Experience

The Cloudburst Group

• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Global Development Research Manager

  • Dec 2021 - Present

  Simon Conté is a Global Development Research Manager with the Global Development practice area, where he manages the planning and implementation of assessments, evaluations, and studies that address global democracy, human rights, and governance issues. Simon Conté is a Global Development Research Manager with the Global Development practice area, where he manages the planning and implementation of assessments, evaluations, and studies that address global democracy, human rights, and governance issues.



ABA Rule of Law Initiative

• Washington, District of Columbia, United States

• Senior Judicial Advisor, Maldives

  • Apr 2021 - Aug 2021

  Led court management assessment for the Maldives. Developed assessment methodology and conducted online interviews of key stakeholders. Drafted final report providing advice and recommendations for reform priorities and activities to the Department of Judicial Administration of the Maldives. Led court management assessment for the Maldives. Developed assessment methodology and conducted online interviews of key stakeholders. Drafted final report providing advice and recommendations for reform priorities and activities to the Department of Judicial Administration of the Maldives.



The Cloudburst Group

• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Lead and Senior Assessment Specialist, Ukraine Parliamentary Sector Assessment

  • Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

  Researched, developed, and drafted an assessment report for the US Embassy in Ukraine on challenges and opportunities for parliamentary reform. Responsible for creating the research methodology with the assessment co-lead, coordination with the Local Parliamentary Expert and research assistants, serving as the primary researcher/interviewer during fieldwork, directing the preparation of the final report, and preparing a findings workshop and outbreak for Mission and Embassy staff at the conclusion of fieldwork.

• Rule of Law Team Lead, Armenia IS/ROL Assessment

  • Nov 2018 - Jul 2019

  Developed and conducted an assessment to evaluate integrity systems and rule of law reforms in Armenia, in light of the country's recent "Velvet Revolution". The assessment included goals and sequencing for addressing systemic corruption and ROL issues, fostering a business enabling environment, the role of public and non-governmental institutions of accountability in the anti-corruption process, and strengthening judicial independence. This assessment also reported on the current systems of court administration, legal education, legal oversight/advocacy, defense bar, and legal aid in Armenia.



American Bar Association

• United States
• Legal Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Research and Assessments

  • Aug 1995 - Sep 2016

  • Research and Thought Leadership: oversaw the conceptualization, design, implementation, and editing of research projects on human rights, access to justice, and the rule of law, including assessment methodologies, legislative analyses, and research papers. Projected ABA ROLI thought leadership in collaboration with Outreach and Communications staff. • Assessment Methodology Expert: collaborated with inter-departmental teams and expert working groups to develop a series of analytical methodologies for assessing and tracking legal reforms, which have subsequently been implemented in over 30 countries. Led assessment teams for multiple prosecutorial assessments in Bulgaria, Moldova, and Serbia and co-authored country reports. • Program Management: supervised and developed a staff of 7 attorneys conducting both long and short-term research projects on human rights and rule of law issues in response to requests from field offices and governments in transitioning countries. • Spokesperson: served as thematic expert at international conferences and meetings, including frequent briefings for foreign government officials. • Staff Development: developed and conducted trainings for all new staff on international law, comparative legal systems, and other research areas. Coordinated substantive trainings, briefings, and breakout sessions at annual staff retreats.