Short Bio
Dexter is the Vice President for Social Development at Xavier University (XU), in Mindanao, Philippines. He oversees eight specialized centers in the university that are engaged with various partners and stakeholders in the fields of urban development, disasters and climate resilience, renewable energy, ridge-river-reef conservation, food security, public health, alternative learning, business innovations, transformative leadership and governance, and many more.
His recent projects include the Philippines Resilience of School Infrastructures to Multi Hazard (PRISMH) jointly funded by the British Council and the Philippine Government. He is currently the lead-person for XU to the UNESCO Chair for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Engineering. He also worked with the USAID for Cagayan de Oro City’s COVID-19 Business and Area Service Response and Recovery Plan. He also served as Resource Person to the Water and Sanitation Hub for Capacity Development of the Philippine’s Department of Interior and Local Government. Among his publications is the book: “Climate Disasters in the Philippines” published by the Belfer Center of Harvard University.
Along with his professional work, he has delivered numerous speaking engagements in national and international conferences, as well as in grass root workshops in far flung communities making science and technology matter to people’s lives.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
Much of my professional work is linked to social development, including water and sanitation in urban and rural areas. My engineering training has helped me perform both technical evaluation and economic feasibility of WaSH projects. My exposure to grass root communities has also formed me to practice trans-disciplinary and systems-approach in finding solutions to WaSH challenges. My international network has also helped me in mobilizing resources where they are most needed. It is with this experience that I desire to commit my time and talents to the GSC – aiming to promote collaboration for local actions that contribute to global impacts.
