It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Aecio D'Silva has agrred to serve on our Advisory Board. We are convinced that his over 30 years experience  as an executive, business-product-contract negotiator and international consultant to private and public organizations in the areas of sustainable systems, biotechnology, renewable energy, distance learning and Total Quality Leadership will significantly contribute to education of community leaders in developing countries.

Dr. D'Silva has been at the University of Arizona since the end of the 80's of last century till June, 2010. He has worked in the areas of international business, research and technology transfer in the fields of sustainable integrated systems, renewable energy and biotech ventures. His mentor and partner in high-tech initiatives was Dr. Michael Cusanovich, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Emeritus. They started and developed major sustainable systems and genetic-driven biofuels research programs like the Hawaiian Small Scale Food Production Program, Agric-Aqua-Biotechnology Paulo Afonso-Jatoba Complex and National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts - NAABB - An Algal Biofuels Research Consortium.

He conceived of, designed, led the construction of, and served as director for the Agric-Aqua-Biotech Paulo Afonso-Jatoba Aquaculture Complex in the San Francisco River Valley of Northeastern Brazil. This facility remains one of South America's most sophisticated integrated aquaculture-business complex combining breeding, genetic selection, adult production, feed manufacture, food processing, small farmer integration program and product marketing. The complex is comprised of 08 companies and hundreds of small fish producers, and hosts major international conglomerates such as Pescanova (of Spain) and Nissui (of Japan).

Dr. D'Silva developed a Total Quality Leadership program, specifically tailored to innovative enterprises, which has been used at the Complex in Brazil and other companies in the US. He was also the P.I., creator and head consultant of the Maui-Molokai AquaBioPonics Sustainability program to provide food self-sufficiency for native Hawaiian families.  He is founder of the consulting companies American Aquabiotech and Moura Enterprises, LLC which specialize in state of the art renewable energy, biotech, integrated biofuels-aquaculture ventures and development of corporate online training centers.

Dr. D'Silva has served as a consultant on international aquaculture projects for the World Bank, as Head Director of the sub-secretary for the National Fisheries Department in Brazil (a cabinet position appointed by the Congress, the Minister of Agriculture and the Brazilian President), as Secretary of the Paraiba State Environment Protection Agency (Paraiba State, Brazil), and as a delegate and head negotiator for the International Labour Organization (ILO) as member of the ILO Safety and Health in the Fishing Industry Committee in Geneva. Aecio holds a M.Sc in Zoology from Oklahoma State University and a PhD in Sustainable Systems from the University of Arizona.