Experience

Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  Manage portfolio of products and services to advance HGIA's mission of making clean energy investments accessible and affordable to Hawaii’s underserved ratepayers; stimulating private investments; and leveraging innovative tools to mitigate risks and reach new markets. Provide a full range of end-to-end program planning, business development and stakeholder outreach, implementation and servicing for HGIA’s Programs. Manage portfolio of products and services to advance HGIA's mission of making clean energy investments accessible and affordable to Hawaii’s underserved ratepayers; stimulating private investments; and leveraging innovative tools to mitigate risks and reach new markets. Provide a full range of end-to-end program planning, business development and stakeholder outreach, implementation and servicing for HGIA’s Programs.



USAID

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Economic Competitiveness Advisor

  • Nov 2019 - Jun 2022

  • Lead conception, design, and procurement of the flagship $36.3 million Improving Private Sector Competitiveness (IPSC) project. Provide technical direction and oversight on implementation, facilitate GVN engagement and stakeholder consultation. • Serve as Activity Manager for Vietnam INVEST, overseeing $8.25 million in transactional assistance for projects in renewable energy, health, financial inclusion, and trade infrastructure. Facilitate cross-office collaboration, opportunity identification, concept design, and procurement of services. • Represent USAID on issues of technical, policy, and strategic planning to the host government, U.S. Embassy Hanoi, donors, partners, and advocacy networks. Serve as DFC liaison for the Mission, and participate in the Embassy DFC Working Group. • Inform Mission-wide strategic planning efforts, including the development of the Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) as well as embassy-wide Integrated Country Strategy (ICS). Show less



Independent Consultant

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Finance Specialist

  • Sep 2015 - Oct 2019

  Lead technical assistance, research, evaluation, and market assessments in the area of financial inclusion, health financing, entrepreneurship and market development. Blended finance/Public Private Partnerships *Case studies on the UNCDF Local Finance Initiative’s use of blended finance to unlock private financing for sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and small infrastructure projects *UNCDF Case studies on small infrastructure financing, climate financing, and digital financial services Financial Inclusion/Financial Health *Vietnam: Assessment and design of financial literacy program for government of Vietnam *Haiti: Landscape assessment of financial education and financial literacy practices by financial services providers Innovations and Technology *Lead author of guide on Using Digital Tools to Expand Access to Agricultural Insurance *Primer on Branchless Banking including multi-country case studies (Colombia, India, Malawi) and implementation toolkit Access to Finance *Mali: Assessment and recommendations for expanding finance and insurance to the livestock value chain *Ukraine: Assessment and design of program for small and medium enterprises and startups in the IT, small manufacturing, and agricultural sectors in conflict-affected areas *Vietnam: Assessment and design of program for women and ethnic minority smallholders working in the tea, fruit tree, and vegetable value chains *Benin, Guinea, Niger, Senegal: Due diligence and risk assessment of financial institutions to determine feasibility for credit guarantees *Afghanistan: Assessment and recommendations on an exit strategy for a $100 million rural and agricultural loan fund, and a $5 million DEG credit guarantee facility for SMEs Show less



Banyan Global

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Manager

  • Nov 2012 - Jun 2015

  Manage health financing activities under USAID-funded health systems strengthening projects in Benin, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. Collaborated with key stakeholders to assess health systems and financial markets, developed technical tools and training curriculum, conducted household and facility level research (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods), facilitated linkages and strategic alliances with private sector players, and identified innovative mechanisms and business models for health sector financing. * Public private partnership. Facilitated the design of USAID Credit Guarantee Facility (DCA) for private health businesses. Monitored and supported utilization of the DCA in Benin and Ethiopia. * Community-based financing/health mutual. Conducted a household-level survey on health expenditures and health risks to determine the feasibility of implementing community-based insurance schemes in Madagascar. Designed a pilot program in two regions of Madagascar with local health mutual organizations. * Human Resources for Health. Authored a paper on Financing of Private Medical Education to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, comprising a multi-country review (Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia) and analysis using national level demand and supply side survey data. * Coaching and loan brokering. In Ethiopia, provided financial planning and counseling to private health care providers seeking external financing. Leveraged $4.5 million in loans to 37 health businesses in 18 months. * Enhancing provider sustainability. Developed and delivered training curriculum, in English and French, on business management and financing for over 1,000 health providers in three countries. * Capacity building for financial institutions. Developed and delivered training curriculum on “Lending to private health businesses” for over 100 branch managers and loan officers in three countries. Show less

• Economic Development Specialist

  • Sep 2003 - Sep 2012

  Provided consulting services in the area of financial inclusion, SME lending, and private sector development. Clients include bilateral and multilateral donors, international NGOs, and financial service providers. As team leader, provide oversight and technical guidance to local consultants. Research & Learning: * Women's Economic Opportunity Index for China, Hong Kong, and Mongolia (Economist Intelligence Unit) * Mapping and analysis of donor funding in private sector development in Vietnam (IFC) * Discussion paper on the state of microfinance in Vietnam (ILO). * Case study on the Vietnam Women's Union TYM microinsurance product (ILO) * Research study on Vietnamese commercial banks lending to micro and small enterprises (ILO) Training & Technical Assistance: * Five-day training course on Financial Analysis and Performance Monitoring (Vietnam Belgium Credit Project) * Strategic planning for a microfinance service company in urban Vietnam (Save the Children US) * Training needs assessment and training strategy development for the China Association for Microfinance (SEEP Network) Feasibility Studies & Assessments: * Assessed client value of the Migrant Worker Health Insurance product offered by People's Insurance Company of China (ILO Microinsurance Facility) * Evaluation of the Citi China Microentrepreneurship Award (CitiCorp Foundation). * Evaluation of the Vietnam Women's Union TYM pilot savings product. * Impact assessment & SWOT analysis of the Nong Cong Rural Credit Program (Save the Children US) Show less

