Rian Watt

About Rian Watt

I\'m the Executive Director of the Economic Opportunity Institute. Our vision is for Washington State to be a national model of economic opportunity – with an economy that truly works for everyone. Our mission is to equip the public and public decision-makers with the policy research and practical tools they need to embed the values of fairness, care, and opportunity into the foundations of our state’s economy – and thereby support thriving people and communities across the state. Prior to joining EOI, I led the international team at Community Solutions, building organizations designed to end homelessness across Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Prior to CS, I led or supported research, technical assistance, & evaluation projects for federal, state, and philanthropic clients at Abt Associates (now Abt Global), a national research and evaluation firm, with a focus on housing, homelessness, and anti-poverty efforts. Prior to Abt, I worked for Deloitte Consulting\'s federal organizational transformation practice out of Washington, DC. In Seattle, where I live, I serve on the board of The Urbanist, an advocacy journalism organization whose mission is to tell stories that inform and influence the public and their leaders — and win them to our vision of people-centered cities in the Puget Sound region. I also serve on the board of Futurewise, a statewide land use organization for housing affordability statewide. I’ve previously volunteered as a commissioner on the Seattle Planning Commission and worked as a direct service Meal Coordinator for Teen Feed, a low-barrier meal program for homeless and unstably housed youth. In a prior life, I worked as a freelance sportswriter, covering the Mariners, the Red Sox, the Cubs, and national baseball as a member of the Baseball Writers\' Association of America. I’ve had bylines at The Athletic, Baseball Prospectus, Chicago magazine, FanGraphs, FiveThirtyEight, The Ringer, the Sporting News, and VICE Sports.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Economic Opportunity Institute

   Apr 2024 — Present

   Our vision is for Washington State to be a national model of economic opportunity – with an economy that truly works for everyone. Our mission is to equip the public and public decision-makers with the policy research and practical tools they need to embed the values of fairness, care, and opportunity into the foundations of our state’s economy.We have been centrally involved in the passage and implementation of multiple pieces of landmark legislation in Washington State, including in the last decade the Paid Family and Medical Leave program (2017), Cascade Care (2019), and the Millionaire\'s Tax (2026).

Education

• Clark University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

  Master of Science (MSc)