Dr Nazar M. Hassan has been the Senior Science and Technology Advisor for the Arab States at UNESCO since 2009, where he has initiated several networks to build up the region’s techno-preneurship culture. Previously, he worked in Beirut (Lebanon) as Senior Economist in the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia. Dr Hassan started his career in the energy field by joining the Shell Oil Company, then as a researcher in the area of energy systems optimization at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US, between 1992 and 2003. He has a number of published papers, reports and patents in the area of strategic energy management for Sustainable Development. Dr Hassan received his MSc and PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst  (USA).