Lesther Balmatero is an urban planner and development professional who graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. He furthered his studies at the same university, earning a Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning, specializing in Environmental Planning.
Wearing many hats, Lesther stands at the forefront of innovations in the development sector. He currently serves as a project consultant for the USAID Urban Connect Project, assisting secondary cities in the Philippines with economic development and public service delivery. Lesther is also the Activity Lead for the research component of the USAID Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) Project. Additionally, he is a lecturer at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), where he teaches courses on Leadership and Citizenship.
His previous roles include serving as a Legislative Consultant at the House of Representatives, a Research Associate at the Center for Leadership, Citizenship, and Democracy (CLCD), and a lecturer at Taguig City University and Kalayaan College. Lesther has co-authored multiple articles on topics including Leadership, Citizenship, Public Finance, the Philippine Justice System, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Biodiversity Impact Assessment, and Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs).
