He is an engineer and holds a PhD in Development Geography. Since January 2012, he has headed the NGO R20 Regions of Climate Action in Geneva, which was launched in 2010 by Arnold Schwarzenegger, in partnership with the United Nations. In 2005, he became Director of the Hub for Innovative Partnerships at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He conducted several initiatives, including the Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC), prior to COP16 in Cancun.