David Smillie is a Program Operations Associate on Climate Policy Initiative’s Austria team.

He supports the coordination and delivery of CPI’s Austria program portfolio, working across program operations, grants management, compliance, reporting, and cross-functional coordination. In this role, David helps ensure projects are delivered efficiently and in accordance with donor and organizational requirements.

Prior to joining CPI, David held several program management and operations roles at the Resettlement Support Centre Austria, where he supported the operational delivery of a US Government-funded refugee resettlement program. He also worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), supporting regional migration and border governance programs across project development, donor compliance, and program implementation.

Earlier in his career, David worked in bid and proposal management for a construction cost consultancy in Cairo and held investigations, intelligence, and operational roles with the UK Border Force. His areas of expertise include program operations, grants management, donor compliance, and strengthening the systems and processes that enable organizations to deliver complex international programs effectively. David holds a Bachelor’s degree with Merit in Political Studies from the University of Stirling, Scotland.