After completing university, Neil started his career as a research geophysicist for Chevron Oil where he was employed in the 1980s and 90s. In 1996, he switched career paths and worked as a climate change consultant in Canada (Woodrising Consuing Inc.) where he evaluated and developed JI and CDM projects in LULUCF, particularly in Latin America. In 2005, he was given the opportunity to participate in research projects on climate change at JOANNEUM RESEARCH. Since then, Neil has participated in a few international organizations. From May 2007 to November 2017, Neil served as a methodological expert for LULUCF on the Afforestation / Reforestation working group of UNFCCC Secretariat, CDM Executive Board. From October 2007 to December 2012, Mr. Bird was the Task co-leader of IEA Bioenergy Task-38. He is a member of the advisory editorial board of Global Change Biology Bioenergy and Advances in Climate Change Research. He is an active member of the Gold Standard Technical Advisory Committee for land use change and forestry. Neil holds a BSc in Solid Earth Geophysics and an MSc in Seismology. He is a native English speaker and has good knowledge of Spanish, German and French.