scientific Management, Ecole des Mines, Paris; MS, Physics, University of Grenoble; BS, Economics, University of Grenoble; BS, Physics and Chemistry, University of Orleans, France. Languages: French, Spanish, Thai, Italian and Laotian.

Thomas Wheelock, Vice President, Infrastructure, Relief and Reconstruction, previously served as IRG's chief of party for USAID's Emergency Relief and Reconstruction project in Iraq. He also managed the agency's initial $1 billion Implementation Plan and the $1.8 billion Construction Contract. Mr. Wheelock is an internationally recognized power and infrastructure specialist with over 30 years of experience in the US and throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. Prior to joining IRG, Mr. Wheelock served as the Managing Director, Europe, for Howard Energy, responsible for developing projects in electric distribution, gas distribution and marketing, and power generation. He was General Manager of Trakya Elektrik, a JV that financed, built, and operated the first internationally financed private power plant in Turkey. MPA, Harvard University; BS, US Military Academy. Languages: Russian.

Sylvia Megret, Principal and Recruitment Systems Director, has 15 years of experience in recruitment systems, proposal development, and project implementation for USAID and other donor-funded programs. Prior to joining IRG in 1999, Ms. Megret served as Project Specialist with the USAID-funded POPTECH project, overseeing the planning and management of complex consulting assignments for the design and evaluation of USAID's worldwide reproductive health programs. Ms. Megret has worked in Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, and France. MA, International Development, American University; BA, University of Michigan, Political Science. Languages: French.

Russell Misheloff, Principal and EPIQ II Deputy Manager, is an environmental economist with more than 30 years of experience in managing and implementing programs related to strategic planning, assessment of environmental and natural resource policy and management options, and institutional strengthening. He previously served as IRG’s deputy manager and policy advisor on the USAID-funded Environmental Policy IQC. Mr. Misheloff’s past experience includes work as environmental economist and program manager in USAID’s Office of Environment and Natural Resources. MA, Economics, American University; MA, International Relations, University of Pennsylvania. Languages: Spanish.

Technical Experts

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Joan Ablett, Communications Director, has 25 years of experience in development assistance, media and government relations. Ms. Ablett specializes in the design and implementation of public affairs programs, international crises strategies, media outreach and writing and editing publications. Most recently, Ms. Ablett helped launch the USAID signature road project in Bandeh Aceh, Indonesia. From 2003-2005, she served as USAID's Public Affairs Officer at its Afghanistan Mission, where she developed and managed an information strategy to promote the US foreign assistance program. MEd, Education, University of British Columbia, Canada. Languages: French.

John C. Acree, Senior Manager, has 17 years of experience in the design, implementation and management of development, relief, and humanitarian assistance programs. Specializing in emergency response, food aid, and mitigation situations for post-conflict and disaster prone areas, he has extensive field experience in the Middle East, Central Asia, Central America, and Africa. Mr. Acree has represented IRG and USAID in senior level positions serving the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Albania, and as Senior Manager of Albania's Emergency Management Group during the Kosovo refugee emergency. MA, International Public Administration, Monterey Institute of International Studies. Languages: Spanish.

Anthony Anderson, Chief of Party, Amazon Basin Conservation Initiative (ABCI), has 33 years of experience as a program leader, ecologist and tropical botanist. Dr. Anderson has worked and lived in the Amazon region for decades, developing, implementing, and monitoring and evaluating tropical forest ecology, natural resources management, and indigenous affairs programs. Dr. Anderson has managed conservation and development projects, promoting economic incentives for conservation on private lands in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. PhD, Ecology University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; MS, Tropical Botany, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Brazil. Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English.

Glen Anderson, Senior Manager, has extensive professional expertise in environmental policy, strategic planning, and institutional strengthening in developing and transitional countries. Dr. Anderson has worked in senior consulting positions for USAID, the World Bank, and OECD-funded programs and is an IRG senior policy advisor under the EPIQ II contract. Recently, he worked in Romania on USAID projects dedicated to conducting analyses of the financial and environmental costs of natural disasters, reducing agricultural pollution, and strengthening environmental management. PhD, Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin at Madison.

David E. Bailey, Economic Advisor (Middle East), has over the past 15 years, served in many positions of responsibility in the field that include Chief of Party and Technical Advisor. His activities focus on the design, development, implementation and evaluation of numerous private sector economic development projects as well as the promotion of entrepreneurial ventures in the Middle East, Central Europe, Asia and Africa. Sub-specialty areas include the incorporation of information and communications technology into economic development strategies and private sector development in transitional and unstable countries. MA, History, Virginia Polytechnic and State University.

