Winrock Names Robyn McGuckin as the Leader of its Environment Group
ARLINGTON, Va. (March 17, 2014) – Winrock International announced today that Robyn McGuckin will become the organizaiton’s new Vice President of the Environment group. McGuckin will lead Winrock programs in clean energy, ecosystem services and forestry & natural resource management, as well its American Carbon Registry unit.
McGuckin has nearly two decades of experience in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United States managing programs in energy, climate change and water at the municipal, regional, federal and international levels. Most recently, beginning in 2009, she created and directed a clean energy and sustainability venture for MWH Global after serving as head of MWH corporate-level strategy development and planning.
Previously, as program manager for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2005 to 2007, McGuckin led the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI), an eight-country, $68 million program to increase the energy security of South Asian countries through cross-border energy trade, improved energy regulatory structures and off-grid rural electrification. During this period she worked closely with Winrock’s clean energy division, which was responsible for the SARI Small Grants Program. McGuckin has also held positions with International Resources Group and Energetics.
In Iraq in 2004 and 2005, McGuckin served as USAID senior advisor in the energy sector. Her accomplishments include drafting the first Power Reconstruction Plan for Iraq in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Power, resulting in an approved budget from the U.S. Congress of $5.2 billion. McGuckin’s work in the Iraqi power sector has been highlighted in The Washington Post, Fortune magazine, IEEE Spectrum and in bestselling current affairs books including “Occupying Iraq: A History of the Coalition Provisional Authority,” by James Dobbins, Seth Jones, Benjamin Runkle and Siddarth Mohandas; and “Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush,” by Robert Draper.
According to Winrock President and CEO Rodney Ferguson, “Robyn brings a depth of technical expertise and global management experience that will help us expand our leadership role in environmental sustainability, renewable energy and ecosystem services, both here in the U.S. and around the world.”
McGuckin said she is thrilled to be joining Winrock. “I am honored to be a part of such an exceptional and prestigious team, and I look forward to continuing the extraordinary work of the Environment group in the U.S. and abroad,” she said.
McGuckin is a member of several boards, including the Colorado University Denver MBA Sustainability Committee, the Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization and iCAST (International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology). She has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Energy Professionals in the 2012 and 2013 “Who’s Who in Energy,” published by American City Business Journals.
McGuckin has a master’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in biological systems engineering from Virginia Technical Institute.
501-280-3076, 501-922-9226 (mobile) or mdavenport@winrock.org
Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. Winrock is headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., and has an office in Arlington, Va., with project offices worldwide.
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