Evan Toma is currently Chief Financial Officer of the San Diego World Affairs Council in San Diego, California and conducts independent research on countries with extractive resources (oil, gas and mining) and economic development. Previously he worked as an Economic [read more="Read More >" less="<<"]  and Policy Researcher at Columbia University’s Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), where he created a metrics to guide policy-making decisions on when beneficiation of mineral deposits should be considered a policy paradigm in countries with iron ore deposits. He also created an executive training curriculum for Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in association with the West Coast Infrastructure Exchange to help project sponsors implement Public-Private Partnerships when developing public works projects.   In addition to his work in economic development, Mr. Toma has held various positions within the financial services industry, including Senior Analyst roles in Fixed Income Derivatives Operations for bulge-bracket investment banks. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in development economics from the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. [/read]