PNNL

Trish Herron is a seasoned, strategic leader whose career is marked by a commitment to excellence in community affairs and partnerships. Serving as the Acting Executive Director for External Affairs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), she provides trusted expertise to facilitate strong collaborations and relations within the communities we work.

The External Affairs team is driven by the belief that extraordinary science and technology, coupled with a passion for excellence in community engagement, can make our future workforce stronger; the communities in which we live and work economically vibrant; and the world more safe, secure, and prosperous. She focuses on helping her team achieve those outcomes every day.

Trish joined PNNL in 2015 as a Senior Community Affairs Consultant and ascended to leading that group as Community Affairs and Protocol Director in 2021. Tasked with coordinating and leading high-level visits and events that were critically important to building the Laboratory’s national, regional, and local reputation, she guided work to expand advocacy for PNNL’s science and technology. She stewarded the public reputation for PNNL and Battelle as economic, intellectual, and social assets to the Tri-Cities and other key communities. Under her leadership, PNNL developed strong and enduring community engagement, philanthropy, and employee volunteerism.

Prior to joining PNNL, she was the Communications Manager and an Economic Analyst Business and Tourism Development Specialist at the City of Richland. She also worked as a Public Information Specialist for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Deeply committed to being active in the community, Trish currently serves on the Visit Tri-Cities Board of Directors where she also chairs the Excellence in Service Award program. She also is part of the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She represents the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) on the Tri-Cities Legislative Council and is part of Leadership Tri-Cities Class of XXVI.