Ag Leadership Foundation resume for board member Diane Ley

BIOGRAPHY OF DIANE LEY

Diane Ley is the Hawaii State Executive Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Hawaii and the Pacific Basin. The FSA is responsible for the delivery of programs that increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for farm families through payments for disaster assistance; supporting the establishment and maintenance of conservation services on the land; and by providing loans for direct operating expenses and farm ownership.

Diane previously served as the Deputy Director of the County of Hawaii’s Department of Research and Development and the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. She operated a vegetable farm in Volcano and was an administrative assistant with the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation for 11 years.

Diane’s work and business experience and volunteer efforts have provided her with deep insight into the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in Hawaii today. She also has a strong grasp of the legislative process at the county, state, and federal levels. She served as a legislative assistant to the Hawaii County Council and this coupled with lobbying efforts for the Farm Bureau has strengthened her skills in affecting policy and decision-making. Her previous employment with the Hilo Main Street Program provided opportunities to facilitate a small business community in determining its preferred future.

Now a resident of metropolitan Honolulu, Diane relies on her background of 35 years living in rural Volcano, Hawaii to guide her understanding and maintain a strong commitment to our rural communities. An alumnus and the secretary of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation, Diane was trained in system-thinking, facilitation and strategic planning.