Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher Gebre Yohannes (Dr.)

Starting 1989, Tewolde developed the conservation strategy and environmental policy of Ethiopia, and established the Environmental Protection Authority where he was the Director General from 1995-2013. In July 2013, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Forest was established, and Tewolde was appointed Advisor to the Minister.

Prior to this, Tewolde led African environmental negotiators in Agenda 21, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Convention to Combat Desertification, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. He served as a member of the Interim Panel of Experts that established the Crop Diversity Trust. He wrote the main elements of Community Rights, which become the African Model Law in 1998.

Tewolde holds a Ph.D. in Quantitative Plan Ecology, has served as Dean of Science in Addis Ababa University from 1974-1978, and President of Asmara University from 1983-1991. Tewolde’s work has also earned him the Right Livelihood Award (2000), Honorary Doctor of Science from Addis Aba University (2004), Champion of the Earth Award from UNEP (2006), and Legion of Honour with the rank of Office from the President of France (2013).

Dr. Tewolde will be attending Parallel D2 Jurisdictional approaches: linking supply chains, domestic policies and finance.