Cristian Rivera is the Green Growth Implementation Officer GGGI Colombia Program. In his current role, he provides strategic direction and coordinates the development of technical inputs for the implementation of the Colombian Green Growth Policy. He is also responsible to lead and manage specific projects regarding the implementation of the Green Growth Policy and Climate Change agendas.

Cristian has several experiences in environmental issues from different perspectives. During 2018 and 2019, he had an overseas experience with a German Company in the development of a biogas project with different stakeholders in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Prior to this, Cristian worked for four years in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia as a specialized professional, he led the development of regulations, policies, and guidelines related to comprehensive waste management and the environmental license conditions for renewable energies. He possesses also experience at the regional level in the framework of a Cleaner Production program for productive sectors such as gas stations, hotels, sugar cane (panela), and dairy.

From the academic perspective, Cristian worked as a visiting fellow at the Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (United Nations University-FLORES) in Dresden, Germany, in topics related to the sustainability of organic waste management in Colombia. He has been a lecturer in topics related to waste management, green business, sustainable energy production, and climate change in universities such as Uniagustiniana, Jorge Tadeo Lozano, and ECCI.

Cristian majored in Environmental Engineering. He also has a Master degree in Renewable Energies obtained in Spain. He is passionate about the nexus between the environment, society, and economy.