The Canadian American Business Council (CABC) is thrilled to announce Governor Christine Gregoire has joined our Advisory Board. As Co-Chair of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and Governor of Washington, Gregoire’s depth of experience and expertise will help fortify the CABC’s core mission to enhance economic and political partnerships between Canada and the United States.
“Governor Gregoire’s extensive experience and dedication to U.S.-Canada relations make her a tremendous asset to our Advisory Board, ” says Beth Burke, CEO of the CABC. “Her leadership and insights will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for policies that support the economic prosperity and mutual interests of both nations.”
Gov. Gregoire became Washington’s 22nd governor in 2005 and served until 2013. Since 2015, she has led Challenge Seattle, an alliance of 23 organizations who represent some of Washington’s largest employers and most successful innovators. In this role, she helped to create and now Co-Chairs the Cascadia Innovation Corridor, which brings together regional leaders in British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington for cross-border action on issues like housing, high speed rail, sustainability, technology, and agriculture.
“Our countries have so many shared interests – good jobs, world-class companies, powerhouse cities, and interconnected infrastructure. Together, we can forge deeper collaboration, create stronger public-private partnerships, and spur innovation as we continue to bring our countries together,” said Challenge Seattle CEO and former Governor Gregoire.
Governor Gregoire’s tenure as Washington State’s governor was marked by a strong focus on international trade and economic development, with significant emphasis on strengthening ties with Canada. Under her leadership, Governor Gregoire championed several key initiatives with Canada, including the enhancement of cross-border transportation infrastructure such as the Pacific Northwest Gateway and the promotion of clean energy collaboration. She also worked closely with British Columbia on environmental sustainability projects, recognizing the importance of joint efforts to protect the region’s natural resources.
Prior to serving as governor, Gregoire served three terms as attorney general—the first woman to be elected to the position in Washington, where she worked tirelessly on consumer protection, tobacco litigation, and safe cleanup and permanent storage of radioactive wastes at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. She also served as the Director of Washington State Department of Ecology where she played a key role in environmental management and policy.
Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel, Board Chair of the Canadian American Business Council, expressed her support: “We are thrilled to welcome Governor Gregoire to our Advisory Board. Her extensive experience in fostering U.S.-Canada relations and her proven leadership in both public and environmental sectors make her an invaluable addition to our team. We look forward to her contributions in furthering our mission to strengthen the economic and collaborative ties between our two great nations.”
About the CABC: Established in 1987, the Council is the leading non-profit, non-partisan, issues-oriented organization dedicated to fostering dialogue between the public and private sectors in Canada the US. Members are key business leaders and stakeholders from both sides of the border ranging from entrepreneurs to best name brands in the world. Collectively, CABC members employ about two million people and have annual revenues of close to $1.5 trillion. For more information about the CABC and its leadership team, please visit our Who We Are section.
