Brian Arbogast

About Brian Arbogast

I\'m an executive who has successfully led teams and developed and executed innovative strategies in fields as disparate as global water & sanitation and leading-edge software development.My ideal next professional role involves leading a team tackling complex, high-impact problems with the potential for global reach. I am particularly drawn to challenges that:• Leverage the growing capacities of AI in ways that strengthen communities• Accelerate pathways to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions & avoid tipping points• Build urban resilience in the face of climate change• Address other pressing global challenges, especially those with impact on urban AfricaIn my role as Director of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene team at the Gates Foundation, I led a team developing innovative, scalable solutions to the global sanitation crisis, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Our diverse investments ranged from supporting deep technological innovation (e.g. our BHAG of Reinventing the Toilet), fundamental research in physical and social sciences, and funding local experts in policy and implementation, to supporting specialists embedded within strategic partners like the World Bank & UNICEF to scale solutions and accelerate learning. Prior to that, I spent 22 years at Microsoft, starting as a software engineer and culminating in a decade as a Vice President overseeing an international portfolio of cutting-edge R&D projects. These experiences honed my ability to lead large-scale initiatives that demand deep systems thinking and technical innovation. In between, I spent three years working on clean tech, technology strategy, and international development. My focus was on market-driven solutions to critical challenges, from empowering clean tech startups to enabling economic self-reliance in under-served communities.Strengths:• Driving ambitious projects that demand strategic insight, technical innovation, and collaboration• Building and leading high-performing teams and partnerships• Developing and executing technical and business strategies• Identifying and mentoring emerging If you’re working on a bold initiative with massive potential for impact and need a leader to help bring it to fruition, I would love to

Experience

1. Advisor

   Temperate

   Dec 2025 — Present

Education

• University of Waterloo

  Bachelor of Mathematics, Computer Science with Electrical Engineering

• Bainbridge Graduate Institute

  Certificate in Sustainable Business

  2010 — 2011