Working at different levels of environmental and climate policy, nature conservation and sustainable development. Specialised in policy development, participatory strategic planning and capacity building. Recent projects include:- Chief Technical Advisor in the project Promotion of Eco-Corridors in the Southern Caucasus aiming at setting up landscape based contract nature conservation (WWF Caucasus and KfW) - Independent assessment of environmental policy in the context of the OECD Competitiveness Outlook for six South East European economies- Preparation of the Forestry Strategy for Montenegro (Lux Development)- Training programme on silviculture for Montenegro Forest Adminsitration, including a textbook on silviculture in Montenegrin context (Lux Development)- Training of Montenegrin kayak instructors and equipment of Tara river for paddling- Recreation management plan for Tara river (UNDP Montenegro)- Preparation of the Low Emissions Development Strategy for Kosovo (UNDP Kosovo)- Preparation of the Low Emissions Development Strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH)- Preparation of a LIFE + application for introduction of green technology dealing with local air pollu-tion (private client) - Preparation of LIFE+ application on climate change adaptation for the Association of Slovenian Towns and Municipalities- Establishment of two regional parks in Montenegro (UNDP Montenegro)- Integration of Climate objectives into the development strategy of Albania (UNDP Albania)- Study of good climate change adaptation practices in Polish municipalities (NALAS Georgia, USAID) - Preparation of project application on Sinjajevina regional park for the Municipality of Mojkovac submitted to EU IPA intermunicipal cooperation grants in Montenegro (UNDP Montenegro)

Providing strategic level advice. Recently working as international expert in Pricing Strategy for Croatian National and Nature Parks (Zavita, UNDP Croatia)

Managed the setup of the new Office in 2009. The office was merged into the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment by the new Government in 2012. He worked on drafting the Climate Act for Slovenia and the long term Strategy for the transition of Slovenia to a low carbon society by 2060. Represented Slovenia in the EU and international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Cancun and Durban. Supervised the programme of introducing electric vehicles in Slovenia involving electricity suppliers, regulators and car manufacturers. Initiated the climate related cooperation with countries of South East Europe, including an energy efficiency and district heating demonstration project in Mojkovac Montenegro and a regional project application to the EU SEE programme focusing on low carbon strategies of the countries in the region. Involved in several EU funded cooperation projects related to promotion of sustainable mobility and building, lead partner in implementation of low carbon strategies in the Alps (ALPSTAR).

Working on domestic and international projects such as:- Deputy Team Leader - EU funded Technical assistance for management and protection of potential Natura 2000 sites in the northern part of Cyprus - Independent verifier for the PAN Parks protected area certification scheme.- Environmental Policy Integration Report for Montenegro and Mojkovac pilot sustainable develop-ment projects for UNDP Montenegro- Management plan for the Logarska dolina landscape park- National forest policy of Montenegro- Team leader - EU funded Institutional Strengthening of the Croatian State Institute for Nature Protection, including participatory development of draft management plans for two potential Natura 2000 sites- Independent verifier for the PAN Parks protected area certification scheme. Verified Oulanka NP, Finland, Bieszczady NP, Poland, Central Balkan NP and Rila NP Bulgaria, Retezat NP Romania and Borjomi Kharagauli NP, Georgia- Igneada protected area in Turkey, Development of the eco-tourism component of the management plan- University of Klagenfurt, Austria, lecturer on “Feasibility check of protected areas”- Institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Montenegro for UNDP Podgorica- Lead author of the UNDP Report on Environmental Policy in South East Europe

Leading the work of CIPRA in relation to EU and in Slovenia. In this period CIPRA launched the ‘Schaan Memorandum’ – an initiative fo carbon neutrality in the Alpine region in 2006 that lead to the Alpine Convention Action Plan on Climate Change agreed in 2009.

