Jack Murray to work with partners to help advance access and opportunity on Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands
Boston Harbor Now has announced the hiring of experienced senior executive Jack Murray as the organization’s new Vice President for Partnerships & Operations. In this capacity, Mr. Murray will help lead Boston Harbor Now’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with government, the business community and partner organizations advocating for increased awareness and public access to Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands.
“We’re excited to have Jack join the team as our VP for Partnerships and Operations” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “Boston Harbor and its Islands are undergoing a renaissance and attract millions every year to visit, live, work and play by the waterfront. Jack brings a wealth of experience working in the public, private and non-profit sectors throughout Massachusetts and will be invaluable in creating the kind of effective partnerships to help keep the region’s largest natural resource activated and accessible for all.”
“Boston Harbor is both a magnificent public resource and an economic catalyst for our region.” said Murray. “With Boston continuing to grow and innovate, we’re reaching a critical decision point about how we best optimize these key assets. With Boston Harbor Now, I’m committed to ensuring that we’re inclusive of input and ideas from the many stakeholders throughout the region who care passionately about the Harbor’s future.”
Murray is a veteran manager of policy and program initiatives related to transportation, conservation, recreation and the environment. He most recently worked as the Northeast Director of Public Affairs for Kinder Morgan where his responsibilities included stakeholder relations, community relations and government affairs. During the Patrick Administration, he served as Deputy Commissioner for Park Operations for 6 years before becoming Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, where he managed all aspects of the state’s parks agency and its 450,000 acres of state parkland. Throughout his career Murray has also collaborated extensively with non-profits, conducting project work as a consultant for City Year as well as the United States Public Health Service and Hands On Network, for whom he coordinated recovery and relief activities in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi following Hurricane Katrina.
Earlier experience includes several years at the US Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. where he was appointed as the Deputy Administrator at The Research and Special Programs Administration and as White House Liaison and Special Assistant to US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater. From 1991-1998 he worked as an Environmental Project Manager on Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel Project for the engineering firm BSC Group. His career began with a number of roles related to Boston Harbor at the City of Boston’s Environment Department.
Jack is a Boston native and a graduate of Boston Latin School. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from The University of Massachusetts, Boston and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His commitment to Boston is further reflected in his non-profit board service, which has included tenures at The Boston Harbor Association, The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, The Boston Museum of Science, Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, and US Joint Base Cape Cod Environmental Management Council.
About Boston Harbor Now:
Boston Harbor Now works in partnership with others in the public, for profit, and non-profit sectors to plan, advocate and activate a thriving waterfront, harbor, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.
Boston Harbor Now’s comprehensive approach to the harbor prioritizes equitable public access through parks and open spaces including the HarborWalk; well-designed infrastructure and ferries; maritime industry and other marine-related economic drivers; mixed-use and mixed-income climate-resilient waterfront development; programming that promotes recreational and educational uses; and maintenance of the clean harbor.
