Alberto Palombo is an industrial engineer with advanced degrees in systems, operations research, and integrated water resources management. For almost 40 years, his professional career has focused on topics related to water, environment, energy, agriculture, regional development, integration of information and knowledge, and promotion of new businesses and processes based on digital innovation, sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.

He has worked in various capacities for agencies of the United Nations, Organization of American States, multilateral development banks, national and international non-governmental organizations, and private companies in Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, United States, and Venezuela. He was appointed as Board Secretary and Executive Director of the Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN) until 2025, and through this initiative he serves as a regional focal point for water in the Civil Society Network of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-CSO). 

Alberto is CEO and partner of FOMENTA-X, Ltda., a company that offers consulting in project evaluation and strategic planning and promotes business intelligence and digital market platforms to connect private and public entrepreneurs, scientists, academics and investors through innovation for sustainability and the water-energy-food nexus, headquartered in Brasilia and with connections in Latin America, United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, he dedicates his time and efforts as a small farmer driven by science, technology, and innovation (Smart Farms) in the surroundings of Brasilia, in the middle of the Cerrado (savanna) biome.

He volunteers his time through Rotary International. He is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Brasilia International in District 4530, Brazil, and served as club president from 2019 to 2021 during the COVID pandemic. He is also an honorary member of the Rotary Club Bogotá Multicentro in District 4281 and has served on district teams of The Rotary Foundation, Humanitarian Services and Projects, and Rotary Community Corps (RCCs). He currently serves as the Technical Coordinator for environment and sustainability on The Rotary Foundation's Technical Advisory Team (CADRE) until 2026, certified in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), economic and community development, and environment and sustainability. He also serves as an evaluator for large-scale programs and was involved in the development of Rotary International's environmental policy in 2017, which served as the basis for the incorporation of the seventh area of focus into Rotary. He is an active member of the Rotary Action Groups for Water and Sanitation (WASH-RAG), Environmental Sustainability (ESRAG), Economic and Community Development (RAGCED), and the recently created Information Technology Professionals Forum Rotary Fellowship. In 2022, he served as Technical Vice-Chair of the Presidential Conference on Water, Environment and Disease Prevention under the auspices of President Shekhar Mehta and the current President-designate Mário César Martins de Camargo, who was the Chair of that Presidential Conference.

Alberto was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and now lives in Brasilia with his longtime partner, Maria do Carmo Zinato, also known as Cacá, who is also a dedicated Rotarian. Alberto has three sons in the next generation: David, Daniel and Julián, who now live in the United States.

Industrial & Systems Engineer

Founding member of the Rotary Club of Brasilia International - District 4530

Rotary Foundation Cadre Technical Coordinator

Board Member, Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)

Creator of the InnovaRotary Initiative