Robert Hickson has 30 years of experience in development consulting with the last 25 years focusing specifically on microfinance. He has sound practical experience in project management, in the role of Team Leader and Project Director. Hickson has undertaken both long and short-term assignments, involving large long-term microfinance projects. An agriculturalist and economist by training,he has turned his interest to include the possibilities for growing kelp to provide powerful long-term carbon sequestration in the deep waters off the NZ east coast. He has worked for the ADB, the World Bank, AusAID, USAID, AfDB, Finnida, CGAP, DFID, IFAD, FAO and a variety of international and local NGOs.