Richard Abendan is the Chief of Party for the USAID-funded U.S.-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) Project. Previously, he led the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE), a USAID-funded project enabling innovation to drive economic growth in the Philippines. With an academic and professional background in chemistry, Dr. Abendan is known for his skills in project management, scientific research and product development, and building networks among stakeholders.
As Chief of Party for STRIDE, Dr. Abendan worked with government and the private sector to maximize the impact of science and technology to the growth trajectory of the Philippines. The project harnessed the intellectual capital of higher education institutions, linking faculty and graduates to innovative opportunities in the country’s rapidly growing economy. Dr. Abendan designed and managed a wide range of interventions in policy, training, capacity development, and partnership creation, with the goal of achieving self-reliance of key innovation stakeholders within a collaborative environment.
Dr. Abendan joined RTI in 2014. Previously, he was a pharmaceutical scientist with GlaxoSmithKline, working on drug product development teams and directing research on novel analytical techniques. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at Ateneo de Manila University, teaching chemistry and leading thesis research for undergraduates. A licensed chemist with the Philippine Regulatory Commission, he is a member of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering. He is a native speaker and writer of both English and Filipino.
