Michel joined Global Footprint Network as a Senior Economist from the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency. At Global Footprint Network Michel is responsible for outreach, public policy advice, and strengthening the economic aspects of the Ecological Footprint by linking it to the macro-economic policy sphere and public and corporate sector expectations. He was trained in econometrics and mathematics in Paris and Geneva and earned an M.A. and B.A. After a period in academic research, he went into management consulting at KPMG and worked at the Entrepreneurship Development Department of the ILO, before joining the Swiss Foreign Service 20 years ago. His international civil service career has focused on international development, including postings in Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Andean countries to steer local programme portfolios.
Sustainability linkages across sector policies (trade, responsible investment, finance, agriculture, defense, energy, development, and environment) have always been a strong focus of Michel’s involvement as a public policy analyst, first as deputy head of the Global Issues and Sustainable Development Division of the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, and then within the Policy Analysis Division in charge of producing the development policy bill. Michel has been a member of the Swiss delegation in a number of international negotiations at the UN, WTO, and OECD looking at synergies with the development cooperation policy.