Jacqueline Gillan

Biography provided by participant

Jacqueline Gillan is Vice President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), a coalition of national consumer, health and safety organizations and the major property and casualty insurance companies and trade associations. Her professional career has been in the areas of highway and auto safety, surface transportation planning and government relations. She has worked in senior policy positions for the U.S. Department of Transportation, the United States Senate as well as three state transportation agencies (New Jersey, California and Ohio). She is an expert and spokesperson in the national media on highway and auto safety issues and frequently testifies before the United States Congress and state legislatures. Her public policy and lobbying accomplishments have resulted in the successful enactment of numerous federal and state laws advancing motor vehicle and truck safety, strengthening impaired driving programs, requiring safety belt, child restraint and motorcycle helmet use, establishing teen driver programs, and increasing resources for highway and auto safety programs. She serves on several boards of non-profit organizations. Because of her efforts and recommendations, the County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland created a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, which she chaired for three years. In March 2007 Ms. Gillan was presented the American Trauma Society Maryland Division's Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to reduce trauma and prevent injuries as a result of her legislative accomplishments. She also has been recognized for her legislative leadership by the Maryland chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Gillan is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara. She holds a master's degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles.