BIO

Dr. Rastislav Vrbensky (Slovakia) is a senior advisor and lecturer on sustainability, climate, and innovation. His clients include United Nations (UN) agencies, IFIs, several Governments, leading think tanks, and businesses in more than 15 countries. He is also a visiting lecturer on sustainability, innovation, and green transition at Masaryk University (Czech Republic). Previously, he worked as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Manager of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. He also served as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, UNDP Country Director in Tajikistan and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Serbia. He started his career in the Government of Slovakia.  

Knowledge, expertise and hands-on experience in international relations, sustainable development and SDGs, green economy and climate change, governance, human rights and conflict prevention. Extensive experience in strategic planning, policy advice, institutional and partnership building and implementation of large development programmes. Large network of policy and decision makers and experts across international financial and development organisations, Governments, NGOs and academia in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

Master's degrees in environmental science and management from University Amsterdam and Comenius University Bratislava, Ph.D. in development studies from the same  university. Research and teaching experience in leading academic institutions (London School of Economics, Masaryk University Brno, Central European University, Comenius University Bratislava).