For more than 15 years, Mark’s professional and academic experience has focused on how international development programs can be a strategic tool to prevent recruitment into violent extremist organizations, help stabilize states emerging from conflict, promote transition into more democratic and stable societies, and advocate greater inclusion of those who are traditionally left of out the conversation.
He has led the design and management of programs collectively valued at more than $300 million to meet national security interests on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, Global Affairs Canada, UK FCDO, USAID, U.S. Defense Department, and U.S. State Department. The preponderance of these programs are implemented across the Sahel, Middle East and North Africa, and Horn of Africa regions. As Director of CPST for DT Global UK, Mark’s portfolio includes the design and management of programs under the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund III and the Global Development Delivery Framework for Governance and Conflict Prevention.
Mark was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan from 2009-2011 focused on youth development through expanded access to extra-curricular activities, and immediately before that a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia from 2007-2009 focused on small business development in the agriculture sector.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
This too shall pass.
If you were doing something else besides this, what would it be?
I aspire to one day learn how to fly fish, and then teach fly fishing in as remote a setting as I can find.
What’s your favorite thing to do on weekends?
I recently took up training for triathlons. This now occupies my weekends.
