Dr. Etienne Von Bertrab

Biography

Étienne von Bertrab has a diverse career, initially working in the corporate world as an engineer, before transitioning to become a social entrepreneur and activist, alongside his part-time academic role in Mexico. His entrepreneurial journey includes setting up an ecotourism project, café, and cultural centre aimed at supporting coffee-producing cooperatives in Chiapas, as well as local civic initiatives in Guadalajara. His activism focuses on working with environmental justice organizations and solidarity networks. In 2018, he founded the research advocacy project Albora: Mexico's Geography of Hope, which seeks to cultivate hope as a social force by disseminating the incredible work of organizations, networks, and collectives that are transforming their communities and environments. He regularly writes for media outlets as an opinion columnist for Pie de Página, an independent media outlet. His academic career is driven by a passion for teaching, as he enjoys connecting with and working alongside diverse students from around the globe. He has worked with the Development Planning Unit since 2011 and is currently a part-time Lecturer (Teaching). He has co-designed a specialist route in infrastructure, planning, and politics for the MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) and has worked on urban and peri-urban agriculture projects in Accra, Ghana, and Lima, Peru, exploring the relationship between urban development and environmental justice. Additionally, he coordinates research for the Tren Maya project, a regional development initiative in southeast Mexico, and is currently working on a co-authored book.

Research Interests

Experience