Mark Robinson Appointed to Lead WRI’s Governance Center

WASHINGTON (January 22, 2015) – The World Resources Institute announced that Mark Robinson will be the global director for Governance. In this capacity, Robinson will direct WRI’s Governance Center and provide strategic and intellectual leadership, including around WRI’s analysis, strategy, fundraising and management. He will provide insights and guidance on governance issues across the institute.

“Mark is a talented leader and deep thinker, who has demonstrated how to combine first class research with practical action,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, president and CEO, WRI. “Across many of our priority issues, governance is at the core of how to create a more sustainable planet that responds to the needs of people. We look forward to Mark’s leadership to expand people’s rights and voice on environmental issues.”

A widely respected figure in the international development community, Robinson has held numerous leadership and management roles, most recently at the UK Department for International Development (DFID). He has deep experience in research and applied policy work on governance, transparency and conflict issues. He has also held senior positions at the Institute for Development Studies, Ford Foundation, and the Overseas Development Institute.

“I believe the time is ripe to place governance at the heart of research and applied policy work on climate and sustainable development,” said Robinson. “WRI is uniquely placed to bridge the governance and environment policy communities through a firm grounding in civil society and its legitimacy in international organizations and national governments. I am excited at the opportunity of leading efforts to mainstream accountability, transparency and participation across the range of WRI’s programs.”

WRI’s governance work cuts across multiple programs. Because climate change disproportionately affects the world’s most impoverished communities, WRI is working to give vulnerable communities a greater voice and rights to enhance their resilience. The Governance Center also helps policymakers, businesses and institutions embrace democratic principles that safeguard human rights. The Governance Center includes initiatives on land and resource rights, freedom of information via The Access Initiative, access to electricity, climate adaptation, sustainable development, energy, and more.

Peter Veit has served as acting director of the Governance Center and will continue his role as project manager of the Land and Resource Rights Initiative, which launched a breakthrough report in 2014 that found strengthening community forest rights can significantly decrease deforestation and mitigate climate change.

“Peter has been a very effective leader of WRI’s governance activities, bringing great vision and character. His efforts have strengthened human rights and improved transparency of governments and businesses around the world,” said Steer. “With the additional benefits of Mark’s experience, we are excited to scale up WRI’s governance work and impact in the days ahead.”

For more information on WRI’s Governance Center and initiatives visit: http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/governance.