Federico Burone is Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a lead institution that supports knowledge, innovation and solutions to improve the lives of people in the developing word. He holds a PhD in Economics and an MSc in environmental sciences from the University of Valencia, Spain. He has been Executive Director of the Latin American Environmental Management Secretariat pioneering the design of public private partnerships providing lasting environmental services to cities, and responsible for the Latin American Mining Policy Research Initiative informing innovation strategies for the sustainable development of the extractive sector in Latin America. As Director for LAC at IDRC he currently coordinates work and partnerships with public and private sector actors to advance ideas and innovation enhancing economic opportunities and social inclusion of women and youth in the region through to large-scale implementation.