John Whalen

President, Pact Institute

John Whalen currently serves as President of the Pact Institute, a subsidiary of Pact, Inc., based in Washington, DC. Under John’s leadership, Pact Institute focuses on programmatic innovation, productization, thought leadership, and partnerships to complement the work of Pact’s 2,500 staff globally in over 24 countries in Africa and Asia. John has over 25 years of experience in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors working in international affairs, community-building, and technology innovation. His particular interest and expertise is in using web-based community platforms to connect thought leaders in international affairs to best practices in their areas of specialization. Pact Institute works collaboratively with innovative development approaches supporting project work with donors such as the Rockefeller Foundation, the Gates Foundation, WalMart, Chevron, the Oak Foundation, the Nike Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, Danida, and others.

Prior to joining Pact Institute, John served on the Board of Directors of Pact from 2007 through 2010 (serving on the Executive Committee and the Chairman of the Board of Pact Institute). From 2001 through 2010, John served as the CEO of CoreWeb, a Boston-based consulting firm, that focused on advising nonprofits in creating engagement strategies for community building among their base of supporters as well utilizing web 2.0 online platforms to connect their members. The firm published original research and practical innovative methodologies for energizing members to do more in fundraising, advocacy, recruitment, volunteerism, events, knowledge sharing, and social networking. The firm’s products support metrics-based management of member activity to better serve the nonprofit’s mission.

From 1994-2000, John served as a foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department with stints in Ecuador (consular officer), New Zealand (political/economic officer), Kosovo (peacekeeping volunteer during cease fire), Guinea (refugee officer), and the Main State Department Office of Operations in Washington, DC. John holds an MSFS from Georgetown University (1992) in International Business Diplomacy and International Trade Policy as well as a BA in Computer Science and Mathematics from New York University (1985).

John resides in the Boston area but travels to Washington DC weekly and frequently to Pact offices and programs overseas.”