Robert E. Jones ’20 is vice president of strategic partnerships, industry leadership, and impact at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). In this role, he plays a vital part of building out and activating elements of the college’s long-term strategic plan, strengthening its global presence, and amplifying its influence across the culinary, food, beverage, and hospitality sectors. Jones also oversees CIA’s flagship industry leadership conferences, including Menus of Change®; Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives®; and the Worlds of Flavor® International Conference and Festival.
Widely recognized as a global leader in food-systems policy and thought leadership, Jones served as vice president of Global Public Affairs for Mosa Meat, a Netherlands-based food-tech startup that was in the top 10 of TIME’s “World’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2025.” He also served as board president of Cellular Agriculture Europe, the Brussels-based trade association representing small- and medium-sized enterprises and multinationals, including Nestlé.
He has been a formal advisor to many prominent organizations, including Food for Climate League, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Protein Diversification Think Tank. In addition, he was an agrifood mentor for the 100x Impact Accelerator.
Before moving to Europe, Jones spent more than 20 years in U.S. public policy, government affairs, and partnership roles, including as an appointee in both Democratic and Republican administrations, advising the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on sustainable seafood issues.
This experience sparked his passion for food-systems change, which led him to CIA to expand his knowledge. In 2020, he completed CIA’s Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program at CIA at Greystone. He also holds a Master of Science in Social Business and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Master of Arts in Political Management from The George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Outside of work, Jones, a native of Corpus Christi, TX, can be found experimenting in the kitchen, fly fishing, or spending time on the family cattle ranch in Texas.