Saeed Barhaghi, Senior Manager, Energy and Environmental Management, has 30 years’ experience in the energy sector as a senior engineer and energy analyst. Dr. Barhaghi has extensive technical knowledge of energy markets, integrated resource planning and power system simulation modeling, renewable energy, demand-side management, and emissions markets. He has developed renewable portfolio standards and investigated multiple planning studies for policy assessment and MARKAL modeling for greenhouse gas initiatives, and served as a senior regulatory staff member for Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission. PhD, Civil/Environmental Engineering; MS, Aeronautical Engineering; BS, Civil Engineering.

Charles Benjamin, Senior Manager, has 20 years of experience in natural resource management and program management with extensive experience in more than 15 African countries. Dr. Benjamin is an expert in rural livelihoods, institutional development, natural resource management, and program conceptualization, design, and management. For nearly six years, he served as Country Director of the Near East Foundation in Morocco, where he led rural development projects designed to enhance livelihoods, promote sustainable natural resource management, and strengthen rural civil society. PhD, Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan. Languages: Arabic, French.

Romeo Bernal, Disaster Management Coordinator, is an agronomist with 14 years of experience in project management, rural development, and risk assessment in Central America. Mr. Bernal served IRG as a Mitigation Plan Specialist in El Salvador for the Municipal Disaster Mitigation Project. In this capacity he provided technical assistance in identifying geological and hydrological hazards and incorporating risk management criteria and planning in the local development process. Prior to his work with IRG, Mr. Bernal acted as Risk Management Specialist for CARE International. BA, Agriculture, University of El Salvador. Languages: Spanish.

Regina Brown, Chief of Party, Accelerated Growth and Increased Competitiveness (Senegal), has 33 years of experience as a banker, diplomat, and business development and financial management expert in Africa and the Middle East. Ms. Brown's former positions include Chief of Party for USAID's East and Central Africa Global Competitiveness Hub in Nairobi, deputy assistant secretary for economic and business affairs for Africa at the US Department of State, and development and financial banker for private sector projects. MPA, Economic Development, Harvard University; MBA, Finance, Northeastern University; MA, French and African Literature, Boston University; MS, Library Administration, Simmons College. Languages: French, Portuguese.

Christian Burren, Forestry Specialist, has over 15 years of experience in international forestry management. He has worked to increase awareness of sustainable management in Rwanda, the Congo, and Madagascar, and facilitated the development of training programs for agencies such as the Swiss Disaster Relief and the International Tropical Timber Organisation. Mr. Burren specializes in the development, organization, and execution of community-based forestry management projects and the conservation of forest resources. BA, Forest Engineer, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. Languages: German, French, Italian.

Luis Castañeda, Chief of Party, Panama, is a seasoned project manager and watershed management specialist with over 20 years’ experience leading and directing watershed and NRM programs. Mr. Castaneda has been directly involved in improving and effecting change in public policy processes; developing and transforming institutions; and designing, evaluating, and negotiating rural sustainable development projects. Mr. Castaneda has worked on multiple projects modernizing, improving, and developing financial, administrative, and technical information management systems worldwide. MS, Management of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Costa Rica. Languages: Spanish, English.

Thomas M. Catterson, Team Leader, has over 30 years of international experience in environmental assessment, forestry, and natural forest management with particular strength in program/project management, design, and monitoring and evaluation. Since 1991, Mr. Catterson has worked in over 70 countries worldwide serving as division chief within USAID’s Office of Technical Resources, Africa Bureau, and as a team leader on dozens of natural resource projects. MS, International Forestry, State University of New York. Languages: French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish.

Dione Cottrill, Deputy Chief of Party (Nepal PEER) possesses over 12 years of experience implementing USAID programs in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. She has provided technical assistance and management oversight on a number of USAID activities in areas related to capacity building, training, grant and financial management, and monitoring and evaluation. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Cottrill served as the administrative and financial officer on several multi-million dollar contracts in Egypt. MA, Politics and Comparative Public Policy, University College Dublin, Ireland. Languages: German, French, and Spanish.

Nadia Dawood, Private Sector Advisor, has worked in the field of financial management and international trade with a concentration on emerging markets for more than 13 years. She is skilled in analyzing political and economic themes by country, and world and regional trends by industry as a means to drive investment and trade. Most recently, Ms. Dawood served as Director of Business Development for Iraqex, overseeing foreign business investments and transactions in Iraq. MA, International Economics and Trade, New York University; BS, Management and Marketing, Clarkson University. Languages: Arabic.

