John Works is a 7th generation lineal descendant of Thomas Jefferson through the marriage of his granddaughter, Ellen Wayles Randolph of Monticello, Virginia, to Joseph Coolidge of Boston, Massachusetts. He brings a lifelong dedication to the preservation of the Jeffersonian legacy and is a past President of The Monticello Association, the organization of lineal descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Works is currently a leader within the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, where he serves as the Editor of the society’s triannual newsletter. His commitment to historical stewardship is further reflected in his leadership roles within the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York (Board Member and Assistant Registrar), the Jamestowne Society, and the Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Professionally, Mr. Works is the principal of John Works Advisory, providing high-level counsel in international finance and capital raising, with a focus on Swiss private banking and both conventional and renewable energy projects. Most recently, he was elected to the Board of Directors of a Swiss private bank, following a formal vetting by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Notably, he served as the inaugural Senior Transaction Advisor for President Obama’s Power Africa initiative—one of the program’s four key personnel positions–where he led a team of 20 investment bankers across sub-Saharan Africa to resolve financial obstacles and successfully reach financial close on over 3,400 MW of grid-connected power. A recognized expert in complex financial structures, he frequently serves as an expert witness in high-stakes litigation within the energy sector. In the academic sphere, he served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He holds a Juris Doctor from the same institution, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Denver Journal of International Law & Policy. His professional foundation in global markets was established in Paris, where he graduated from Sciences Po (Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris) with a specialization in international economics.
