Bernhard J Smid

Area of Expertise:

• Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
• Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
• Director, CEO, COP, President
• Disaster, Aid, Emergencies, Relief

Professional Experience:

I have professional experience on socio, economic and environmental issues (advocacy, analytical and advisory analysis and liaison with government officials and NGOs). Academically, I hold a Masters degree in International Business from Munich Business School (Germany); MBA in International Negotiations from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Brazil), and short specialization courses on climate change (Carbon Ecologic Institute / International Carbon Action Partnership); and climate change in cities and city regions (Hafencity University of Hamburg).

With over 10 years of work experience on policy advocacy, international negotiations, climate change and REDD+, I have been working with political affairs at subnational and national levels on the implementation of policies and strategies in alignment to international efforts to combat and avoid deforestation. As example of activities, I have been participating on working groups with the Brazilian Federal Government and observing the political scenario in Indonesia, Peru and Bolivia on the implementation of climate change legislation pieces, low carbon agriculture plans, and other policies. On the subnational level it is relevant to mention that I was one of the idealizers and implementers of the Governors’ Global Climate and Forest Task Force (GCF), which is a total of 17 subnational governments from Brazil, Indonesia, Peru, USA and others working at a multi-jurisdictional collaborative effort focused on the development of rules and capabilities necessary to generate compliance-grade assets from REDD+.

It is important to mention my experience working for the Government of Amazonas, where I was responsible for the international agenda of former Governor Eduardo Braga, providing him a broad range of support on foreign affairs. Different aspects corresponded to my responsibilities, including the establishment of the international strategy of the State; and coordination of international missions and outreach efforts. During the period that I worked for the Government of Amazonas I was able to contribute to the establishment of agreements that have direct social and economic impact. Furthermore, my support to the victims of the 2009 flood was recompensed with an award.

At the international level, I worked in New York at the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), which was the basis for the elaboration of the Master Thesis that analyzed the consequences of the trade liberalization to the Indian economy and the society. Besides UNDEF, I worked in Germany at Infineon Technologies, where I built potepotential scenarios of the distribution channel market. I analyzed, among other issues, the importance of environmental restrictions and policy issues.

In Brazil, I worked at the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) as an environment consultant (2007) and as policy analyst (2005-2006). Also in Brazil, I worked at the U.S. Embassy, where I assisted U.S. exports to Brazil (1999-2005).