PPPs and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS)
Training Courses
Tony Bonnici
Chief, Public-Private Partnerships Section at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Mr. Bonnici leads the public-private partnerships (PPPs) and sustainable finance in infrastructure development programme at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva, helping governments to undertake successful PPPs and infrastructure projects in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Under his leadership, several UNECE PPP flagship initiatives were developed and successfully deployed, including the Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS) and the standard on PPP/concession legal framework.
Before joining the United Nations, Tony was a member of the Diplomatic Service of Malta between 1991 and 2006, and served as a senior diplomat in various countries, including as Consul at the Embassy in Rome, Italy; as a delegate to the UN and international organisations at the Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland; and as the trade and economic counsellor at the High Commission in London, United Kingdom. He also formed part of numerous presidential, prime ministerial, and ministerial delegations in various countries, including Albania, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Mr. Bonnici has a law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, a master’s degree in diplomatic studies and international relations, and a Ph.D. in international law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Yu Namba
Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Course of PPP at Toyo University Director, Asia PPP Institute at Toyo University
Ms. Yu Namba is at the Graduate School for Economics, Course of Public Private Partnerships (PPP). She is the Director of the Asia PPP Institute at Toyo University.
She also serves as a member of the PPP/Private Finance Initiative (PFI) promotion committee, on three subcommittees appointed by the Prime Minister, more than a dozen national and local government PPP advisory boards, and provides advice to private companies. Throughout her teaching/researching career, her interest remains with the public procurement system, PPP project implementation, and economic developments, especially at the local level. She holds a Master’s degree from Toyo University PPP School.
Joan E. Ricart
Strategic Management Professor IESE, Business School University of Navarra
Joan E. Ricart, Fellow of the SMS, EURAM, Academy of International Management and Academia Eurepaea, is the Carl Schrøder Professor of Strategic Management at the IESE Business School, University of Navarra. In this school, he was Director of the Doctoral Program (1995-2006), Associate Dean for Research (2001-2006), Associate Director for Faculty and Research (2006-2014) and Chairman of the Strategic Management Department (1993-2016).
He was the Founding president of the European Academy of Management (EURAM). He has been President of the Strategic Management Society (SMS), and Vice-president of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management. He was the academic director of the EIASM and a member of the research committee of the EFMD.
Joan E. Ricart holds a Ph.D in Managerial Economics, Northwestern University; Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya; and Ph.D. in Economics and Business Administration, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Joan E. Ricart has significant international experience as a lecturer and visiting Professor in many Business Schools around the world. He has published several books and articles in leading journals such as Strategic Management Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Journal of International Business Studies. His current work focuses on cities, business models, sustainability, and PPPs. He also works on stakeholder management, corporate governance, and the role of Top Management.
He is the co-academic director of IESE Cities in Motion and academic director of the UN Center of Excellence in PPPs for Cities. In this role, Prof. Ricart has been collaborating with UNECE’s Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships in several areas, including co-leading the development of the PPPs and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS), hosting and organizing the 6th UNECE International Public-Private Partnerships Forum in Barcelona, and serving as Academic Observer on the Bureau (Executive Board) of the UNECE Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships.
Dr. Sladjana Sredojevic
Head of Bank Training Center, Association of Serbian Banks
Dr. Sladjana Sredojevic holds a PhD in Economics from University of Belgrade in the field of PPP and Concessions. She works at the Association of Serbian Banks, Serbia, as a Head of the Bank Training Center, and Special Advisor for International Cooperation, IFIs, and Education. Currently, she holds the position of Vice President and the Chair of the Financial Literacy Committee at the European Association for Training in Banking and Financial Services from Brussels. She has extensive experience in leadership, mentoring, strategy and policy, government, and international affairs.
Her past assignments were within government public administration (Advisor for International Cooperation in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Advisor in the Ministry for International Economic Relations), as well as with various international organizations such as the World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, United Nations, European Banking Federation. Some of her specializations in economics and finance were held by the European Investment Bank, TYC Tokyo (Japan), and the Frankfurt School for Finance and Management. As the author/co-author of several books including Book on Public Private Partnership, and Handbook on How to Implement PPP at the Local Level, she is active in scientific research, publishing, lecturing, and mentoring as an Assistant Research Professor in domestic and international universities, promoting sustainable finance, sustainable development, contemporary issues in banking, vocational education and training, financial education, Public-Private Partnership and contemporary methods of capital projects financing.
