Gregory Smith

Gregory Smith serves as the Head of Exploration at the UNDP Accelerator Labs, specifically for the Trinidad and Tobago region, which also includes Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Guyana, and Suriname. He brings over nine years of international experience in various roles, including senior organizational strategy and management, financial analysis for mergers and acquisitions, e-commerce product management, IT systems implementation, strategic planning, and market analysis.12

Educational Background

Gregory holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA from Howard University, and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) in Public Policy Analysis and Economics from the University of Chicago. His academic credentials complement his professional experience, enabling him to approach development challenges with a rigorous analytical perspective.12

Professional Focus

In his role at the UNDP Accelerator Labs, Gregory is tasked with exploring innovative solutions to pressing development challenges. His work emphasizes collaboration with grassroots partners and utilizes an agile experimental approach to identify localized solutions that can drive sustainable progress. He is particularly passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to improve the lives of everyday people.12

Key Responsibilities

As Head of Exploration, Gregory's responsibilities include:

• Conducting horizon scanning to identify emerging trends and solutions.
• Engaging in collective intelligence practices to gather insights from diverse sources.
• Collaborating with local communities and stakeholders to foster innovative partnerships.
• Implementing experimental methodologies to test new ideas in real-world contexts.23

Through these efforts, Gregory aims to enhance the UNDP's capacity to address complex global challenges effectively while promoting sustainable development initiatives across the region.