Ricardo Mena

Ricardo Mena is a seasoned professional in disaster risk reduction and management, currently serving as the Director and Chief of the Supporting and Monitoring Sendai Framework Implementation Branch at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction since April 2017. Previously, Mena held the position of Head at the UNISDR Regional Office for the Americas from August 2009 to March 2017, where responsibilities included promoting disaster risk reduction and leading biennial work plan implementation. Mena has also contributed to the UN's business continuity planning as Chief of the Business Continuity Management Unit from September 2007 to January 2009, and served as a Humanitarian Affairs Officer at OCHA from July 2002 to September 2007, focusing on disaster preparedness initiatives. Early career achievements include a role as Deputy Director for Partners of the Americas, where Mena supported a USAID-funded emergency preparedness program in Ecuador. Mena holds an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management from the University of Leicester and has an extensive educational background in business data processing and humanities.