Barbara Burchett
Board Member
About Barbara Burchett
Seasoned, well-rounded and accomplished government affairs professional with 30 years of experience engaging clients in the federal public policy process, establishing them as a leading voice in areas of international trade, energy, research and development, transportation, infrastructure, semiconductor materials supply, climate and sustainability. Former senior staff member of US Senator Howard M. Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) where she directed the Concerned Senators for the Arts Caucus. A strategic business consultant with a proven record in business development, and corporate branding, Barbara Burchett has enjoyed a fulfilling career successfully orchestrating comprehensive public policy operations for national corporations, organizations, and trade associations before congress, federal departments, agencies, and national organizations.
Ms. Burchett is founder of a bi-partisan government affairs firm, Innovative Advocacy, LLC. She works a strategic advisor with leaders of companies and trade associations framing and implementing government affairs business plans. Areas of current engagement include the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and the Chips and Science Act.
Prior to Innovative Advocacy, she was sole proprietor of Barbara.Burchett.Consulting where she spent ten years as the principal advocate for a national trade association, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, engaged in all aspects of representation including writing policy issue documents, legislative language, and Board of Director materials. Organized congressional fly-ins, public affairs, events and established a political action committee. Worked extensively with coalitions such as Transportation Construction Coalition, Highway Materials Group, Resilient Construction Coalition, North American Concrete Alliance, and BuildStrong.
For almost two decades, Ms. Burchett was Senior Public Policy Consultant in the prominent law firm, Wiley LLP. representing a broad range of entities from energy production (including renewables), telecommunications, international trade, and more.
Barbara lived abroad growing up from Madrid, Spain around the globe to Naples, Italy. She received her B.A. Political Science, Minor International Relations at The University of California, Riverside. She was selected for its Washington, DC Internship Program. She has made Washington, D.C. her home and is involved with local philanthropic activities.
Currently, Ms. Burchett serves as a Board Trustee of The University of the Potomac, and currently as the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.