BENEDICT IS A RESEARCHER WORKING IN THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR PRIMARILY SPECIALISING IN RESEARCH INTO ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE DATA AS WELL AS WORKING IN AREAS AS DIVERSE AS CLIMATE RISK, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. PRIOR TO THIS HE WORKED AS A BUSINESS RESEARCHER FOR JAPANESE BUSINESSES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERING FOR A VARIETY OF NONPROFITS. HE RECEIVED HIS BA IN JAPANESE AND HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY FROM SOAS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.