Apps for Climate Competition experts

Dr. Ana Bucher is a Climate Change Adaptation Specialist within the Climate Change Team of the Environment Department of the World Bank. Currently, she is working on several aspects of the adaptation to climate change and climate risk management. She has more than nine years of experience in the research, development, and management of international programmatic activities and research projects related to climate change, agriculture, ecosystem assessment, and long-term environmental sustainability. Prior to joining the World Bank, she was a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for Environmental Studies of the Mediterranean in Spain working on EU projects related to carbon cycling and climate change on semi-arid lands. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the Pennsylvania State University and a B.Sc. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Cordoba, Argentina.

Habiba Gitay is a Senior Environmental Specialist within the Environment Department of the World Bank.  Currently her work focuses on the environment, climate change, and development nexus.  Habiba has worked widely in many international arenas on adaptation to climate change, capacity development and environment-related knowledge management. Her experience includes convening as the lead author for chapters in five IPCC reports including leading the chapter on on ecosystem services, impacts of climate change and adaptation options; author in  Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Vice-Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF); as technical advisor to various environment-related Conventions. 

Timothy Herzog is an Open Data Specialist at the World Bank, where he supports the Bank’s ongoing efforts to expand and improve its portfolio of open data products. Most recently Tim helped to coordinate the launch of the World Bank’s Open Climate Data Initiative in 2011, and is managing the Apps For Climate competition. Prior to joining the World Bank in 2011, Tim served as Director of Online Communications at the World Resources Institute, an environmental think tank based in Washington, DC. While at WRI he also served as a Climate Policy Specialist and project lead for the Climate Analysis Indicators project. He also worked in the private sector for many years as a technology consultant to several leading U.S. companies. Tim holds a Master’s degree in public policy from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University in Minnesota.

Soong Sup Lee is a Senior Information Officer at the World Bank in Washington D.C. He is a member of the team that provides open access to the World Bank's databases and leads the team that produces the World Development Indicators database and publication. Sup has worked in various roles over 25 years for the World Bank from developing data analysis and presentation applications to supporting the World Bank's first ever global apps competition. His latest focus is improving the access and usefulness of the World Bank's information to a broad audience. Sup has an MBA from George Washington University and a Bachelor's in Engineering from McGill University.