Patricia Davis

Past WCIT Presidents

Patricia Davis
WCIT President: 1994 - 2001

Patricia Davis is President, Washington Council on International Trade, a private non-profit trade policy organization that promotes understanding of the importance of trade.

Davis is also an elected member of the Seattle Port Commission, first elected in 1985. She has served as Commission President in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1999.

At the Washington Council on International Trade, Davis oversees trade information and trade expansion efforts. Activities include public programs featuring authorities in trade, summer seminars for teachers, and provision of information on trade policy issues for decision-makers at state and national levels and for the public and the press.

Davis played a key role in bringing the World Trade Organization's 1999 Ministerial meeting to Seattle.

During Davis' tenure at the Port of Seattle, the Port has set trade records in the Seattle harbor and at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She has been a force in the Port's development of a long-term strategic plan and construction of modern facilities for movement of cargo and people. She was involved in planning for development of central waterfront properties and enhancements for the fishing and agricultural industries.

She has taken an active role in the Port's successful efforts to reduce airport noise and to clean up polluted industrial sites, returning them to productive use.

Davis has worked to establish partnerships between the Port and community, business and government organizations. She also has fostered education of school children and their teachers about the importance of trade, through endeavors such as the Port's Sea-Air School.

Davis serves on the Board of Governors for the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and is an Executive Board member on the Puget Sound Regional Council. She is a founding member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and a member of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and the King County International Trade Board.

She formerly served on the boards of the Seattle-King County Economic Development Council, Puget Sound Ports Group, Trade Development Alliance, Bellevue Summit, National Cruise Ship Alliance, International Women's Conference, North Seattle Community College International Trade Institute and Seattle University Albers School of Business.

As the first woman to be elected to the Seattle Port Commission, and its first woman president, and the first woman to be chosen as the President of the Washington Council on International Trade, Davis hopes to raise the visibility of women in non-traditional positions.

Pavis was born and raised in Washington State, the daughter of an apple rancher. An honors graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Masters degree in history from the University of Washington. She and her family have lived in Seattle for more than thirty years, with the exception of several years' residence in Europe in the 1960s. She and her husband have three children.

	Council President Patricia Davis Announces Retirement News Release, December 20, 2000
	Testimony of Patricia Davis, President, Washington Council on International Trade Before the U.S. International Trade Commission May 14, 1998
	A Bastion for Free Trade WCIT remains influential voice for free trade. Published in International Business (92k PDF, 1 page, January 20-26, 1998)