Together with 6 partners, Jernej Stritih established a private environmental consultancy “OIKOS” in 1989 to offer the dumpsite inventory, developed by themselves within the scouts movement, to the market. Among his activities within the scope of the company, the following are the most relevant:- In 2002 reviewed all 24 CEE country Environmental Performance Reviews that were conducted by the UNECE up to 2002. He drafted the report ‘Environment Policy in Transition’ Kiev Ministerial Conference in May 2003. He also- Drafted the environmental governance component of the regional programme of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS for 2002 -2005. - Independent evaluator of LIFE Nature applications for DG Environment- Since 2002, Independent Verifier of principles and criteria for the National Parks that want to receive PANParks certificate, aiming at high quality nature conservation, visitor experience and local sustainable tourism. - Participated in the LIFE project on conservation of brown bear in Slovenia 2003-2006 (EU funded).- Leader of the component dedicated to institution building, awareness raising, monitoring and data management within the project “Capacity building for the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the FYROM”. This project included public promotion of nature conservation, training of National Parks in relation to visitor management and development of an environmental monitoring strategy (EU funded).- Project Manager of the Regional Development Plan for the Ljubljana Urban Region in Slovenia

Managing the activities of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, an organisation established by 27 signatory governments, with 160 staff in 2001. The work included day to day management, development and implementation of the management system, and leadership of international stakeholder co-operation.- Environmental Action Programme for the CEE: Collaboration with OECD to provide the secretariat to the Environment for Europe process. Involved in the organisation of the 1998 Aarhus conference and negotiation of the Aarhus Convention.- Climate change programme of the REC: Initiated the capacity building for the CEE government institutions and other stakeholders in the run-up to the Kyoto conference in 1997.- EU Enlargement: Supported the early phases of the accession of the 10 new member states to the EU.- Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for SEE: Together with DG Environment development of the idea of a broad based environmental capacity building and co-operation programme in the framework of the Stability Pact for SEE. Assisted the countries in developing the co-operation governance structures, formulating the programme and raising the funds. Initiation of trans-boundary biodiversity projects in SEE.

Together with 6 partners, Jernej Stritih established a private environmental consultancy “OIKOS” in 1989 to offer the dumpsite inventory, developed by themselves within the scouts movement, to the market. Among his activities within the scope of the company, the following are the most relevant:- Between 1994- 1996 he was the National Environmental Action Plan Coordinator of the Task Force for the Implementation of the Environmental Action Plan for CEE: The aim was to support the capacity building in environmental policy development in the Ministries of Environment in the CEE countries. He also supported the international initiative of these countries at the Ministerial conference in Sofia in 1995.- In 1995 he was one of two consultants who prepared the IUCN guidelines on planning nature conservation in rural areas, based on the analysi of seven proposed protected areas in CEE, including Lonjsko polje in Croatia.

Responsible for international cooperation including the Environmental Action Plan for CEE agreed in Lucerne in 1993 and involvement of Slovenia in the UN FCCC. Managing donor assistance to Slove-nia in the field of Environment including PHARE, UK, NL, World Bank and EBRD. Responsible for the National Environmental Action Plan. Setting up a tendering procedure for ministry’s support to NGOs. First chairman of the Board of the Slovenian Eco-Fund. Member of the Board of the State Fund of Agricultural Land and Forests.

Together with 6 partners, Jernej Stritih established a private environmental consultancy “OIKOS” in 1989 to offer the dumpsite inventory, developed by themselves within the scouts movement, to the market. Among his activities within this period the following are the most relevant:- Coordinating the Slovenia Environment Project of the World Bank,- Leading the Trenta Valley Development Program: a local community development initiative inside the Triglav National Park, combined with improvement of nature protection.

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister for Environment and regional development in the first democratically elected government in Slovenia. Worked on environmental policy and reform of the forestry sector.

Research assistant with professor dr. Dusan Mlinsek at the Forestry Depart¬ment of the University of Ljubljana in the field of silviculture, forest ecology and nature conservation in mountain forests.