Experience

imagine1day

• Canada
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Sep 2022 - Present

  Imagine 1 Day is a charity which supports education development in Ethiopia. Imagine 1 Day is a charity which supports education development in Ethiopia.



Havanada Consulting Inc.,

• Havana, Cuba

• Founder and Partner

  • Jan 2012 - Present

  Havanada Consulting is a consulting firm that provides strategic advice to foreign clients exploring or pursuing investment or business projects in Cuba and the rest of Latin America. Havanada Consulting is a consulting firm that provides strategic advice to foreign clients exploring or pursuing investment or business projects in Cuba and the rest of Latin America.



Gowling WLG Consulting

• Havana, Cuba

• Consultant

  • Mar 2015 - Mar 2021

  Gowling WLG Consulting Inc. is the consulting entity belonging to Gowling WLG, a top international law firm, created from the merger between Gowlings of Canada and Wragge Lawrence & Graham of the UK. The firm is the first and only international law firm to have a foreign lawyer permanently based in Cuba, working as a consultant and strategic adviser to clients, assisting them to take advantage of emerging investment and business opportunities in Cuba. Gowling WLG Consulting Inc. is the consulting entity belonging to Gowling WLG, a top international law firm, created from the merger between Gowlings of Canada and Wragge Lawrence & Graham of the UK. The firm is the first and only international law firm to have a foreign lawyer permanently based in Cuba, working as a consultant and strategic adviser to clients, assisting them to take advantage of emerging investment and business opportunities in Cuba.



Heenan Blaikie Consulting

• Havana, Cuba

• Consultant

  • May 2009 - Feb 2014

  Worked for Heenan Blaikie as an international consultant in Havana, to assist Canadian and international clients interested in diverse projects related to Cuba, giving strategic advice and analysis on Cuba’s legal, political, and economic context, and emerging investment and business opportunities. Worked for Heenan Blaikie as an international consultant in Havana, to assist Canadian and international clients interested in diverse projects related to Cuba, giving strategic advice and analysis on Cuba’s legal, political, and economic context, and emerging investment and business opportunities.



Canadian Embassy in Havana

• Havana, Cuba

• Coordinator of the Canada Fund

  • Jul 2003 - May 2013

  June 2009 – May 2013 (previously July 2003 – September 2006). Coordinator of the CFLI, an Embassy administered international development fund supporting local communities and grassroots NGOs to undertake projects which focus on sustainable development. Accountable directly to the CFLI Manager at the Canadian Embassy, I am responsible for day to day administration of the CFLI, coordinating project selection, drafting of project documentation, overseeing and monitoring active CFLI projects throughout the island, problem solving when required, and reporting progress and results of projects to the CFLI Manager. Show less



Canadian International Development Agency

• Coordinator of the Community Development Fund

  • May 2011 - Mar 2013

  Coordinated a CIDA international development fund supporting local communities and NGOs in Cuba that are developing models of sustainable economic and social development in a decentralized, grassroots context.

• Coordinator of the Modernization of the State Fund

  • Nov 2009 - Mar 2013

  Coordinated a CIDA international development fund to assist the Cuban government in a program to modernize the operations and capacities of various state ministries and institutions to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.



Sol Economics

• Havana, Cuba

• Joint Coordinator, Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Sep 2010 - Jun 2011

  Working with Eric Leenson (founder of Progressive Asset Management, one of the first ethical funds in the United States) and Pamela Rios, of the Avina Foundation, I worked on the development and coordination of an important international conference in Havana, Cuba. This conference brought together international experts in corporate social responsibility and solidarity economics with Cuban professionals and policy makers. The goal of the conference was to expose the Cubans to innovative and sustainable economic and business models, to ensure that Cuba’s process of economic reform is imbued with elements of sustainability and social responsibility. Show less



Goldman Environmental Award

• Havana, Cuba.

• Researcher

  • Apr 2009 - Apr 2010

  Successfully researched and nominated Cuban scientist Humberto Rios for the 2010 Goldman Environmental Award (the ‘Green Nobel’), the world’s largest environmental award given to grassroots activists, given to only six people worldwide per year. I was responsible for identifying the candidate, developing the initial nomination argument, and assisting the Goldman Foundation in the subsequent selection process. I also accompanied Dr. Rios to the United States for the Award ceremonies in San Francisco and Washington D.C. (during which Dr. Rios met with US President Barack Obama). Show less



United Nations

• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consultant

  • Oct 2008 - May 2009

  Worked as an independent consultant for the United Nations, overseeing the coordination of the United Nations’ humanitarian aid program and recovery program in response to the two hurricanes that devastated Cuba in the summer of 2008. I coordinated the oversight of a $30 million Plan of Action for post-hurricane recovery and reported directly to the head United Nations representative posted in Cuba. Worked as an independent consultant for the United Nations, overseeing the coordination of the United Nations’ humanitarian aid program and recovery program in response to the two hurricanes that devastated Cuba in the summer of 2008. I coordinated the oversight of a $30 million Plan of Action for post-hurricane recovery and reported directly to the head United Nations representative posted in Cuba.