Dr. Sredojevic teaches PPPs at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, International Master Program in Public Procurement Management.
Dr. Eyüp Vural Aydın
Chairperson, Istanbul PPP Centre of Excellence and University Doctor Faculty Member, Istanbul Commerce University
Dr. Eyüp Vural Aydın is an experienced Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) expert with more than 20 years of experience in the infrastructure industry on both the public and private sector sides. He specializes in PPP structuring, models, and procurement strategy, and has worked on various PPP projects in Türkiye, such as city hospitals, highways, tunnels, bridges, etc.
He has provided advisory services to many different government bodies not only in Türkiye, but also abroad, such as Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus. Dr. Aydın has also served on multiple assignments as a senior PPP advisor to Multilateral Development Banks and public sector authorities such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Turkish Ministry of Environment, Turkish Ministry of Trade, the Minister of Economy, and Planning of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, he has extensive experience in PPP project preparation, project development, transaction, and training. Currently, he is the Chairperson of Istanbul PPP Center of Excellence (PPPCoE), the Chairperson of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) PPP Committee, Chairperson of PPP Research Center, and the Head of the CIS Regional Chapter of the World Association of PPP Units and PPP Professionals (WAPPP).
Dr. Syed M. Ali Zaidi
Chairperson, Bureau of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships
Dr. Syed M. Ali Zaidi is an accomplished Civil Engineer, holding a Ph.D. degree with research focus on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and boasting over two decades of professional experience. He serves as the Senior Director at the Alternative Capital Financing and Partnerships Office within the Government of Alberta, where he has honed his expertise in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
With a rich background in both academia and practical project management, Dr. Zaidi brings to the table an extensive understanding of PPP frameworks, including their planning, development, and operational challenges. Within his role in the Alberta Public Service, he has led complex infrastructure development programs, showcasing his innovation, creativity, and leadership abilities.
Recognized internationally, Dr. Zaidi contributes to global infrastructure strategic direction as Chairperson of Bureau (Executive Board) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships in Geneva. This role involves developing policies and programs that support economic growth and innovation worldwide.
In addition to his international contributions, Dr. Zaidi is actively involved in his local settings. He has served as an advisory member for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Construction Engineering Technology Advisory Committee and the City of Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board.
His engagement extends to the academic and research realms, where he collaborates with various post-secondary education institutions and universities across Canada, further solidifying his commitment to innovation and public service in the field of PPPs and infrastructure development.
Dr. Steven A. D. Van Garsse
Professor/Vice Dean/Chair CORE/Head of the Research Unit of Administrative Law & Public Procurement, University of Hasselt
Professor Steven A. D. Van Garsse is an international authority in the field of government procurement, Public-Private Partnerships, and concessions. For almost 10 years, he was manager of the PPP Knowledge Center (Flemish government) where he was involved in almost all major Flemish PPP projects and area developments. He has built up an exceptional network and has extensive expertise in administrative law/public law (including government procurement/government contracts, construction law, concessions, smart cities, AI, ESCOs, circular economy, ESG, SDGs, public/private domain, privatization, PPP, mega projects, privatization and municipal law, energy & climate).
Professor Van Garsse is Professor/Vice Dean/Chair CORE/Head of the Research Unit of Administrative Law & Public Administration at the University of Hasselt where he teaches courses on public law, administrative law, government contracts and private administrative law. He is a Tenured Full Professor. He is also an Associate Professor of Law at Universiteit Antwerpen.
He is a member of various boards of directors, author of numerous publications, and part of national and international editorial boards. As a lawyer, he advises national and international companies and government institutions. He is seen nationally and Europeanly as one of the most important experts in the field of concessions and was also Bureau Member and Vice-Chair of the UNECE Working Party on PPPs. For UNECE he took on a leading role in the development of a PPP model law and is currently active in green, circular, and sustainable public procurement.