Philip J. DeCosse, Chief of Party, Nishorgo Support Project (Bangladesh), is a senior development professional with more than 15 years of experience, 11 of them with IRG. He has worked to improve environmental and natural resources institutions and practices in South Asia, Africa and Latin America by focusing principally on environmental impact assessment, co-management, economic analysis, performance assessment and monitoring, and policy analysis. Mr. DeCosse has long-term experience working in Bangladesh, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and The Gambia. MS, Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin at Madison. Languages: French, Spanish, and Wolof.

Michelle DeFayette, Training Manager, has worked for more than 15 years in training design, facilitation, and intercultural communication and management with nonprofit organizations and the US government. She specializes in staff training programs for disaster assistance including emergency operations and planning, cross-cultural communication, and development. She was formerly Director of Training for the National Association of Community Action Agencies and Training Specialist for the Peace Corps. MA, International Communication, American University. Languages: Portuguese.

Sinikka DeHanas, Senior Manager, is an international development professional with extensive project, financial, and contract management experience. Ms. DeHanas possesses 15 years of US-based experience in the management of USAID-funded natural resources, water and coastal resources, agribusiness, SME and training projects. She has extensive experience coordinating field operations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Newly Independent States. Previously she worked with private industry companies residing in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. MA, Managerial Economics, University of Oklahoma; BS, Business Economics, University of Tampere, Finland. Languages: Finnish, Swedish, French, German, and basic colloquial Farsi and Arabic.

Pascal (Pat) DeLaquil, Principal, Energy and Environmental Management, is an internationally recognized expert in the development, commercialization, and market introduction of clean, renewable, and energy efficient technologies. Dr. DeLaquil has been actively involved in this field for over 26 years in the US and over a dozen developing countries. He is widely recognized for his work to commercialize biomass, solar, thermal, photovoltaic, and small hydropower technologies. Dr. DeLaquil has developed significant expertise using MARKAL models for the analysis of renewable energy commercialization strategies. PhD, Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

John (Dick) Dumford, Senior Power Engineer, has nearly 40 years of experience designing and managing large domestic and international engineering projects, specializing in the oil and gas industry. He has worked as a project manager in Europe and the Middle East, including five years working on remote village electrification of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. Mr. Dumford was a corporate instructor for a course on design and construction project management, and he served as a corporate management analyst, developing a power generation system economy program. BS, Engineering, University of Miami.

Peter DuPont, Chief of Party, ECO-Asia, has more than 20 years' experience working on sustainable energy development programs in Thailand and throughout Asia. He specializes in the design, implementation, and evaluation of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Dr. du Pont serves as Secretariat for the APEC Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation and is an Adjunct Professor in Energy Policy at the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment in Thailand. PhD, Energy and Environmental Policy, University of Delaware; MPH, Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Berkley. Languages: Thai, French.

Charles K. Ebinger, Senior Energy Advisor, brings 32 years of international experience in power utility regulation, the creation of regulatory regimes, institutional development for public power entities, and the restructuring and privatization of state-owned electric and natural gas companies. His unique career spans private, government, and multilateral service and consulting, as well as directorship of several prestigious energy and natural resources programs. Dr. Ebinger is often quoted in the trade press and public media, with guest appearances on such television programs as MacNeil-Lehrer, Larry King, CNN, C-Span, Moneyline, etc. PhD, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Jeffrey Fredericks, Water Resources Management Expert, has over 25 years of experience working on water resource and irrigation projects in Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. A registered professional engineer, he has worked on policy reform; national master plans; international transboundary agreements; basin modeling; project design, implementation and evaluation; and environmental assessments. Before joining IRG, Dr. Fredericks was deputy chief of party and water/environmental cluster leader on the USAID Central Asia Natural Resource Management Project and chief of party for USAID's EPIQ Egypt Water Policy Reform Program. PhD, Civil Engineering, Colorado State University. Languages: Indonesian, Russian, and Arabic.

Gary Goldstein, Senior Manager, has spent 28 years in the application, training, and development of complex energy databases and modeling frameworks. He has directly supported and trained researchers and policy-makers from more than 50 countries, as well as the USEPA, USDOE, and various US states, in the development, application and use of the MARKAL® energy, environment, and economic planning model. He formerly was team leader for the International Atomic Energy Agency's Department of Safeguards and researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory. MS, Computer Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook. Languages: German.

Thomas Gramaglia, Project Manager, has 17 years of management and technical experience in telecommunications and defense. Working for Lucent Technologies, the US Air Force Federal Contract Research Center, and a number of successful startup technology companies, he has managed and implemented complex telecommunications projects in the United States and overseas. Before joining IRG, Mr. Gramaglia was the director of a leading telecommunications research and consulting firm. MBA, Business Administration, Harvard University.

