Leslie Koch is the president of The Trust for Governors Island.   

Governors Island is a 172 acre island in New York Harbor. Ms. Koch is responsible for the planning, redevelopment and on-going operation of the 150 acres of the Island owned by The Trust.

Under her direction since 2006, Governors Island has been transformed from an abandoned military base into a vibrant public space, welcoming hundreds of thousands of seasonal visitors and a diverse array of arts and cultural programs. Ms. Koch oversees an ambitious $300 million capital program which is adding 40 new acres of park and bringing the Island’s infrastructure into the 21st century. Ms. Koch is considered a leader in public-private partnerships, attracting new tenants and philanthropic support for the Hills, the centerpiece of the Island’s transformation. Her leadership has received recognition from such organizations as the American Institute of Architects and the Municipal Art Society, among others.

Prior to The Trust, Ms. Koch was the CEO of the Fund for Public Schools, the nonprofit organization affiliated with the New York City Department of Education. She increased public participation in education and secured nearly $160 million in private sector support.

Ms. Koch previously was an executive at Microsoft. A native New Yorker, she received a BA summa cum laude from Yale College and a MPPM from the Yale School of Management. She lives in Brooklyn.