Dr. Marcos Regis  Silva holds the post of Executive Director of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. He is responsible for the provision of strategic advice to high level policy makers on issues related to global change and their socio-economic impacts, development of linkages between the IAI’s scientific agenda and global governance environmental frameworks, especially the Sustainable Development Goals, and long-range strategic planning and financial policies to ensure the implementation of the IAI’s scientific agenda. Previously he held the post of Chief, Knowledge Management and Outreach Services with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). He was responsible for issues related to the use of new information and communication technologies, including those to conduct international trade in specimens of CITES-listed species that is legal, sustainable and traceable. This includes development of electronic trade standards and the establishment of Single Window environments in developing countries. He was previously with the Convention on Biological Diversity where he was responsible for the implementation of the Clearing-House Mechanism and for the technical implementation of the Biosafety Clearing-House under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Before joining the United Nations, Marcos was a Programme Officer with the NAFTA Commission on Environmental Cooperation where his duties included the development of the North American Biodiversity Information Network. He holds a PhD from McGill University and was an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Distance Education for many years.