Jill Valdés Horwood

Jill Valdés Horwood joined Barr in 2019. She serves as director of the Boston Waterfront Initiative and leads efforts to promote a great public realm throughout the Boston Harbor waterfront. The initiative aims to ensure that all people and neighborhoods have access to and benefit from a vibrant, inclusive, and climate-resilient Boston waterfront now and in the future, with a particular urgency to address disparities in social and economic opportunities.

Prior to joining Barr, Jill served as Boston Harbor Now's Director of Policy. In this capacity she worked closely with City and State permitting agencies and waterfront stakeholders on all state, municipal and federal waterfront policy issues affecting Boston’s waterfront, harbor and islands, especially regarding waterfront development, public access, and climate preparedness. Before shifting her focus to Boston Harbor, Jill did legal work to support students with special education needs, victims of domestic violence, and underserved populations facing court-ordered mediation foreclosure proceedings.

Jill holds a J.D. with a certificate in Public Interest Law from DePaul University College of Law and an LL.M. in Maritime Law from the University of Miami where she also received her undergraduate degree in Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Maritime Business Management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Jill serves on the board of the Disability Law Center and contributes to the planning and execution of all graphic design elements for the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association’s annual gala. A former Conservation Commissioner, Jill was proud to serve the City of Boston as the first Cuban-American woman appointed by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

On the rare occasion that she isn’t doing something maritime related, Jill enjoys discovering new music, all kinds of live music events, and volunteering for local charities--especially those working to improve research and development of medical devices to aid in the management of Type 1 diabetes.