Emily Laidlaw
Emily Laidlaw, PPA’s Chief Strategy Officer, helps clients turn ambitious ideas into public policy strategies that can succeed in the real world. Drawing on extensive experience across government, policy, regulation, advocacy, and implementation, she helps organizations navigate complex systems, build coalitions, and move from strategy to action.
Before joining PPA, Laidlaw served as Deputy Director for Early Education at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). She helped build the new department and its Office of Early Education from the ground up, leading a team of 240 employees and overseeing approximately $1.2 billion in programs and investments serving Michigan children and families.
In that role, Laidlaw led statewide early education strategy, policy, and implementation, including Michigan’s PreK for All initiative, child care affordability programs, early intervention services, and efforts to strengthen the early education workforce. She oversaw major program expansions and new approaches to service delivery while building partnerships across state government, communities, providers, and other stakeholders. She also represented Michigan in national partnerships focused on early education policy and innovation.
Prior to MiLEAP, Laidlaw served as Director of the Child Care Licensing Bureau at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, bringing together policy, regulatory, and operational leadership. In that role, she led statewide child care licensing operations and launched Caring for MI Future, a $100 million initiative to expand access to child care across Michigan.
Before that, Laidlaw served on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s transition team and became the administration’s first Policy Director, helping establish the Governor’s policy office and develop and advance the administration’s policy agenda. Her portfolio included education, economic opportunity, infrastructure, and other major policy priorities.
Earlier in her career, Laidlaw worked in multi-client government affairs, advising and representing clients on a range of policy issues, before serving as Director of Government Affairs for the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators. She began her career on the communications staff of the Michigan House of Representatives before moving to the House policy staff.
Education
Ms. Laidlaw received her BA in Sociology and Public Policy and Administration from Michigan State University. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in Public Administration from Pennsylvania State University.
Also Notable
Ms. Laidlaw completed the Education Policy Fellowship Program at Michigan State University. It is a “year’s long leadership development program…. Through program activities, Fellows learn about education policy design and implementation at the local, state and national levels, grow as effective leaders, and strengthen their professional networks.”