Pavan Gupta, IT Advisor, Relief and Reconstruction, is an expert in the design, implementation and management of information systems in secure environments. An active participant in proprietary and open technologies, he emphasizes secure and sturdy solutions. USAID, NASA, and the Department of Defense have retained his expertise to implement projects ranging from enterprise monitoring to employee tracking. BS, Biomedical Engineering.

Frederick Guymont, Civil Engineer, is a senior manager and engineer experienced in major infrastructure project design, implementation and operation that has led to increased economic growth, health and environmental improvements. Mr. Guymont has more than 20 years of experience working at USAID. Most recently, serving as Director of Office of Energy and Information Technology, he oversaw the development of programs to support presidential initiatives to increase access to energy and telecommunications through increased private sector investment. MBA, Harvard Business School; MS, Civil Engineering, Villanova University.

Robert Harvey, Forensics Firearms Examiner, has over four decades of experience as a chemist, special agent, and crime scene laboratory supervisor. He specializes in firearm, latent fingerprint, document, trace evidence, bomb and arson, photography, breath alcohol, and crime scene examination and investigation. Mr. Harvey served as an instructor for the US Department of Justice in the ICITAP program for seven years and through various other programs has trained hundreds of law enforcement personnel in the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Asia. BS, Biology, Washburn University.

John Heermans, Chief of Party, Agricultural and Natural Resource Management, (Senegal), has nearly three decades of experience in forestry, natural resource planning, and the development of forest-based enterprises. He brings to IRG a wealth of experience in community-based natural resource management and capacity building efforts from 15 African countries. BS, Forest Management, University of New Hampshire. Languages: French, Hausa.

Trias Hermanu, Information Systems Analyst, is a programmer with nearly a decade of professional experience in information technology. Mr. Hermanu possesses significant expertise in developing analytical models and databases. He has developed a number of computer models and systems for evaluation purposes. He has contributed tremendously to the incorporation of information technology tools into environmental performance analysis and evaluating ratings. MS, Faculty Engineering, Technical University of Delft, Netherlands. Languages: Indonesian.

Kelly Hewitt, Chief of Party, Increased Capacity for Energy Access in Bangladesh, is an energy regulatory specialist, attorney, and economist, who has led and managed emerging energy regulations, and policy reform programs and projects since 1990 in the US and throughout South Asia. Ms. Hewitt specializes in the design, management, and implementation of energy sector reform initiatives, including advising governments, local civil societies, and international donors on necessary market structure, energy regulatory reform, and best practices to attract private investment. JD; MA, Public Administration; MA, Economics.

John Higgins, Manager, possesses nearly a decade of professional experience providing overseas and US-based technical, financial, and administrative management to donor-funded development programs, including training and conflict management activities in Africa, central Asia, south and southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. He has a comprehensive understanding of working with funding agencies, international and local NGOS, PVOs, national and regional representatives, and local stakeholders. Through his work with IRG, Mr. Higgins has devoted particular emphasis to projects that are dedicated to improving disaster response and crisis management capacity that inherently contribute to the development of regional networks. BA, International Relations, Carleton College. Languages: Ilonggo.

Amit Jain, Managing Director, IRG Systems South Asia Pvt. Ltd. (IRGSSA), has 13 years of national and international experience working in energy and the environment on projects funded by agencies including USAID, World Bank, European Commission, Asian Development Bank, financial institutions, and the government of India. Mr. Jain has worked extensively in resource and policy planning, institutional strengthening, project financing, and capacity building. M.Tech, Engineering, Indian Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Technology (India); MBA, Asian Institute of International Business Technology (Thailand). Languages: Hindi.

Brian Jalbert, Senior Strategic Planner, has more than 30 years of civilian and military experience, including 13 years as a civil affairs planner and operator at the operational and strategic levels. He is familiar with the complex reconstruction efforts in the Middle East and served as Military Liaison Officer in the region. Mr. Jalbert has considerable communication and negotiating skills, which he gained in 30 years as a mental health practitioner and organizational consultant. MS, Rehabilitation Counseling.

Beauty Jiji, Institutional Development Specialist, is an institutional capacity building specialist with over 15 years experience working with smallholder sustainable agriculture and community based natural resources management, developing natural products producer schemes, as well as training project and partner staffs in various relevant development skills. Previously, Ms. Jiji was regional manager at a major NGO in Zimbabwe where she created multiple producer organizations and commodity associations that produced non-traditional crops and resulted in the turn around of the local economy. MS, Agronomy, Moscow Agricultural Academy, USSR. Languages: Russian, Shona, Ndebele, Nyanja/Chewa.