Arvay Finlay Barristers

• Vancouver, Canada

• Legal articles student of Joe Arvay

  • Sep 2007 - Sep 2008

  Completed legal articles with the nationally renowned public interest and Charter litigation law firm Arvay Finlay Barristers. Worked on a variety of important litigation cases under the direct mentorship of Joe Arvay, one of Canada’s preeminent Constitutional lawyers. Arvay has been listed as one of Canada’s 25 most influential lawyers. Completed legal articles with the nationally renowned public interest and Charter litigation law firm Arvay Finlay Barristers. Worked on a variety of important litigation cases under the direct mentorship of Joe Arvay, one of Canada’s preeminent Constitutional lawyers. Arvay has been listed as one of Canada’s 25 most influential lawyers.



Canadian International Development Agency

• Havana, Cuba

• Consultant - Public Information Initiative.

  • Jun 2006 - Aug 2006

  Responsible for designing and implementing a strategy to promote and divulge the Canadian development program in Cuba, including informational brochures and elaboration of power-point presentations. Responsible for designing and implementing a strategy to promote and divulge the Canadian development program in Cuba, including informational brochures and elaboration of power-point presentations.



UNDP

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consultant - Coordinator of Monitoring and Evaluation, Program for Local Human Development

  • Jan 2005 - Jun 2006

  Undertook consulting contract to coordinate the process of project reporting from the various provincial offices of the PDHL in Cuba. Responsibilities included managing the PDHL’s report schedule and ensuring the quality of the reports sent to foreign donors. Undertook consulting contract to coordinate the process of project reporting from the various provincial offices of the PDHL in Cuba. Responsibilities included managing the PDHL’s report schedule and ensuring the quality of the reports sent to foreign donors.



Ecotek

• Havana, Cuba.

• Consultant

  • Jan 2000 - May 2003

  Consultant involved in coordinating an urban ecology project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Cuban government to build a water treatment plant which utilizes biological technology, sustainable development techniques, and community participation to clean the highly polluted Almendares River. Consultant involved in coordinating an urban ecology project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Cuban government to build a water treatment plant which utilizes biological technology, sustainable development techniques, and community participation to clean the highly polluted Almendares River.



Canadian International Development Agency

• Havana, Cuba

• Consultant

  • Feb 1996 - Feb 2002

  November 2001 – February 2002 Consultant for the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) Bilateral Aid Program to Cuba. Consultant for CIDA’s emergency relief efforts related to the damage caused by Hurricane Michelle. February 1996 – August 1996 Worked as a local logistics coordinator for CIDA's sponsored project between Revenue Canada and the Cuban Ministries of Economic Planning and of Finance and Prices. This also involved close work with MINVEC (Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation.) Show less



ICRT

• Havana, Cuba

• Leading actor role in the Cuban television movie “La Tierra Mas Hermosa – Romance de Angerona”

  • Aug 1999 - Nov 1999

  Played lead acting role for a movie on Cuban television, aired in August 2000 and produced by the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Television. Movie based on the life of wealthy German entrepreneur who lived in Cuba and fell in love with a Cuban woman of African descent during the times of slavery and was a protagonist of progressive social reform. Played lead acting role for a movie on Cuban television, aired in August 2000 and produced by the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Television. Movie based on the life of wealthy German entrepreneur who lived in Cuba and fell in love with a Cuban woman of African descent during the times of slavery and was a protagonist of progressive social reform.



University of Havana

• Havana, Cuba

• Professor at the Faculty of History and Philosophy.

  • Sep 1995 - Jun 1999

  Taught courses on Canadian History and Politics, International Relations, and Globalization to Cuban undergraduate students and Cuban officials working in government ministries or state enterprises that are involved in negotiations with Canada or Canadian firms. Taught courses on Canadian History and Politics, International Relations, and Globalization to Cuban undergraduate students and Cuban officials working in government ministries or state enterprises that are involved in negotiations with Canada or Canadian firms.