Dr Tidiane Ouattara received a PhD and a master’s degree in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from Sherbrooke University (Canada) in 2001 and 1996, respectively. He also holds a master’s degree in physical geography from Université de Cocody-Abidjan (Côte-d’Ivoire). Dr Ouattara graduated in Leadership for Canadian federal government public service executives. Presently, Dr Ouattara heads the Science, Technology and Space Division at the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union Commission and was recently appointed the President of the African Space Council.
He has gained tremendous experience in international relations and business development, research and development (R&D), strategic policy development and program management issues related to the environment, natural resources, and sciences and technology. He successively occupied the following positions:
African Union Commission:
- President of the African Space Council, African Space Agency (February 2024 – Present),
- Head of the Science, Technology and Space Division at the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (January 2024 – Present),
- Space Science Expert leading the development and implementation of the African Outer Space Programme as well as the African Space Policy and Strategy (2016-Present).
Canadian Government:
Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada (2010-2016):
- Manager, Geospatial Data Management Section,
- Head Manager, Landscape and Ecosystem Assessment Planning and Coordination Section.
Department of Natural Resources Canada (2002-2004 and 2006-2010):
- Senior Science and Policy Advisor for the Assistant Deputy Minister, the Chief Scientist,
- Head of knowledge management, bilateral and multilateral strategies Unit,
- Manager of Canadian Digital Elevation Model Programme using satellite images,
- Researcher and International Relations officer in geomatics (earth observation, mapping, GPS and Geographical Information Systems).
Canadian Space Agency (2004-2006):
- International Relations Manager in charge of Africa, Central and South America and the United Nations;
Earth Observation, Navigation and Positioning, Robotics and Space Sciences portfolios.
Private Sector (2001-2022)
- Geomat International, Montreal: Researcher in charge of developing methodologies for earth observation applied to specialized crops,
- INERA (Burkina Faso): Consultant in training in earth observation (principle and application to agriculture and environment).
The University of Sherbrooke, Canada (1996-2001)
- Lecturer in earth observation, physical geography, African geopolitics and sociocultural issues.