Nélson Belo is a Founder, and current Director of NGO Fundasaun Mahein (FM www.fundasaunmahein.org), a prominent Timorese NGO established to increase citizen participation in the development of Timor-Leste’s Security Sector. He’s been Policy Advisor for the Minister of Presidency/ Council Ministers (June 2020- June 2023), Policy Advisor to Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary (2017-2019), and was member of the State Supreme Council of Defense and Security, which was chaired by President of Republic Taur Matan Ruak, - 2012-2017. Nélson Belo previously served as Co-Funder and Deputy Director of the Judicial System Monitoring Program ((JSMP https://jsmp.tl) 2001-2004), President of the United States East-Timor Student Association (USETSA 2006-2007), a UN Political Affairs Analyst for UNMIT in (2008-2009), and has contributed to numerous research papers on security and justice related topics in Timor-Leste.