Raj Buch has been instrumental in collaboratively building ASU’s Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service since 2012, a hybrid, university-based sustainability solutions knowledge and discovery practice, with applied research and solutions development work. He currently serves in multiple inter-related roles at ASU.

As Director of Business Development, Raj drives the Solution Service’s efforts to co-create transformative solutions for sustainability challenges faced by organizations around the world by linking ASU researchers to funding agencies, and by fostering partnerships with the public and private sectors, foundations and NGOs.

As Circular Economy Practice Lead, he integrates various disciplines across the university to co-create and advance ethical circular economy knowledge, discovery and solutions, and by building collaborative networks with domestic and international governmental, philanthropic and private sector funders and implementing partners. In this role, Raj played a critical role in building the successful partnership with the $2.75 million City of Phoenix Resource Innovation and Solutions Network (RISN) program that led to research and applied projects to design systemic circular economy solutions at local and regional scales, including the RISN Incubator. He has also built curricula and taught classes on ethical circular economy for graduate students and professionals and conducted workshops.

As Director of Sustainability Practice with ASU’s International Development office, he leads ASU’s pursuit of sustainability-related funding opportunities with USAID and other international development funders, building the necessary partnerships with international development firms, and aligning ASU’s capabilities in the many sustainability-related sectors in the international development realm.