Jevie Joyner, Training Coordinator, is a trainer-facilitator with 25 years of experience in curriculum development, project management, research and analysis and auditing in the government and private sector. Her training work with USAID has taken her to 27 countries where she has taught over 600 participants. Ms. Joyner has also served as manager at several financial institutions monitoring and assessing compliance with federal banking laws and regulations. MS, Business Administration, Marymount University.

Alisia Kachmar, OFDA Training Specialist, has a decade of experience designing, facilitating and managing training and training-related systems. While working with OFDA, Ms. Kachmar has designed, facilitated, and evaluated courses for USAID, the Department of State, the Military, and partner organizations. Previously, she has served as a Training Contract Facilitator with the Peace Corps and as an English teacher with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Ms. Kachmar possesses extensive cross-cultural experience, and has spent significant time traveling, living and working abroad in over 20 countries. MA, International Training and Education, American University.

Jane Kahata, Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist, is a lead expert in environmental assessment and environmentally sound design of small-scale activities, including conservation and natural resources planning and management. She also has long experience working in protected area planning and management, project planning, design, appraisal, and monitoring and evaluation in Southern Sudan, Eritrea and Kenya. Ms. Kahata is the chief authority on African Wetland Management providing technical advisory assistance at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute and is actively involved in several national environmental task forces. MS, Resource Management, Edinburgh University, United Kingdom. Languages: Kiswahili.

C. Andrew Keck, Chief of Party (Madagascar), has 13 years of professional experience in international environmental management and sustainable development, specializing in project management, sustainable finance, climate change, and environmental economics and policy. He recently served as lead technical advisor on sustainable finance under PAGE, a USAID-funded assistance project in Madagascar. Under PAGE, he provided assistance to the government in formulating a long-term environmental financing strategy, as well as a wide array of specific environmental financing mechanisms, such as trust funds, the Clean Development Mechanism, and natural resource user fees. MEM, Environmental Economics and Policy, Duke University. Languages: French.

Stroud Kelley, Institutional Manager, has over 30 years of extensive private practice and public service experience, with expertise in regulatory, legislative, administrative, and commercial law, with a focus on management of public resources, oil and gas, and electricity regulation. He has served as a senior advisor in West Africa, the Caucasus, and Central and South Asia, working with national governments, United States embassies, USAID missions, and aid implementers supporting rule of law, democracy, and economic growth initiatives. JD, University of Texas.

Bruce Kernan, Chief of Party, Sudan, has more than 30 years of experience in sustainable environment and natural resources development. As a seasoned environmental assessment specialist and team leader, Mr. Kernan has prepared and evaluated dozens of programmatic environmental assessment programs in the Latin American and African regions. Mr. Kernan is an experienced team leader, with experience in 11 countries worldwide. MPS, Agriculture and Environment, Cornell University.

G. Krish Krishnan, Senior Manager, has 30 years of experience planning, licensing, designing, financing, constructing, and operating hydroelectric, nuclear, fossil-fuel, and water resource projects in over 25 countries. Krishnan has worked for USAID, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, US Department of Energy, NASA, US Department of Defense, World Bank, and the United Nations. MBA, State University of New York at Buffalo; MS, Land Reclamation and Hydraulic Engineering, Delft University (Holland); M. Tech., Hydraulic Engineering, and B. Tech., Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (India). Languages: Hindi and Tamil.

Satish Kumar, Chief of Party, Energy Conservation and Commercialization Project (India), is an energy efficiency expert with over 15 years of experience in public sector energy efficiency, measurement and verification protocol development, energy audit, and energy policy design and implementation. He has an extensive background in data acquisition and management, benchmarking, as well as information and outreach. Prior to joining IRG, Dr. Kumar served as the Chief Technical Advisor of the USAID/EPA-funded energy efficiency project in India, where he worked with state government officials in project design and budget allocation. PhD, Architecture, Carnegie Mellon. Languages: Hindi.

Anne Lewandowski, Senior Manager, has over 20 years of experience in designing, managing and evaluating natural resources and environmental projects and programs for USAID and the Inter-American Development Bank. Her recent experience includes serving as the deputy coordinator of the USAID-funded Environmental Policy and Institutional Strengthening (EPIQ) IQC, project development with Cuban environmental groups and coordination of a comprehensive disaster assessment for all seven countries in Central America. MS, Water Resource Management, University of Wisconsin at Madison. Languages: Spanish and Polish.

Simbarashe Mangwengwende, Electrical Power Utility Management specialist, has nearly 30 years of experience in electrical engineering and management, including more than 14 years as Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. He specializes in power sector reform; power system design, strategic planning, and operations; utility performance improvement; and general corporate management. His major achievements include the formulation and initial implementation of Zimbabwe’s electricity industry reform strategy and the establishment of the Southern African Power Pool. BS, Engineering; MS, Management of Technology. Languages: English, Shona.

