Karen White
Executive Director
Conference of Western Attorneys General
Karen White serves as the Executive Director of the Conference of Western AttorneysGeneral (CWAG) and is responsible for executing the mission and vision of the CWAG Attorneys General. CWAG consists of 18 Western States and Pacific Territories and dozens of associate member States from across the country. Ms. White developsavenues which enhance the Attorneys Generals’ ability to obtain and utilize informationregarding issues of particular importance to the West. Ms. White designs and implementsprograms and seminars, establishes communication between and amongst the offices ofthe member and associate memberAttorneys General, and fosters relationships which benefit the interests of thechief legal officers and their staff.
The cultivation of CWAG’s network of Attorneys General and staff has resulted in theorganization’s national reputation for legal excellence onmatters which fall within the purview of Attorneys General. From natural resources, environmental and criminal law issues to financial and consumer protection, the organization is recognized as a leader in facilitating conversations between public officials and the private sector.
Ms. White is also responsible for building relationshipsbetween the Attorneys General and outside entities including those from local, stateand federal bodies and the business community. Additionally, Ms. White collaborates internationally,with the legal officials from regional or State level governments, including Mexico, Canada and Africa. She leads the organization in facilitating cultural exchanges,initiating relationships and expediting the sharing of information on issues impacting citizens such as the activities of Transnational Criminal Organizations.
Under Ms. White’s leadership, the Conference partnered with the United States Department of State, Mexican State and Federal Government and other public and private entities to initiate a rule of law program, the CWAG Alliance Partnership. Since its inception in 2006, this innovative peer-to-peer training and exchange program has connected over 27,000 law enforcement officials in Mexico and the United States.
Karen White has worked on behalf of the Attorneys General for 26years. She began hercareer with CWAG as a law school intern doing legal research, moved on to serve as theAssociation’s Meeting Planner and then the Deputy Director. In the summer of 2006Ms.White became the Executive Director of CWAG. She is a 1989 graduateof Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, having studied Business andPolitical Science with a pre-law emphasis. Ms. Whiteattended the University of the Pacific McGeorgeSchool of Law in Sacramento, California and received her JD from Concord University. Karen and her husband Ron have three children and are celebrating their 25th year of marriage.