• Senior Technical Advisor

  • Feb 2006 - Jul 2008

  Thought leadership. Managed a multi-consortium research program looking at innovations in financial inclusion. Topics include: mobile banking/digital financial services, social performance management and impact investment, and leveraging remittance flows and diaspora investment. Grantmaking. Managed several public private partnerships grants (GDAs) using card-based and mobile-based platforms to expand financial services. Served on technical evaluation committee for the Implementation Grant Program (IGP), conducted field assessment and guided learning agenda for these grants. Mission support. Reviewed Mission's financial services portfolio, helped design multi-year strategy, and drafted scopes of work. Collaborated with other USAID offices and missions to design cross-sectoral programming in agriculture & livelihoods, health, social protection, and post-conflict stabilization and development. Representation. Drafted and presented USAID positions and policies on financial sector development. Collaborated with US Government agencies, private sector, universities, donors, local and international NGOs, etc. to promote broad-based economic growht and inclusive financial systems. Represented USAID at key donor meetings, and international workshops and conferences. Show less



DAI/FINNET

• Technical Services Manager

  • 2001 - 2003

  Managed $10.3M USAID technical assistance program, aimed at building the capacity of non-bank microfinance institutions and commercial banks in Haiti. TA areas include business planning, internal controls, financial management, market research and new product development. Strengthened local training capacity by instituting the CGAP core training curriculum on financial management and new product development. Trained and supervised 5 local trainers in the delivery of the curriculum to partner financial institutionsSupervised the implementation of a pilot microinsurance program for rural-based credit associations. Facilitated the creation of a professional national association of microfinance institutions. Implemented an informal credit information exchange system and facilitated discussion on the establishment of a formal credit bureau. Ensured the sharing of information about current practices and innovations in the industry through the organization of technical seminars and roundtables, publication of technical notes, participation in international conferences, and the maintenance of a website and resource center. Show less

• Development Specialist

  • 1998 - 2003

  Managed information dissemination activities and coordinated research activities conducted under the $8.6 million USAID-funded Microenterprise Best Practices project. Assisted in drafting of work plan; designing of research activities and scopes of work; recruiting and mobilizing research teams; monitoring innovations and current issues in the industry; and conducting technical review of research publications. Provided technical research assistance on a wide range of topics, including business development services, cost and profitability analysis, association building and network development, performance standards, institutional development, new product development, and risk management.Provided technical assistance to field projects. Conducted feasibility studies, evaluations, and impact assessments for projects and donor organizations. Participated in the drafting of proposals, including conceptualization of technical approach, field reconnaissance, and budget preparation. Show less



Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Coordinator

  • Nov 1996 - Jun 1998

  Provided technical support for the State Department's Reintegration Assistance Program in Vietnam, composed of a $1 million revolving loan fund for returning refugees, a vocational training program, and a health assistance program. Conducted an evaluation of SEARAC's Revolving Loan Fund Program through surveys of households in secondary cities and rural areas of Vietnam, and interviews with local officials and microcredit staff. Prepared case studies and statistical analysis for SEARAC's final program report. Provided training in project management and financial analysis to local staff members and credit officers. Developed and wrote proposals for new programs in community education, environment, health, leadership development, and microfinance. Participated in the organization's restructuring process, leadership transition, and mission reorientation. Prepared and drafted the organization's five-year strategic plan based on input from the incoming Executive Director, board members, and staff. Show less



United States Peace Corps

• Programming and Training Coordinator

  • May 1996 - Nov 1996

  Organized sub-regional and regional conferences on environmental education and community development, for country directors, training managers, local ministry officials, and counterpart agencies. Also provided technical support to regional offices, and monitored proposals for USAID's Small Project Assistance Program. Represented the region at agency-wide meetings about programming needs and the recruitment and training of volunteers and field staff. Organized sub-regional and regional conferences on environmental education and community development, for country directors, training managers, local ministry officials, and counterpart agencies. Also provided technical support to regional offices, and monitored proposals for USAID's Small Project Assistance Program. Represented the region at agency-wide meetings about programming needs and the recruitment and training of volunteers and field staff.



English Language Training International

• France
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Visiting Professor

  • Sep 1993 - Jul 1994

  Taught English as a Foreign Language to students and faculty members of the university. Developed specialized curriculum for each class using adult education principles, including improved evaluation materials to measure student performance. Produced training manual for incoming teachers containing case studies, grammar exercises, and role plays for class activities. Taught English as a Foreign Language to students and faculty members of the university. Developed specialized curriculum for each class using adult education principles, including improved evaluation materials to measure student performance. Produced training manual for incoming teachers containing case studies, grammar exercises, and role plays for class activities.



US Treasury

• United States
• Information Technology & Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Management Analyst

  • 1991 - 1993

  Performed internal controls reviews of departmental offices to assess and ensure managers’ financial integrity. Designed and conducted training on the department’s Internal Controls Program for upper- and lower-level management. Developed policy directives and regulations, and implemented cash management initiatives within the department. Performed internal controls reviews of departmental offices to assess and ensure managers’ financial integrity. Designed and conducted training on the department’s Internal Controls Program for upper- and lower-level management. Developed policy directives and regulations, and implemented cash management initiatives within the department.