Keith Marsland, Deputy Chief of Party, Liberia Emergency Power Program, is an expert in procurement, contracting and training. As a procurement manager in post-conflict Iraq, he was responsible for the design, engineering, and construction of the USAID residential and office compound in Baghdad. He requisitioned, evaluated, and awarded more than 200 construction and commodity supply contracts. MA, Education, William Carey College; BS, Workforce Education, Southern Illinois University–Carbondale.

James Martin, Country Coordinator, East Asia and Pacific Affairs, is an expert in promoting governance and business reforms in developing and emerging economies in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. For more than 20 years he served in various US diplomatic posts where he provided economic and political analysis to the US department of State. MS, Foreign Service; BA, Government. Languages: German, Uzbek, French, Russian, Thai, Arabic.

Nives Mattich, Senior Manager, has nearly ten years of experience addressing needs in complex emergencies including disaster assistance, conflict mitigation, post conflict reconstruction and community development. Her work in the Balkans includes serving as Country Representative for USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) in Macedonia where she was responsible for the design, development and implementation of OTI's Confidence Building Initiative (CBI). As Program Officer for USAID/OFDA's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Ms. Mattich managed a US $57 million humanitarian aid portfolio for Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania. MS, Social Psychology, London School of Economics; Diploma, Psychology, University of Zagreb. Languages: Serbo-Croatian and French.

Carl Maxwell, Environmental Manager, is a senior environmental advisor, and infrastructure management officer with over 30 years of international experience. He is an expert in the development of road construction, design, planning and maintenance of transportation systems including monitoring, coordination, and management of these activities. Recently, he worked for USAID in Iraq as Senior Infrastructure Management Officer involved in all stages of the management of infrastructure reconstruction and rehabilitation of southern Iraq. BS, General Engineering, University of Portland. Languages: Spanish, Arabic, Armenian.

Margaret Snyder McKay, Senior Manager, has nearly 20 years of international project experience in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Mrs. McKay currently serves as home office manager of two USAID-funded energy projects in Liberia—the Emergency Power Project (EPP) and the Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)—as well as the South East Europe Regional Energy Market Support Project. She has conducted assignments on a broad range of energy policy issues, including tariff analysis, regulatory policy, institutional strengthening, market design and reform, performance benchmarking, energy efficiency, and outreach. She is an accomplished manager of experts from diverse technical and cultural backgrounds. MA, International Commerce and Policy, George Mason University. Languages: French and German.

Katherine A. McNeil, Senior Manager, has 13 years of experience in risk management, disaster response, mitigation, and program management. Serving as chief of party of the IRG Technical and Administrative Support Contract with USAID's OFDA/LAC in Costa Rica, she was responsible for overall contract management and oversight, performing technical assistance activities, and immediate response actions, including leading teams, conducting damage assessment, and recommending appropriate US government emergency assistance. Ms. McNeil held the positions of advisor to the Minister of Foreign Trade and senior advisor to the Minister of Agriculture in Costa Rica. Languages: Spanish.

Robert C. Means, Electricity Advisor, is a public utility regulation and energy policy expert. He possesses more than 25 years of experience serving in these fields as a regulator, consultant, academic and author. As Director of the Office of Regulatory Analysis of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, he was instrumental in the substitution of competition for regulation in limiting the wholesale price of electricity. Dr. Means specializes in ratemaking methodology, renewable energy and establishing regulation boundaries. SJD and LLB, Harvard Law School. Languages: Spanish.

Stefan Medina, Program Officer, is a development professional specializing in strategic planning and donor coordination. Mr. Medina served first as Chief of Staff and then Deputy Director for Development Cooperation for the Council for International Coordination (CIC) in Iraq. He advised on the coordination of bilateral and multilateral donor activities, served as an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, and assisted with the creation of donor coordination mechanisms and strategic planning. Mr. Medina has a background in modern Middle Eastern political economy and is an international affairs analyst covering topics including U.S. National Security, globalization, Islamic fundamentalism and issues of national political identity. MA, Middle Eastern Studies, University of Chicago. Languages: Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Juan Carlos Méndez, Regional Director (Central America), is a natural resources policy and management specialist with over 20 years of experience in leading development programs related to international cooperation technical and financial programs in Central American countries. Until recently, Dr. Méndez was IRG's Chief of Party in Guatemala. He has managed financial resources and personnel in development programs on a public/government level, and for international cooperating agencies, including multinational financed programs from different concurrent sources. PhD, Agrarian and Rural Economic Development, Agriculture National Superior School of Montpellier, France. Languages: Spanish, French.

