Jen Walling has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Environmental Council since January 2011, where she oversees the strategic direction and management of the organization and advocates on environmental issues before state policymakers. Walling has drafted, negotiated, lobbied, and helped pass hundreds of bills in Springfield while working to build the power, expertise, and relationships of Illinois' environmental community. She played a leading role in securing passage of some of Illinois' most significant environmental and clean energy laws, including the landmark Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), and the Clean and Resilient Grid Affordability Act (CRGA). Together, these laws have accelerated Illinois' transition to clean energy, expanded access to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, created pathways to good-paying jobs, strengthened grid reliability, and advanced environmental justice and consumer protections across the state. Prior to joining IEC, Walling practiced environmental law and worked on natural resource and conservation issues. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.