Sengebau was appointed as Minister in 2013. He is responsible for the management, protection and development of Palau’s natural resources as well as guiding the implementation of the Protected Areas Network programme and the Palau National Marine Sanctuary initiative. Sengebau also oversees the implementation of tourism policy targeting high-value tourism and the new brand, “Pristine Paradise. Palau.” Prior to being minister, he served as deputy director of The Nature Conservancy, Micronesia programme, leading the implementation of conservation programmes within Palau, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. He holds an MS degree in environmental science from the University of Guam and a BA degree in Anthropology and Pacific Islands’ history from the University of Hawaii–Manoa. He is a member of the Palau Conservation Society board of directors as well as the Protected Areas Network Fund.