Opening Reception Speakers

Govenor Chris Gregoire is the CEO of Challenge Seattle, an alliance of CEOs from 23 of the region’s largest organizations working together to tackle some of the region’s most pressing civic challenges, such as housing, economic development, and transportation. This year, under her leadership, Challenge Seattle worked with partners to develop a regional economic development plan to strengthen the region’s long-term competitiveness and ensure that its economic growth benefits the broader community. Gregoire also serves as chair of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor (CIC), a cross-border partnership advancing economic opportunity throughout the Cascadia region. Through CIC's GovTech Hub, she is helping bring government, technology, and community leaders together to advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the public sector.
 

Previously, Gregoire served two terms as Governor of the State of Washington, overseeing a $32 billion biennial budget and more than 60,000 employees. As governor, she led major reforms and investments in education, transportation, infrastructure, health care, and environmental protection. During the Great Recession, she led significant management and budgeting reforms that helped position Washington as one of the most financially secure states to emerge from the downturn. Prior to serving as governor, Gregoire served three terms as Washington’s attorney general—the first woman elected to the position—and was the lead negotiator in the groundbreaking settlement of state lawsuits against the tobacco industry. She previously directed the Washington State Department of Ecology and currently serves on the board of Puget Sound Energy.