Laurie Navarro, Country Director (Philippines), has more than 20 years of experience in technical, financial, and market applications of renewable energy systems in the Philippines, and currently leads the implementation of several subcontracts from the Philippine Department of Energy/UNDP on Capacity Building to Remove Barriers to Renewable Energy in the Philippines. She served as national team leader for a UNDP project for the Development Bank of the Philippines and the World Bank-funded Rural Off-Grid Electrification Project in the Philippines. BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Santo Tomas (Philippines). Languages: Filipino.

John Pascal, Economic Advisor, is a senior economics advisor with over three decades of experience managing domestic and international capital markets projects. In Central and South Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe he has provided consultation services on the establishment of stock and bond markets, fixed income securities, business planning and valuations, equity and debt fund sourcing to governments and the private sector. Mr. Pascal has implemented a number of large-scale financial programs for USAID and the Asian Development Bank. BA, Economics, University of Notre Dame.

Douglas Pool, Senior Manager, has been designing, evaluating, and managing international development efforts in tropical ecology, agriculture, and forestry for more than 25 years. Mr. Pool's research and technical consulting have focused on the interaction of people with their resource base-ranging from studying Andean peasants who have colonized lowland Amazon forests to leading integrated rural development at the river basin level. His professional experience extends throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. MS, Agronomy, University of Florida. Languages: Spanish.

Tony Pryor, Senior Manager, is a widely recognized leader and development expert with more than 25 years of experience, including 18 years as a senior advisor, program designer, and leader in USAID procedural reforms. He developed many of USAID's programming tools and procedures and is one of the few individuals authorized to train USAID employees on programming policies. Mr. Pryor leads IRG in developing a new practice of knowledge management and development, a range of tools and approaches related to sharing, leadership, and teamwork. MA, International Economics, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Languages: French.

Barbara Rossmiller, Chief of Party (Cyprus), is an experienced financial manager with significant technical expertise in enterprise development, business analysis, strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation. She possesses more than ten years of experience working in developing countries and emerging markets, in large part on USAID projects. As a senior evaluator for the Management Training and Economics Education Project for Central and Eastern Europe, she was responsible for assessing and strengthening private sector growth projects and market economies. MBA, Business Administration, Duke University. Languages: Spanish.

Juan Pablo Sarmiento, Technical Manager, Support to USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assister/Latin America and the Carribean (based in Costa Rica), has more than 20 years of professional experience in risk management and disaster response in this region. Dr. Sarmiento specializes in the design and implementation of programs in mitigation, early warning, emergency response, damage assessment, needs analysis, temporary shelter, and environmental health. As a trained physician, he has evaluated health, nutrition, and social aspects after natural disasters. Languages: Spanish.

Ram Sharma, Protected Area Management Specialist (Bangladesh), is a natural resources economist and forester boasting a 20-year career in a broad range of forestry and natural resource programs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. He acted as Director of the Swedforest International program in India and has consulted extensively for the Sida, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. Post Doctorate Fellow, Resource Economics, Scottish Agricultural College; PhD, Resource Economics, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Edinburgh. Languages: Hindi, English, Bangla, Oriya, Sanskrit and Urdu.

Stephen Smith, Chief of Party, OFDA/LAC (Costa Rica), has more than 18 years of professional and consulting experience in environmental organizational management, strategy, and risk management issues. His international development experience has focused on emerging markets in Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe with significant experience in institutional strengthening. Mr. Smith has worked to establish public sector infrastructure consulting in Latin America and has developed and led strategic business positioning to access multilateral lenders such as World Bank, InterAmerican Development Bank, and USAID. MS, Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Languages: Spanish.

Kirsten Spainhower, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Relief and Reconstruction, is a natural resource management and rural development specialist and with experience consulting for the US Department of Agriculture, the World Bank, and USAID. She has in-depth knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods for assessing program design and implementation, and focuses on the improvement of program effectiveness and efficiency. MS, Forestry; BA, Environmental Studies. Language: French, Spanish.

Francine Steininger, Manager, has 16 years of international experience managing the technical and financial activities of energy and environmental projects in South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. She brings extensive experience in designing, implementing, evaluating and overseeing capacity building programs ranging from climate change issues and options, environmental management of industries, rural and renewable energy to industrial pollution prevention. MBA, Georgetown University; MA, Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University; MSc, Physical Geography, University of Oxford; BA, Geology, Columbia University. Languages: French, Spanish.

Eric Stephan, Knowledge Management Specialist, has over a decade of experience in knowledge management and international development issues. With IRG, he designs and implements knowledge management systems and practices for multiple USAID projects, and develops IT-based tools for knowledge sharing and collaboration goals of IRG clients. Mr. Stephan has developed community and interactive products for companies including Red Herring Communications and Netscape, and has also worked in Azerbaijan  with the United Nations Development Program. He is a former journalist and technology columnist. MA, International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Languages: Spanish.

