Elizabeth Edwards joined Clean Water Services (CWS) as Chief of Staff in May 2024. Throughout her career in public policy, Edwards has worked on issues spanning water and wastewater, climate, land use, health care, transportation, housing and homelessness, equity, public safety, and general government.
“As someone born and raised in Oregon, serving and being connected to our region is deeply meaningful to me,” Edwards said. “I look forward to collaborating with my dedicated colleagues to advance CWS as an innovative wastewater and stormwater management utility that protects public health, provides essential environmental stewardship of the Tualatin River Watershed, and ensures a resilient workforce by emphasizing equity, belonging, team building, learning, and growth.”
Edwards will serve on the Strategic Advisory Group to the Executive (SAGE) and as the liaison with the Clean Water Services Board of Directors and the Clean Water Services Advisory Commission. She will provide executive oversight to the CWS legislative and government affairs agenda, develop emergency management and natural hazards mitigation programs, and work with teams to sequence initiatives to implement the CWS Climate Action Roadmap.
Most recently, Edwards led Kaiser Permanente’s government relations work in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Before that, she worked for many years for the City of Portland directing regional, state, federal, tribal, and international affairs.
“As we transform our business and our workforce to respond to the evolving needs of our region and the challenges of a changing climate, I’m excited to tap Elizabeth’s expansive and integrated policy expertise and regional understanding,” said CEO Diane Taniguchi-Dennis. “She brings to CWS a wealth of curiosity, passion for community service, and sensitivity to the complex needs and interests of individuals, communities, and organizations.”
Edwards is a member of the Oregon State Bar. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and her law degree from George Washington University Law School. She has been a CWS customer since 2017.
