Lawrence MacDonald

World Resources Institute

As Vice President for Communications at WRI, Lawrence leads the design and implementation of strategic communications plans and activities that help to make WRI’s big ideas happen. A development policy communications expert and former foreign correspondent, he works to increase the influence and impact of the Institute’s research and analysis by leading an integrated communications program that includes online engagement, media relations, events, and government and NGO outreach. He is responsible for strengthening communications capacity across the Institute, including in Washington and in the growing international offices.

Before joining WRI in October 2014, Lawrence worked for 10 years at the Center for Global Development (CGD), a Washington, DC, based think-and-do tank, where he was part of a small leadership team that earned the Center an international reputation for turning ideas into action to promote shared global prosperity. In addition to his role as CGD Vice President for Communications and Policy Outreach, he hosted a weekly podcast, The Global Prosperity Wonkcast, and published essays on think tank operations and policy change. His recent CGD papers include Citizen Voice in a Globalized World and Deliberative Polling as a Catalyst for Action on Climate Change