With more than 20 years of experience in public service, in February 2022, Alison Beason was appointed Director/Sector Lead for Life Science and Global Health. In this position with the Washington State Department of Commerce, she will spearhead efforts to advance Governor Jay Inslee’s ongoing work to grow and strengthen scientific communities through statewide industry sector strategies.
Before joining the Washington State Department of Commerce, Alison was integral to the development of equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies at the City of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle. In Washington, D.C., Alison held strategic roles at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At these agencies, she focused on science policy, retention, and recruitment of underrepresented minority, women, and disadvantaged scientists in STEM, strategic planning, and budget recommendations.