Director, Island Policy Lab and Assistant Professor of Energy & Environmental Policy, University of Delaware
Dr. Shah is a sustainable development strategist and technical subject-matter expert with over 18 years of experience as an international consultant and researcher in public policy and institutions mostly directed to the energy, environment, sustainability and green economy arenas.
His advisory and analytical work has specifically influenced energy, climate and regulatory policy in Guyana, Suriname, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States through his work with governments, multilateral and industry. Project examples include implementing regulatory impact assessments, evaluating public health training for the Pan American Health Organization, leading CARICOM’s energy-efficient lighting program evaluations, and enhancing island disaster resilience for Global Affairs Canada. Dr. Shah’s most recent projects include industry ESG analysis in Trinidad & Tobago, climate strategy for the IADB Compete Caribbean Program, and crafting the Marshall Islands’ first National Adaptation Plan. He is the CEO/Principal of Valinor Research & Consulting LLC.
At the Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, as Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy, Dr. Shah directs the Island Policy Lab (IPL), pioneering research in clean technology diffusion, policy adoption models, and climate governance for small economies. The IPL’s work, with significant funding from entities like NOAA, NSF, and various governments, includes studying the health-environment-climate nexus in Jamaican tourism, assessing new plastic substitutes in the US, and integrating climate services in Caribbean energy planning.
As one of the most cited, he has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers on topics ranging from climate-proofing energy infrastructure to climate-smart agriculture. As the Coordinator of the United Nations Universities Consortium of Small Island States, he plays a crucial role in environmental policy and sustainable development. Dr. Shah is also involved as a Lead Author for the UN Global Environmental Outlook Reports, Editorial member of several leading academic journals, Panel Expert Reviewer for the Dutch Research Council Caribbean program, NSF and other prestigious expert committees.
He was a Fulbright Scholar, with a Ph.D. in Public and Environmental Policy from George Mason University and a Masters in Natural Resource Management from the University of the West Indies, Barbados. His extensive field experience in the Wider Caribbean and Latin America, starting in Trinidad & Tobago, now extends well into the Pacific, South East Asia, African and Indian Ocean regions.
Gabriel J. Christian was born on Dominica and attended the Dominica Grammar School where he served as a member of the Dominica Cadet Corps, Deputy Headboy and President of the Dominica Federation of Students. He later attended Sixth Form College, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) College of Business and Public Management in Washington, DC where he graduated with a BBA in Procurement and Public Contracting. Mr. Christian studied law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, graduating with the degree of Juris Doctor in 1991. Mr. Christian was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1991 and is also a member of the US District for the District of Columbia, US District of Maryland and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Early in his career, Mr. Christian served as a Government Property Technician at Litton Systems Electronic Warfare Division, Litton-Amecom, in College Park, Maryland. In that position Mr. Christian managed the handling of government property used in manufacturing avionic systems for the F-16, F-111, EA-6B Prowler and P-3 Orion aviation platforms.
He later served as a law clerk at the firm of Farrington & Smallwood, and thereafter as an associate and partner with Farrington & Christian. During that time Christian litigated insurance defense cases for clients such as Prince George’s General Hospital on behalf of Dimensions Health Care Corporation, Allstate, USAA, the Hartford and other insurance carriers. Mr. Christian has represented private sector clients, churches and personal injury/criminal defense clients, and has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts in Maryland.
He has distinguished himself as an 8thactive civic leader in Maryland and Washington, DC. Mr. Christian served on the leadership of the Dominica Association of Washington DC (DAWDC) in various roles as PRO, Secretary, and Vice President between 1983-2000. In 2000 Mr. Christian assisted the revival of the Dominica Cadet Corps which had gone into dormancy following independence from Britain at the direction of Prime Minister Rosie Dougals and alongside his former Lieutenant Francis Richards and others. In 1989 he became President of the DAWDC. Mr. Christian was also the co-founder of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2000 and the Rosie Douglas Foundation. He served as a founding member and General Counsel of the Institute of Caribbean Studies between 1994 and 2015. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, appointed Mr. Christian to the position of Judicial Commissioner, Maryland Court of Appeals in 2007 and later appointed him in 2012 as a Commissioner to the first Caribbean Commission founded by a state government in US history. In 2023 Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed him to another term as a Commissioner of the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Caribbean Affairs. Mr. Christian has also served as a past President and board member of the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and as General Counsel to the Ethiopian Crown Council led by HIH Prince Ermias Selassie Haile Selassie.
Awards:Commander of the Ethiopian Lion (1997) and Knight Grand Cross of Ethiopia (2017) by HIH Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie Haile Selassie President of the Ethiopian Crown Council.
Dominica Cadet Corps Revival Medal (2002).
Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Voluntary Service from President of the United States of America Joseph Biden Joseph Biden (September 2022).
From 2014 to 2023 Mr. Christian served as general counsel to Avdyne AeroServices, LLC which he now serves as COO.
Rank: Captain, Dominica Cadet Corps (ret.)
Pravesh Raghoo is a PhD student and Teaching Assistant at the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration, University of Delaware, U.S. He was a former Fulbright Scholar, graduate student and Teaching Assistant at the School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, U.S. From 2015 to 2017, Pravesh was a Research Assistant at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius. His research interests are climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy policy and economics, energy systems and power generation, especially in islanded communities. Pravesh has worked as Project Manager for an EDULINK II funded project entitled “Lifelong Learning for Energy Security, Access and Efficiency in African and Pacific Small Island Developing States” in which he developed an online learning course on “Sustainable Energy for Small Island Developing States”, organized several national and international conferences as well as conducted research on energy transition of islands.
Education
PhD (Ongoing), University of Delaware, Energy & Environmental Policy
MPP (2019), Oregon State University, Public Policy (Energy Policy focus)
BEng (2015), University of Mauritius, Chemical & Renewable Energy Engineering
Francine MBOCK is a Principal Energy Specialist at the African Development Bank (AfDB), bringing over thirteen years of experience in the regulatory sector, electricity regulation, and energy project management.
She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Yaoundé (Cameroon), a Master’s in Renewable Energy from 2iE in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), a Bilan d’Aptitude des Grandes Ecoles (B.A.D.G.E) in Energy Regulation from Mines ParisTech (France), and a Post Graduate Certificate in Development Strategy and Governance from Bradford University (UK).
Francine is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP®), Certified PPP Professional (CP3©), and a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She is also an active member of Toastmasters International and an alumna of both the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and the Young Professionals Program of the African Development Bank.
Her career began at the Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency of Cameroon, where she held several key positions, before advancing to her current role at AfDB. Francine possesses deep insights into the challenges and opportunities within Africa’s electricity sector, making her a vital asset in driving sustainable energy solutions. Among her notable achievements, she has contributed to the elaboration and publication of the Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) since 2018.
Francine’s advisory and analytical work has significantly influenced the addressing of electricity regulatory policy issues and gaps across Africa. She applies her skills through consultations and policy dialogue with authorities, development partners, and other sector stakeholders on the implementation of energy sector reforms and strategic energy issues. Her expertise encompasses regulatory reforms, power utility reforms, energy access including electricity metering, energy efficiency, renewable energy, Public Private Partnership (PPP) investments in infrastructure projects, and regional integration projects.
Beyond her professional expertise, Francine is passionate about social leadership, particularly in promoting gender equity and empowering women in STEM fields. In 2017, she founded the Womenager Association, dedicated to mentoring and raising awareness among young women about their potential and pathways to success. Through her commitment to personal development and leadership, Francine continues to inspire others in her community and beyond.