Monica Hardy Whaley was named the President of the National Center for APEC in January of 2009. She served as the Center’s Deputy Director at its founding in 1994 and as the Executive Director from November of 2002. Monica is responsible for management of the Center’s policy and administrative staff, membership, fundraising and fiscal management, and serves as the public spokesperson and representative of the National Center. Prior to assuming her responsibilities at the National Center for APEC, Monica was the Interim President and Program Director of the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT). The WCIT served as the coordinating organization for the US hosting of the 1993 Seattle APEC Meetings. 

Monica holds Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and French from the University of Santa Clara, and studied in Paris at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences Pô). 

She is Chairman of the U.S.-APEC Business Coalition, as well as a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Community Development Roundtable of Washington State. She serves on the Advisory Boards of both the Seattle World Affairs Council and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle. She is also very active in local organizations in support of children’s charities, school and community groups.