Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Sonia Heptonstall

Nationality; British

Swiss C work permit

Married: one son

2 chemin des Usses

1246 Corsier, Switzerland

Telephone 41 (0)22 751 20 58

Fax 41 (0)22 751 2685

E mail: Heptonstall@chenay.com

Present Position:

Professor and Department Coordinator (International Relations) at the University of Business and International Studies Geneva.

International Representative for Solar Cookers International at the United Nations (ECOSOC consultative status)

Previous professional activities:

Co-founder and partner ActInvest International, A Swiss Association focused on micro enterprise and entrepreneurship particularly that of women. Recent projects on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) include Youth Employment in Belarus, and the development of entrepreneurship and microcredit in Moldova.

Member of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Youth Employment and Poverty Alleviation.

Teaching and research: Secondary school/university entrance, lecturer in Liberal Studies , Teaching assistant ‘Multiculturalism in Business’, Harvard University Business School, Staff Member Technical Education Research Centre, Massachusetts USA

British Council administrator ( Regional Exchange Links with Germany, Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme),

Consultant to a number of UN organizations including WHO, ILO(Turin Centre) and non governmental organizations (International Council of Nurses)

Previous NGO activities:

United Nations Representation for Soroptimist International, International Council on Social Welfare. Convenor of the NGO Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Working Group on Women.

NGO Liaison Officer ECE Regional Meeting for the UN Conference on Women Beijing 1995

NGO Planning Committee for the UN Conference on Women Nairobi 1985

(Women and Employment)

Founder member NGO Working Groups on Nutrition and Refugees

Education:

BA Honours History, University of Bristol

1 year Teaching diploma, University of Bristol

Master in Education, Harvard University Graduate School of Education

Doctorate: Sociology of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education (Thesis Topic Cooperative Education: An alternative route to equal opportunity)