Firmin Backer

Firmin Backer is the President and co-founder of HRA (formerly known as Haiti Renewal Alliance) a non-profit organization that promotes business development and investment in Haiti and connects Haiti to the global marketplace. Under his leadership, HRA has successfully spearheaded six trade shows nationally and internationally promoting the “Haiti is open for business.” The Expo has resulted in the formation of several new start-ups businesses, in-country partnerships, increased positive image of Haiti, but more importantly re-engage Diaspora to return, work, invest and do business for Haiti’s economic development. In addition, in partnership with IOM (International Organization for Migration) Firmin has led the development of the Haitian Diaspora Emergency Response Unit and OneDiaspora, a framework to coordinate the Haitian Diaspora to respond to Humanitarian Assistance, an initiative funded by the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance at the USAID. Professionally, Mr. Backer is an intellectual property expert with over 22 years of experience as a Supervisor Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the Dept. of Commerce. Firmin is an electrical engineer and scientist by trade with subject matter in technical innovations, quality assurance, and power energy. He holds multiple advanced degrees from Stony Brook and NYU, New York University and has worked on Doctorate in Physics at Western Michigan University.