Urs Heierli studied economics at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland and wrote a Ph.D. thesis on local economies in Colombia. He was later appointed the Director of SKAT, a consultancy for appropriate technologies and was also the Country Director of Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation in Bangladesh and India for 12 years. Urs is also Ambassador of 2000-Watt Smart Cities and board member of the 2000-Watt Smart Cities.