Ben Vickers has worked in the fields of forestry and rural development throughout the Asia-Pacific region for over 20 years. Since 2012 he has served as FAO’s focal point for forest and climate change initiatives in the region, including technical support to countries through the UN-REDD Programme. Prior to FAO, he lived and worked for 7 years in Nepal, including periods as lead technical advisor for a GIZ forestry development project and as an interpreter for the International Committee for the Red Cross; 3 years in Viet Nam as a forestry advisor with SNV, starting their involvement in the field of REDD+; and 3 years based in Bangkok with RECOFTC, initiating their People, Forests and Climate Change Programme, and their engagement with forest certification. He holds a MSc degree in Forestry from the University of Oxford and is also a forestry graduate of Aberdeen University.