Alex started his journey in Afghanistan at 21 years old where he left the United States to pursue his passion in environmental development in his motherland. He was met with the sounds of bomb blasts, gunshots and countless proposal denials to clean up the severely contaminated waterways and land. That did not deter Alex, after 4 years of grassroots development and persistence Alex was finally met with a proposal approval from the US garrison Command at Bagram Airfield. Within 2 years of operating as the US Government’s prime contractor for waste management Alex built the largest environmental company in Afghanistan. He built the first local landfill, bio-dome wastewater treatment plant, industrial composting plant and the first Afghan Women’s Environmental Association. Alex managed over 500 direct employees and created over 10,000 jobs in the recycling industry of Afghanistan. After the fall of the government in Afghanistan Alex returned to the United States bringing his passion for entrepreneurship to others. He now runs a green tech incubator for companies based in Ukraine, Philippines, Taiwan and the United States.

Dr. Harry Bottenberg hails from The Netherlands where he completed a BSc degree in Tropical Agriculture; he has an MSc in Entomology from The Philippines and a PhD in Entomology from Illinois. He has published over 40 scientific papers on Integrated Pest Management including over 20 in refereed journals. After his academic and international agricultural research career, Dr. Bottenberg worked as an environmental compliance and agricultural pest management specialist at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He served as the Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) for USAID Afghanistan, one of the Agency’s largest portfolios, from 2012-14 and continued that role based in DC from 2015 until 2022. While MEO for Afghanistan, he served as Acting Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) for the USAID Europe & Eurasia Bureau from April until September 2020. He was also an agriculture value chain specialist with a USAID implementing partner in Malawi in 2014-15. Prior to 2012 he was the MEO in South Sudan while managing three major agriculture projects and worked for the West Africa Regional Mission in Mali, where he covered the Desert Locust outbreak of 2004-2005, and in Ghana as an agriculture officer. Dr. Bottenberg worked as a Postdoctoral Entomologist for International Agricultural Research Centers in Africa, and as an Extension Specialist and Research Manager in the horticulture private sector in Florida.

A seasoned Financial Expert with 12 years of experience, I am a dedicated professional who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Throughout my career, I have successfully navigated the intricate realms of finance, contributing my expertise to various International NGOs and Corporate entities. My commitment to excellence is underscored by a comprehensive skill set encompassing Financial Management, budgeting, Investments, Taxation, and Decision Making.

Habitat restoration and conservation specialist with over 30 years of project management experience in Europe and Asia. His tireless efforts ensured tens of thousands of hectares of biodiversity-rich ecosystems, including in the Carpathian and Chornobyl Biosphere Reserves, became protected. He is single in Ukraine of the Whitley Award Winner for Nature Conservation (“Green Oscar” in Nature Conservation).

Experienced project manager who has overseen the delivery of major development projects in the UAE, Turkey, Afghanistan, and the USA for the MoD, NATO, DLA, DoD, and USAID. Skilled in meticulous project planning, management, and team leadership with over 10 years of experience. Previously, he worked in digital banking. He possesses excellent communication skills and is adept at building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels. Belal is passionate about delivering high-quality results, problem-solving, and fostering effective communication. He is committed to ensuring that projects are delivered on time and with exceptional results and to continuously growing as a professional.