Director of the Department of Economic and Social Development (DESD) in the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) in the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), promotes inclusive economic growth, competitiveness and innovation in the member states of the OAS through political dialogue, institutional capacity building and strengthening of existing networks to facilitate the exchange of experiences and successful practices, particularly through horizontal and triangular cooperation. Before joining the OAS, she worked at the World Bank and the United Nations, and in the private sector on telecommunications issues. Dr. Robert, the author of numerous studies on development-related issues, is co-editor with José M. Salazar-Xirinachs of Towards Free Trade in the Americas / Towards Free Trade in the Americas (Brookings Institution Press / OEA, 2001 ) and author of NAFTA Negotiation: explanation of the result in culture, textiles, automobiles and pharmaceutical products. She is an economist with a background in international business law. She has a doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University) and a master's degree in applied economics from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) (Montreal, Canada).