IISD Welcomes Benjamin Simmons as Director, Sustainable Infrastructure and Director, NBI Global Resource Centre
GENEVA, April 1, 2022— The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is pleased to welcome Benjamin Simmons as Director of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Nature-based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre.
Simmons brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise from his years working at the intersection of environmental, trade, and economic law and policy. In his new role, he will provide strategic leadership in the planning and implementation of sustainable infrastructure, public procurement, and sustainable finance. He will also serve as the first director of the recently launched NBI Global Resource Centre.
His new role aligns perfectly with his numerous professional experiences and achievements. Prior to joining IISD, he was the founding head of the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and coordinated the establishment and implementation of the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) initiative, a global initiative focused on “making nature’s values visible.”
Simmons is also a former head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Trade, Policy and Planning Unit, where he managed the trade and environment program and acted as the principal UNEP delegate to the World Trade Organization. He has authored numerous articles, papers, and book chapters analyzing the interactions between environmental and economic policies. Prior to joining UNEP, Benjamin worked as an environmental lawyer in the United States, was a consultant for IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer promoting sustainable agricultural systems in Senegal.
He holds a Juris Doctorate from Columbia University’s School of Law and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
Simmons will be based in Washington, D.C., United States.
We are excited to welcome Benjamin Simmons to lead IISD’s work on sustainable infrastructure and to scale up the recently launched NBI Global Resource Centre. We are eager to work with Benjamin and see how he will apply his rich professional experience to lead the growth of our work and help achieve sustainability impacts.
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