Peter Boone was a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo
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[Peter Boone]
Meet . . . Peter Boone
Focus @ SRI:
International economic development
Title and Location:
Principal Economist, Center for Science, Technology & Economic Development in SRI's Washington, D.C. office
Day in the Life @ SRI:
Doing economic research for a client, or writing a proposal for new work, or traveling overseas on project work. I have been very fortunate in the wide range of work experiences that I have had in more than 40 countries since I joined SRI 15 years ago. The regions of the world in which I have worked include North America, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, and Australia. Pretty much the whole world!
Before SRI:
I worked as a senior economic advisor to the government of Papua New Guinea. Before that, I worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Earlier, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa.
Academics:
Master's degree in international economic development from Cornell University
B. A. in American studies from Colby College
Why SRI?
I like SRI's mission of being an innovative, problem-solving, nonprofit organization that is helping society. SRI is a unique place and offers a friendly and challenging work environment. SRI colleagues are very supportive and are great all-around people!
Inspiration and Motivation:
I am inspired by dedicated people who are honest and sincere. I am motivated by clients who have a real need for help on important issues. I also have a terrific uncle who is a very accomplished economist (advisor to President Carter) and has been a great role model and personal source of inspiration for me.
Away from the Office:
I dedicate a great deal of my time and energy to raising my wonderful teenagers. I really enjoy the outdoors and anything athletic. I play ice hockey on a team in Northern Virginia. I like going to concerts, movies, and restaurants (especially semi-exotic ones like Afghani, Middle Eastern, or African). I like cooking, too. I have been in a fun book club with good friends for the past 14 years. I also have a cabin in the mountains in West Virginia. Finally, a very close friend of mine is teaching me how to contra dance.
Dream Job (if you weren't at SRI...):
Being an elementary school teacher. Teaching is really fun for me. I love young children since they have such open and creative minds!
Languages:
French, Melanesian Pidgin, and Mina (spoken in Togo, West Africa)
Proudest Professional Accomplishment:
There are so many different ones it is hard to say! The greatest SRI accomplishments that come to mind include providing the new government of South Africa in 1993 with an economic strategy (which it adopted) for creating employment for the poor black population; being the "honest broker" in getting the Lebanese agricultural industry to cooperate (on an export strategy) for the first time since before the country's 20-year civil war; personally designing and implementing a project for USAID/Egypt that successfully delivered vocational training to 9,000 Egyptian hotel workers; and having our recommendations for a new intellectual property regime in the Philippines personally endorsed by President Ramos.
Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
Be open-minded about doing different things. Talk to people who have more experience. Find out what kinds of projects they are working on and how you can help them. Learn from them. Strive to do things that help your clients solve important problems and enhance SRI's reputation for doing outstanding work. Enjoy the thrill of achievement.
Favorites:
My favorite book read this year was Yann Martel's Life of Pi -- a very imaginative book. My favorite movie of all time is Casablanca. My preferred Web site is probably Google -- since I use it every day! My favorite collectible is a coin collection that I have had since I was eight years old.
