The Policy Institute, based in Helena, Montana, blends authoritative research and hands-on political engagement to create public policy based on economic justice, fair taxation, corporate accountability and environmental responsibility.

The Conveners of the Leadership Seminar Series

Pat Williams, Former United States Congressman

Pat Williams served in the United States Congress from 1979-1997. Williams was Deputy Whip of the House and a member of the following committees: Budget, Education and Labor, Interior and Agriculture. Williams was chairman of the Committee on Post Secondary Education. He returned to Montana after leaving the Congress in 1997. He teaches at The University of Montana along with being a Senior Fellow at the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West and Western Progress.

Among Williams' teaching activities are courses in the contemporary issues, political science, and civics which he offers within several departments. In addition, Williams hosts a statewide program on public radio which presents humanities topics within the Northern Rockies. Williams is a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Higher Education and also a member of the board of directors of Sallie Mae (the student loan corporation). President Clinton appointed Williams to the Advisory Board of Tribally Controlled Community Colleges.

Christine Kaufmann, Montana State Senator, District 41

Christine Kaufmann served as a Montana State Representative from January 2001 to December 2006, when she was appointed to the State Senate. In the House of Representatives, she was selected chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on Health and Human Services. She is also executive director of the Montana Human Rights Network. In addition to administration and fundraising, she oversees grassroots community organizing, research on right wing extremism, and public policy advocacy.

She has written numerous articles on hate violence, right-wing extremist groups and the mainstreaming of their ideas in Montana. She has nearly two decades of experience as a community organizer, public speaker, lobbyist and project manager for human rights, environmental, women's, and gay and lesbian rights organizations in Montana. In 2002, she was awarded a Fleming Fellowship from the Center for Policy Alternatives and in 2003 received the Leadership for a Changing World award from the Ford Foundation. She was honored as the conservation legislator of the year for the Montana Wildlife Federation in 2003.

Ken Toole, President, The Policy Institute

Ken Toole is a former Vice Chair of the Montana Public Service Commission and a founder of the Montana Human Rights Network and the Policy Institute. He served in the Montana Senate for six years. During his term in the Senate he served as Chair of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Tax and Senate Natural Resources committees.

Ken has more than 25 years experience working on a broad range of energy issues for citizen groups in Montana.