Prof. Besharati is a Director at Pan-African Investment; Research Services (PAIRS), managing the Development, Sustainability and Impact Advisory, Public ; Development Finance portfolio, including the Joint Programme to curb Illicit Financial Flows in Africa. He holds a PhD (Public Policy; Development Management) from University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) and a Masters (International Social Development) from the University of New South Wales (Australia). He is as a senior research associate at several prominent development think-tanks and visiting professor at a number of international universities. Neissan has extensive experience as a development consultant working with multinational corporations (EY, PWC, Deloitte, Anglo American) and serving as a senior technical advisor to governments, philanthropies, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors and regional organisations. He currently sits on various UN, World Bank, AU and OECD expert groups and committees. He is a globally respected thought leader in the areas of international development cooperation, monitoring and evaluation, development finance, illicit financial flows, public-private partnerships, sustainability and ESG, education policy, emerging economies and South-South cooperation.