Bart Edes

Mr. Édes effectively serves as ADB's "chief knowledge officer." He is responsible for developing and promoting systems, processes, and practices that enable ADB to manage its intellectual capital, maximize returns on investment in knowledge, share good practices, stimulate innovation, and harness both tangible and intangible knowledge. Since assuming his current role in August 2016, Mr. Édes has guided the launch of Development Asia, an online portal (http://development.asia/) for sharing development practices and experience in Asia and the Pacific, and k-Learn (http://k-learn.adb.org/), a rich repository of ADB sectoral and thematic course materials and workshop presentations. Mr. Édes is now driving ADB's adoption of a Digital First approach to sharing content, and a consumer-centric model of knowledge sharing; embrace of greater social collaboration; expansion of online learning programs; and internal crowdsourcing of innovative project ideas encouraged by grant financing. He has also led the formation of a community of interest for knowledge management professionals at international development agencies.  

In previous roles at ADB, Mr. Édes implemented ADB strategy, policy, and knowledge work in education, health and social protection, and in thematic areas including gender equity, governance, capacity development, labor, poverty reduction, civil society engagement, and inclusive business.  In 2004, he prepared ADB's Public Communications Policy, which set a new global benchmark for transparency among the multilateral development banks. Between 1994 and 2000, before joining ADB, Mr. Édes managed communications at SIGMA, a joint initiative of the European Union and OECD providing support on public governance reform to central and eastern European countries in transition.

In earlier positions, Mr. Édes worked as a journalist, policy analyst, and specialist on international trade and foreign direct investment. He has a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor's Degree in Government from Georgetown University.