Ted Kowalski is a senior program lead for the Walton Family Foundation’s Environment Program, where he leads the Policy Initiative for work in the United States, Mexico, Peru and Indonesia, as well as several global policy initiatives. Ted focuses on champion-building and advancing and strengthening nature-based solutions that lead to improved outcomes for rivers, oceans, watersheds and communities. Ted previously led the foundation’s Colorado River initiative, aligning policy and market incentives to support improved management throughout the basin.

Prior to joining the foundation, Ted led the interstate, federal and water information programs for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Ted is recognized for his deep expertise in water law, policy and management, and the role that philanthropy can play to drive change for watersheds and communities.

Ted has a lifelong love of rivers and oceans, and enjoys exploring the natural world through skiing, hiking, mountain biking, scuba diving and river running. Ted received a J.D. and certificate of natural resources law and policy from the University of Colorado School of Law, and a B.A. in government from Cornell University.