Juan Carlos received his bachelor´s degree in Economics from ITAM and his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Essex. He was professor at ITAM from 1985 to 1991. Apart from ITAM he has also taught at Queen Mary College of the University of London, Dartmouth College and at the Goldman School of Public Policy of the University of California at Berkeley. His positions in the public sector include: General Director for Economic and Social Analysis at the Department of Social Development (SEDESOL) and Under-Secretary for Planning at the Environment and Natural Resource Ministry (SEMARNAP). His positions in international organizations include: Coordinator for the Southern Hemisphere of the Global International Waters Assessment and Lead Environmental Economist at the World Bank. Before returning to ITAM as Director of the Energy and Natural Resources Centre, he was the Executive Director of the Centro Mario Molina in Mexico City.