BOSTON — June 24 , 2003 — Ian A. Bowles will be the next Executive Director of the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC), Gloria Cordes Larson and Peter Meade, Co-chairmen of the MassINC Board of Directors, announced today. Bowles begins his position July 14, 2003.
A well-respected public policy expert, Bowles has worked at the highest levels of government on both sides of the aisle and has held top positions in the foundation and nonprofit worlds. Bowles is currently a Senior Advisor to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a charitable foundation established by the co-founder of the Intel Corporation. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
“As MassINC begins an important new chapter in its growth and development, we are fortunate to have found someone with Ian’s extraordinary blend of talents and experiences,” said Larson. “His proven commitment to public policy and public service will enhance every aspect of our organization and expand our impact in the Commonwealth and beyond.”
As Executive Director, Bowles takes charge of MassINC’s daily operations and long-term strategic planning, including research, journalism and public education projects. Bowles will serve as Publisher of CommonWealth magazine, MassINC’s independent journal of politics, ideas, and civic life.
“There is no other organization quite like MassINC. I am gratified and excited to be taking on this leadership role,” said Bowles. “At a time when both our national and state capitals are dominated by partisanship, MassINC’s unique brand of objective public policy analysis is needed more than ever. I am looking forward to building on the organization’s already impressive contributions to civic life and sharing its mission with an even wider audience.”
From 1999 – 2001, Bowles served in the White House as Senior Director of Environmental Affairs at the National Security Council, overseeing the development and coordination of U.S. policy related to international environmental issues. Prior to this appointment, he played a central role in growing and leading Conservation International (CI), a major nonprofit with a presence in 37 countries. Serving most recently as Vice President, Bowles directed the organization’s policy research, led various financing and funding programs, and managed CI’s relationships with international and domestic government agencies.
Bowles began his career as a legislative aide to Congresswoman Claudine Schneider, a Rhode Island Republican who served from 1980 – 1990.
“In Ian Bowles we have found someone with a track record in public service and a passion for MassINC’s mission,” said Meade. “The Board was extremely impressed, not only with his extensive government and nonprofit experience, but with his strong sense of community and his desire to give back, whether through his writing, teaching, or his own candidacy for public office.”
Bowles has taught public policy at Oxford University, published widely on public policy issues and served on several non-profit and private sector boards. In 1996, he ran for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District, which includes his hometown of Falmouth.
Bowles succeeds Tripp Jones, MassINC’s founding Executive Director, who remains on the organization’s Board of Directors. Jones stepped down as Executive Director at the end of January to become Senior Vice President of the Mentor Network.
A graduate of Harvard University, Bowles lives with his wife Hannah in Charlestown.