Jay Bruns Email & Phone Number

Olympia, Washington

Primary advisor to the Washington State Insurance Commissioner on all issues related to climate change. Play a key role in the development and implementation of the Commission’s climate-related strategy, agenda, and activities. Advance the Commissioner’s policy objectives related to climate change through analysis, strategic outreach, presentations, education and advocacy. Work with stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally to build and cultivate partnerships. Mission: identify, promote, and implement practical, innovative solutions on climate issues.

Greater Boston Area

I provide advice to this early stage venture capital investor in food and agriculture technology.

Greater Seattle Area

Teach class on modern Scandinavia, guest lecture at other classes. As advisory board member. assist this highly ranked U.S. public university by, among other things, identifying and facilitating speaker visits to campus and seeking partnerships with external organizations.

Greater Seattle Area

Advisor to environmental start-up, which is a Washington State Social Purpose Corporation. This organization aims to design and deliver a software-powered partnership approach to reducing climate change risks while generating new social, environmental, and economic benefits for communities.

Greater Seattle Area

As Senior Advisor for Private Sector Engagement to the United Nations Environment Program, I supported UN Undersecretary General Erik Solheim and his team on devising a program for collaboration with major U.S. and Canadian businesses to advance the United Nations​ environmental agenda.

Hartford, Connecticut Area

Provided strategic direction on sustainability for The Hartford, a 208 year old Fortune 150 insurance company. Company spokesman on environment/climate change. Over the 9 years leading this effort, established the company as a thought leader and top performer on environmental stewardship by focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and paper, offering environmentally friendly insurance products, making environmentally sound investments, and engaging employees. In advocating for measures such as installing electric vehicle charging stations and encouraging robust greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, helped company achieve 57% GHG emission reduction between 2007 and 2015. Worked with company’s investment arm on early adoption of environmental investment policy statement for $170 billion portfolio. Initiated and managed effort that placed The Hartford on sustainability “gold standard” for global companies - Dow Jones Sustainability Index – for 5 years in a row. Led other recognition initiatives such as U.S. EPA “Climate Leadership Awards” in 2014 and 2015 and 2016 White House recognition as “Early Achiever” on energy savings goals. Hartford contact point with White House on climate resilience and insurance initiative. With General Counsel, represented The Hartford on Connecticut Governor’s Climate Change Council. In 2016, helped conceive and create new Sustainability Steering Committee to set priorities for sustainability components: corporate governance, compliance, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion and environment.

Hartford, Connecticut Area

Managed public policy issues for The Hartford. Held responsibility for relations with insurance regulators in 11 states and liaison to The Hartford’s international operations. Oversaw key issues on The Hartford’s federal agenda, including terrorism risk. Helped defeat 2014 legislation in Oklahoma to tax regional offices, saving $900,000 annually; helped pass favorable 2014 workers compensation legislation in Virginia and Delaware, and worked with regulators after tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma.

U.S. Department Of State

Spearheaded U.S. Government’s international effort to halt flow of diamonds controlled by rebel groups in Africa who terrorized local populations while avoiding harm to $28 billion legitimate diamond industry. Led U.S. interagency team. Formulated USG negotiating positions and advocated those positions within 60-nation “Kimberley Process”. Worked with Congress to enact “Clean Diamond Trade Act.” Worked within unique Kimberley Process format that comprised national governments, diamond industry, and international non-governmental organizations.

American Embassy Oslo, Norway

As acting ambassador in Norway during 9/11 attacks and aftermath, directed U.S. Government’s broad and rapidly evolving mission with this important ally. Managed 170-person Embassy staff. Oversaw multi-million dollar budget. Conducted extensive public outreach. Designed Embassy’s strategic plan to deploy Embassy resources to meet national objectives.

National Security Council Washington, D.C.

As staff member of the White House’s NSC in Clinton and Bush Administrations, chaired international economic policy process, developing consensus among Departments of Treasury, State, Commerce, Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative’s Office to provide recommendations to the President and senior White House officials. Wrote memoranda for the President. Provided policy guidance to agencies on issues of interest to the President, National Security Advisor and National Economic Advisor.

U.S. Consulate General Vancouver, Canada

Led mission that represents U.S. interests in western Canada. Directed staff of 40 to maintain good relations with U.S.’s largest trading partner. Helped manage bilateral issues such as dispute over salmon. Organized large-scale events, including visit of President Clinton. Conducted extensive public outreach.

American Embassy Tokyo, Japan

Consulting closely with U.S. business, helped negotiate and monitor agreements that alleviated bilateral trade irritants on autos, insurance, and other sectors.

Trinidad, Germany, Norway, Washington, D.C., Copper Mountain

Earlier, held positions as economic officer and then Charge’ d’Affaires at American Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago; Director for Investment, Office of U.S. Trade Representative; special assistant to Deputy Secretary of State; economic officer in State Department’s Office of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan; political officer at American Embassy in Germany; and consular officer at American Embassy in Norway. Prior experience includes working as researcher at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, for Member of Congress, seasonal work for the National Park Service and as a ski instructor; received Level 1 certification from the Professional Ski Instructors Association.

Ba, International Affairs

Samfundsfag (Social Sciences)

Ma, International Relations

Attended on full scholarship

National Security Studies