A former state director to Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski will lead the Resource Development Council for Alaska, the industry trade group announced Tuesday.
Leila Kimbrell, a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, worked as a private practice attorney before joining Murkowski’s office in 2017, a job she held for more than four years, according to the group.
As an attorney, Kimbrell advised clients on environmental and compliance issues. In her past roles she worked on issues such as oil development on federal land in Alaska and opposing the Biden administration’s repeal of the Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass National Forest, according to the RDC.
Kimbrell was born and raised in the Soldotna area and holds a degree from Willamette University’s College of Law. She will begin her new position on Jan. 24, replacing Marleanna Hall.
“Leila is a proven leader and ideal for this role,” said Lori Nelson, RDC’s board president and manager of public affairs at Hilcorp Alaska. “She understands policy and politics and how they impact resource development in Alaska.”