Sebastian’s 30-year career as a professional and academic spans diplomacy, law enforcement, journalism, education, and research.

He spent a decade with the U.S. Department of State on policies, enforcement, and investigations to combat irregular migration, human smuggling, transnational document fraud, and extraditions; and also conducted personnel suitability background investigations.

Prior to government service Sebastian worked for over 15 years as a photographer, writer, photo editor, and visual researcher, including roles at National Geographic News and The Associated Press and with other newspapers, magazines, photo agencies, and media-tech startups across the U.S. and India.. He also spent six years developing K-12 educational curricula for K12 Inc.

Currently pursuing an Advanced Master’s in Digital Humanities at KU Leuven in Belgium, Sebastian holds Master’s degrees in Geology and Communication/Journalism from India, alongside a certification in Digital Curation from the University of Maryland.

Trained in culinary arts with a Diploma in Peruvian Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu Peru and additional studies at ACAM Culinary School in Guatemala, he focuses on Indian, Latin American, and American cuisines. A former national athlete, Sebastian holds a 2nd-degree Judo black belt (IJF-certified instructor and national referee in the U.S. and Belgium) and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Having lived in Peru, Guatemala, India, Tanzania, and Belgium, he speaks English, Spanish, multiple Indian languages, and is learning French.