Since September 2007, Juan Carlos Ruan has served as Mine Action Implementation Specialist within the Implementation Support Unit (ISU). In particular, Juan Carlos provides professional advice and support to representatives of State Parties in the preparation of requests for extension on the fulfillment of the obligations under Article 5 of the Convention to destroy or ensure the destruction of all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under their jurisdiction or control. Prior to joining the GICHD, from 2003 to 2007, Juan Carlos worked for the Office of Humanitarian Mine Action of the Organization of American States where he was tasked with developing progress reports for international donor countries and coordinating the yearly portfolio of projects throughout the Americas. During his tenure with the organization he also played a leading role as project coordinator of the clearance of Suriname’s last remaining mined area and assisted in coordinating the first humanitarian demining military training in Bogota for the Colombian Armed Forces, amongst other similar tasks. Prior to this, from 2000 to 2003, Juan Carlos worked with the Inter-American Defense Board as Public Relations to the Chairman playing a key role as the Directors first point of contact with visiting dignitaries. His experience before this included short tenures with humanitarian organization involved in Disasters as well as with the Mine Action Information Center of James Madison University. Juan Carlos has received a MA in International Relations from University of Kent, Canterbury, England, Brussels School of International Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Juan Carlos was born to Colombian parents in Ottawa, Canada.
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