KAY ALISON WILKIE

 

 

As International Policy Analyst for Empire State Development, Kay Alison Wilkie recommends strategies for New York State's international trade development and investment attraction efforts by: designing high quality, cost-effective, customer-oriented programs; analyzing and interpreting macroeconomic, industry and international trade and investment trends; advising senior management on international trade agreements and economic development concerns; conducting international trade policy negotiations on behalf of the State; preparing briefings, publications and grant applications; and advocating for New York's international trade and investment attraction interests to State and Federal officials. She represents New York State trade policy interests on the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee of the United States Trade Representative, on the Eastern Trade Council (Chair 2001-02; Vice Chair at 1999-2000 creation of this Council of State Governments affiliate), on the Export Trade Advisory Council of the Appalachian Regional Commission, on the State International Development Organizations, and as a fellow of the Foreign Policy Association. She is an adjunct Professor at Siena College, teaching International Finance.

 

Kay won approval in 2000 for an Appalachian Regional Commission grant project to develop export marketing plans for rural small businesses in New York’s Southern Tier Appalachian region through 2003. She managed the New York-Interamerican Commerce for Consulting Engineers project from 1995 to 1999, partnering with private sector industry associations, international contacts and the federal government to help NYS consulting engineers gain access to transportation and environmental infrastructure projects in Latin America.  This innovative services export promotion project resulted from her having applied for and received grant support for her agency from the US Department of Commerce. Kay was selected by the European Union Visitors Programme to study European trade development programs, Brussels-Copenhagen-London, Spring 1995.  She participated in the American-Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference, Diessenhofen, Switzerland, August 1992.

 

Honors and Publications include:

-  Member of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee of the US Trade Representative, 2003

-  Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association in 2002;

-  Elliot Fellow of George Washington University “Governing in the Global Age” seminar, June 2001,

-  President’s Award from the Consulting Engineers Council of New York State, Inc. in 1999 for efforts and contributions on behalf of the consulting engineering profession in New York;

-  William T. Hackett Award- Excellence in Economic Development  1999 (National Association of State Development Agencies) for the New York-Interamerican Commerce for Consulting Engineers project

- “Trade Globally, Act Locally,” lead article in The Nor’Easter, Spring 2001

-  Notable Documents Award from the Government Information Roundtable of the New York Library Assoc. in 1995 for  “New York and the New Western Hemisphere: A Guide to Business Opportunities”

- "New York and the New Europe: A Guide to Business Opportunities," 1992

- "New York and the New Western Hemisphere: A Guide to Business Opportunities," 1995

-  Book Review in "The Banker" June 1986.

 

Prior to assuming her current position at the NYS Department of Economic Development in November 1991, Kay held diverse positions in government, banking and not-for-profit organizations. Her position at Mellon Bank's International Department from 1982 to 1987 included two years in the London Branch as Credit Manager for Europe and the Middle East, and a promotion to Assistant Vice President for Latin American marketing and administration at Pittsburgh headquarters. Director of Helpline from 1987-89, Kay managed all aspects of this community services agency.  Experience with New York State's budget and legislative process was gained during the 1990-91 sessions as Senior Legislative Budget Analyst for the Assembly Ways & Means Committee. While completing her M.A. degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in International Economics and European Politics in Washington D.C., Kay was a Research Assistant for the Executive Office of Management & Budget. Academic work abroad has included graduate studies at the SAIS Bologna Center in Italy and at the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and undergraduate studies at the Université de Nice in France.  Phi Beta Kappa honors were received for her B.A. degree in Anthropology and French from the State University of New York at Albany.  She is an amateur musician and active community volunteer, currently serving as Vice President of the board of the International Center of the Capital Region.