Ryan Whalen currently serves as Senior Advisor at Bloomberg Philanthropies. He is the former Director for Initiatives & Strategy at The Rockefeller Foundation, where he focused on developing the Foundation’s cross-sectoral partnerships with the public and private sectors, as well as the management of its global program team.  Based in New York, Nairobi, and Bangkok, his team developed strategies and executed initiatives around the world in support of the Foundation’s goals of building resilience and inclusive economies.

Prior to joining Rockefeller, Ryan worked in senior capacities in New York City Hall, the United States Senate, and on political campaigns at the city, state, and national levels. Most recently he served in the office of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as Chief of Staff for Government Affairs and Communications. Before that, he was Special Assistant to Senator Charles Schumer and later became Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.  His campaign experience includes serving as Director of Digital and Data for Mayor Bloomberg’s 2009 reelection campaign, and in various capacities for the Mayor’s 2005 reelection campaign, Kerry for President 2004, and Senate races in Oregon and Massachusetts.

Ryan received his B.A. with honors from Trinity College and a Master of Urban Planning from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.