Advanced degrees in Economics and Engineering, Technical University, Berlin. Postgraduate studies, Fraunhofer Institute. Formerly: Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute; financial analyst evaluating multinational companies' investment portfolios in Asia and Africa; 1987, with UN Conference on Trade and Development; 1997, with Office of UN Secretary-General, New York, spearheaded development of strategies to enhance private sector engagement with work of UN; 2000, led Global Compact initiative, building global business platform on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
