A former diplomat and a passionate arts and culture supporter, Rob McDowell is running for election to Vancouver City Council in the November municipal election.
He has been heavily involved in community improvement, both in Vancouver and abroad.
He has volunteered on numerous non-profit boards, including the ScotiaBank Dance Centre, the Comedy Festival and the Radical System Arts Society.
McDowell has worked abroad covering Indochina for The Economist Group. He was appointed as a Trade Officer at the Canadian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, then Director of Canada’s Trade Office in Ho Chi Minh City. He was appointed as the Canadian Consul in Guangzhou, China before his return to Vancouver in 2000.
Since returning to Vancouver, McDowell has built a thriving international project-management business. He has worked with the BC Centre for Disease Control setting up HIV/STI clinics in Vietnam and as the Deputy Regional Director for the Canada South East Asia Regional HIV Program.
McDowell worked for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympics, managing protocol operations at the opening, closing, and nightly medal ceremonies.
He is the current Operations Manager for Academics without Borders Canada, and was recently appointed to the BC Health Professions Review Board.
McDowell, the NPA Caucus Liaison, has represented the party on CBC Radio Early Edition’s Civic Affairs panel.
As Strata President for his 300-unit complex, he has been involved in neighbourhood issues and development in Yaletown over the past 14 years.
McDowell received his degree from the University of Victoria and completed post-graduate studies at Vancouver’s Capilano University. He resides in Yaletown with his partner.
Facebook: facebook.com/npavancouver
Twitter: twitter.com/R_McDowell
Website: npavancouver2014.ca
