Jen Walling has served as the Executive Director for the Illinois Environmental Council since January of 2011, where she oversees the strategic direction and management of the organization and lobbies decision makers on environmental issues. Jen is dedicated to building the power of Illinois’ environmental community to secure policy outcomes that protect the environment.Over the last decade, Jen has worked to grow IEC staffing five fold, increase the budget and member affiliates, all with a focus on serving and representing IEC’s over 90 affiliated organizations. With the board of directors, Jen worked to secure IEC’s partnership with the League of Conservation Voters, a national organization which has helped IEC network and build on a national level.Jen has drafted, negotiated, lobbied and passed hundreds of bills in Springfield while working to build the power, expertise and relationships of the entire environmental community. On energy issues, she worked to fix the renewable energy portfolio standards and increase energy efficiency through the Future Energy Jobs Act, and as a steering committee member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, she is working to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Jen has been a statewide leader in composting policy since 2009, when she worked to pass the first commercial composting law in Illinois. She has fought to protect state parks and natural areas through increasing funding to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, increasing recreation liability protections and funding stewardship through the Natural Areas Stewardship Act. Through Jen’s leadership, Illinois was the first state to ban microbeads in personal care products in 2013.

As chief of staff, I was responsible for managing the Senator's district office and constituent services. In addition, I oversaw the Senator's outreach program and developed the Senator’s legislative and community goals and priorities.• Drafted and negotiated Illinois’ first commercial food scrap composting laws. Recognized for “Outstanding Government Leadership” by the Illinois Recycling Association for this new law.• Managed district office budget, staff, interns and volunteers.• Produced district communications including newsletters, e-mails, website, ads, press releases and letters.• Built district e-mail list using Constant Contact, increasing list to nearly 20,000 names.

• Directed a grassroots campaign to influence 42 municipal utilities in suburban and downstate Illinois in an effort to prevent construction of new coal plants and promote renewable energy.• Worked with municipal utility subscribers to create new local environmental organizations and outreach to the community through media, letters to the editor, lobbying of municipal officials, and local forums.• Partnered with municipal utility managers and utility trade associations to increase clean energy awareness.

• Assisted a citizen campaign to prevent construction of a new strip mine near Peoria, Illinois.• Drafted proposal for changes to Illinois Dam Safety Regulations.

• Analyzed stream water and soil samples for mercury and methylmercury.• Conducted laboratory and field studies on mercury in a Central Illinois stream and presented study results.