Kathleen Lee

As Senior Vice President of Regional Initiatives, Kathleen Lee engages with different partner organizations, leading strategic projects that align with GPEC’s Modern Economy Plan, which underscores the need for investments in workforce, innovation, digital and physical infrastructure, and competitiveness policies. Kathleen also leads the Applied Research Center initiative at the Partnership for Economic Innovation (PEI), after helping to transition PEI as an independent nonprofit in 2019.

Kathleen is driven by a conviction that building an equitable economy that works for everyone is best achieved through collaboration and inclusion. With a multidisciplinary background in economics and regional and urban planning, Kathleen has led the planning and implementation of initiatives such as policies that promote renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, and the GPEC-Brookings partnership for innovation-driven growth strategies.

Over a career of more than 20 years, Kathleen has worked in different regions nationally and internationally. Kathleen was a consultant in Los Angeles and specialized in industry cluster and workforce strategies. She also held a Research Fellow position with KRIHS in Seoul, Korea and participated in a national project in the Philippines. Currently, Kathleen serves on the National Growth Innovation Network Board of Directors, AZ Thrives Leadership Council, and TGen Ambassador Program.