State senator Jamie Pedersen joins Washington Research Foundation board of directors

Pedersen's decades of experience with mission-driven nonprofits will provide strategic guidance to WRF's vision of helping Washington state research institutions deliver innovations that transform lives

SEATTLE, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jamie Pedersen has joined the Washington Research Foundation (WRF) board of directors. Pedersen, a state senator representing Seattle's 43rd Legislative District, previously served as WRF's legal counsel from 2007 to 2012.

Pedersen grew up in Puyallup, Washington, before completing undergraduate studies in Russian and History at Yale College. He later graduated from Yale Law School and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Upon returning to Seattle in 1995, Pedersen joined multinational law firm Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates) and practiced corporate law until 2012. He then joined McKinstry, a Seattle-based construction and engineering corporation with a focus on safety and sustainability, where today he serves as executive vice president and general counsel.

Pedersen's political career began in 2006 when he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives. He served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee for five years, and on several other committees including Higher Education, Appropriations, and Business & Financial Services.

In 2013, Pedersen was appointed to the State Senate and has been elected for three additional terms. He served as chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee for four years, whose issues include criminal, civil and family law, and public safety. He was elected Senate Majority Leader in 2024 and serves on the Ways & Means Committee and the Rules Committee. Pedersen is an active commissioner in the national Uniform Law Commission, which aims to guide legislation and collaboration between state governments while recognizing the unique experiences, opportunities and challenges of each state.

Brooks Simpson, WRF's board chair, said, "It is with excitement that Jamie is joining our board. We know him well. Jamie served as the WRF counsel for five years and advised us exceptionally well then. His strong experiences and successes in industry and government will help guide the Foundation forward as we remain focused and committed to supporting the life sciences in Washington state."

In addition to his previous tenure with WRF, Pedersen has a diverse background in nonprofit and community work. He served for seven years on the national board of Lambda Legal, including two years as co-chair. He helped to establish the nonprofit Community Lunch on Capitol Hill that provides meals, clothing and other critical services to hundreds of people each week at Central Lutheran Church in Seattle. Pedersen has provided free legal services to nonprofit organizations that include Social Venture Partners, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and Flying House Productions.

"I'm delighted to return to WRF in a new capacity," Pedersen said. "For decades, WRF has connected Washington academic research with Washington business to advance Washington's innovation ecosystem. I look forward to using my experience in law, business, government and nonprofit work to help WRF become an even more effective connector building that ecosystem."

About Washington Research Foundation:

Washington Research Foundation (WRF) supports research and scholarship in Washington state, with a focus on life sciences and enabling technologies.

WRF was founded in 1981 to assist universities and other nonprofit research institutions in Washington with the commercialization and licensing of their technologies. WRF became one of the foremost technology transfer organizations in the nation, earning more than $445 million in licensing revenue for the University of Washington. To date, WRF has provided over $182 million in grants to the state's research institutions.

WRF Capital, the investment vehicle for Washington Research Foundation, has backed 132 local startups since 1996. Returns support the Foundation's grantmaking and investment programs.

For additional information, please visit wrfseattle.org.

Media contact:

Dale Wadman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (206) 336-5600

SOURCE WASHINGTON RESEARCH FOUNDATION