Jim Tarrant, Senior Manager, has more than 28 years of experience in environmental economics and natural resource management, including environmental economic policies and impact assessments and project management. He served as chief of party for the Natural Resource Management II Program in Indonesia for five years and chief of party for the Red Sea Sustainable Development and Improved Water Resources Management Project in Egypt. Currently he is a Senior Policy Advisor for IRG/EPIQ II and manages IQC subcontracts on environmental health and sustainable urban management. Before working at IRG, Dr. Tarrant was a senior environmental policy advisor in USAID's Europe and Newly Independent States Bureau. PhD, Development Studies, University of Sussex (United Kingdom). Languages: Bahasa Indonesia.

Pradeep Tharakan, Deputy Chief of Party, Energy Conservation and Commercialization (Asia), is a development professional with expertise in market facilitation of renewable energy systems, the Clean Development Mechanism, carbon sequestration, and community-based natural resources management. Dr. Tharakan has extensive experience in India and the United States, most recently analyzing aspects of the poverty-environment nexus, and environmental impacts of mining operations for WWF. PhD, Energy and Natural Resources Management, State University of New York; MPA, Environmental Policy and Administration, Syracuse University. Languages: Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil.

Michael Torreano, Economic Advisor, has 14 years of international consulting experience with enterprises, governments, and international donors in post-conflict and volatile areas in the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Mr. Torreano has managed multifaceted small and medium enterprise projects focusing on business advisory services, development of competitive clusters, association development, and trade promotion. He is a skilled business manager with experience in strategic planning, marketing, sales, financial strategy and investment decisions, cost accounting, and organizational restructuring. MBA, Dartmouth University. Languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Tajik.

Robert Walker, Deputy Training Unit Manager, has over 21 years of experience designing and managing development, communications, and training projects. Most recently, as Training Specialist for OFDA, Mr. Walker designed, facilitated, and evaluated courses for the Department of State and USAID. Mr. Walker has served as training director for several domestic and international organizations including UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Children's Express Foundation. BA, European History, University of Texas; MA, International Training and Administration, School for International Training.

Olga N. Wall, Deputy Project Manager, has over ten years of experience in project management and contract administration. Working on projects funded by the United States government, European Union and ADB, she excels in implementation, budgeting and administration functions, including contract negotiation, teaming agreements, consulting agreements, and compliance monitoring. As a former vice president of contracts and procurement at CARANA Corporation, Ms. Wall was responsible for all government and commercial contract administration from contract award to closeout. Office Management and Administration, Moscow State University; Advanced English Diploma, Advanced French Diploma, International House. Languages: French and Russian.

John Warren, Chief of Party, Dominican Republic, has over 25 years of experience in natural resources management, sustainable agriculture, and food security. Dr. Warren has extensive project experience with multiple donor agencies in Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. Dr. Warren has been engaged in higher education, nutrition and food security, natural resources management, and environmental policy initiatives in numerous settings. PhD, Natural Resource Economics, Texas A&M University; MS, Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University. Languages: Spanish, English.

Rebecca Webb, Country Coordinator, Relief and Reconstruction, specializes in the strategic analyses of financial sectors, public policy development, microfinance, and SME financing. She is a recognized international financial expert and has consulted for USAID, the US Department of State, and the US Treasury. She has extensive experience in the Middle East; Central Asian Republics; Eastern, Central and Southern Europe; and Russia. MA, International Public Policy; BA, Business Administration. Language: Polish and Spanish.

Rick Whitaker, Chief of Party (Liberia), brings 35 years of business and finance experience, primarily in the energy sector. He specializes in the oversight of infrastructure reconstruction and development, and sector institution building, with an emphasis on renewable energy. Mr. Whitaker has extensive knowledge of USAID, having served as Acting Director and Senior Team Leader for USAID’s $2.8 billion infrastructure reconstruction program in Iraq, and has teamed with other development agencies including UNDP, the EC, and DFID. MBA, Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Robert Winterbottom, Senior Manager, has more than 25 years of experience in environmental planning, natural resource management, and forest ecology. Currently, he manages projects in IRG's environment and natural resource portfolio and provides technical support to the EGAT and Africa Bureau of USAID. Mr. Winterbottom has served as IRG's Chief of Party in Senegal and Niger, and environmental planner/advisor to the Rwandan minister of planning. Before joining IRG, Mr. Winterbottom's positions included director of the Forestry and Land Use Program of World Resources Institute, and Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso. MS, Forest Science, Yale University. Languages: French.