National Privacy Advisory Council

The National Privacy Advisory Council (NPAC) is comprised of champions for personal privacy rights from across the ideological spectrum. The Council advises People United for Privacy Foundation on issues relating to nonprofit donor privacy and offers strategic insights for our policy priorities. The Council debuted in October 2023 with six members from varying backgrounds in law, philanthropy, advocacy, government relations, and scholarship.

Lee Goodman
Former Chairman, Federal Election Commission; Partner, Wiley Rein LLP

Lee E. Goodman served as Chairman (2014) and Commissioner (2013-2018) of the Federal Election Commission where he advocated free speech rights on the Internet, free press rights, and deregulation of political parties.  He also served as legal counsel and policy advisor to the Governor of Virginia (1998-2002).  He has practiced First Amendment law since 1990 and throughout his career has championed freedom of conscience and associational privacy in his professional writings and in courts.

Lee authored an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of greater constitutional protection for private associations in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, a case that established heightened constitutional protection for donor privacy.  He has been named a “Top Campaign & Elections Lawyer” by Washingtonian; the Washington Examiner called Lee “a leading voice among conservative regulators in Washington” (2016) and “a tireless voice for First Amendment rights on the Internet” (2018); the Richmond Times-Dispatch dubbed him a “free-speech champion” (2018); The Hill labeled him “a happy warrior for the First Amendment” (2018); and the Washington Post called him a “sharp policy wonk” (1999).  He has testified before Congress on the First Amendment right of associational privacy and speaks and writes often on the topic.

Rep. Ana Hernandez
Texas House of Representatives

State Representative Ana Hernandez was elected in a special election in December 2005 to represent District 143 in the Texas House of Representatives. District 143 includes part of Houston (Second Ward, Magnolia Park, Denver Harbor, Port Houston, North Shore, Clinton Park), part of Baytown, the communities of Channelview and Cloverleaf, and the cities of Galena Park and Jacinto City. She serves as Vice-Chair for the House Committee on State Affairs, and on the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures and the House Calendars Committee. She is currently serving her ninth full term.

Ana was born in Reynosa, Mexico and raised in Pasadena, Texas. She comes from a very close-knit and hardworking family, and is the younger of two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her son, Gregory Eli. Ana graduated from Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena when she was 16 years old, and received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Houston. She went on to receive her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law in May of 2004. In addition to representing District 143 in the Texas House of Representatives, she is also a practicing attorney in Houston.

Dr. Yang Jianli
President & Founder, Citizen Power Initiatives for China

Dr. Yang Jianli, a world renown human rights activist and scholar, is a major architect and leader for China’s democracy. He was a Tiananmen student leader and a political prisoner of China (2002-2007). Dr. Yang helped found and lead several important organizations including Citizen Power Initiatives for China and Foundation for China in the 21st Century. He has created and organized annual Interethnic/Interfaith Leadership Conferences for 23 years and published the online publication Yibao since 2001. He co-authored a Democratic Constitution for China (1993) and co-Chaired The Geneva Internet Freedom Declaration (2010).

A recipient of multiple international awards including Harvard Alumni Achievement Award, UN Watch Human Rights Award and Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, Dr. Yang represented Liu Xiaobo at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony. Dr. Yang holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Harvard University. He is a frequent public speaker on various world forums and contributor to various international magazines on topics ranging from human rights in China, China’s democratization, China’s politics, ethnic relations in the PRC, cross-strait relations, and on US China policies. He is author of For Us, The Living: A Journey to Shine the Light on Truth and It’s Time for a Values-Based “Economic NATO”.

Jerry Kilgore
Former Attorney General, Virginia

Jerry Kilgore is a member at Cozen O’Connor and a former Virginia Attorney General and Virginia Secretary of Public Safety. His distinguished political career has afforded Jerry a reputation as a trusted legal and policy adviser on both sides of the aisle. He is also a seasoned litigator and has significant experience handling multi-state actions. As attorney general of Virginia from 2002-2005, Jerry served on the executive committee of the National Association of Attorneys General and as chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association. He worked with the federal government, the state legislature, and other stakeholders to promote a business friendly environment. Jerry served as secretary of public safety under Governor George Allen from 1994 to 1998 and as assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia from 1987-1992. He also has significant prior experience as a state-level lobbyist.

Jerry donates time to building legislative and executive support for America’s Kids Belong/Virginia Kids Belong, a program to encourage the adoption of children out of foster care. He also serves as chairman of the board of Appalachian School of Law.

Pete McRoberts
Policy Director, ACLU of Iowa

Pete McRoberts is the Policy Director of the ACLU of Iowa with 20 years of experience in policy advocacy, litigation, and government relations. Pete is responsible for advancing the ACLU of Iowa’s broad civil liberties agenda at the statehouse and working at the county and community level across the state on legal and policy issues. Prior to his role at the ACLU of Iowa, Pete was the owner of Dash Management, Inc., a government relations and executive management service, advising nonprofit and business associations. In addition, for five years as an attorney in private practice, he represented clients with low incomes on behalf of the Iowa State Public Defender. McRoberts began his career in 1994 as a member of the first class of the AmeriCorps NCCC national service agency and was appointed to its national advisory board in 2012. He served as board chair from 2015 to 2019.

Pete is a graduate of Drake Law School, the University of Northern Iowa, and Hawkeye Community College. He is a member of the Iowa Bar and is a certified mediator.

Sandra Swirski
Founder, Integer

Sandra Swirski is a trusted executive, thought leader, and expert. She sits at the intersection of policy and philanthropy, and leverages her savvy, coalition building expertise, and deep industry knowledge to build solutions and progress for those she works with. Sandra is also the founder of Integer, a women-owned government relations firm. She has demonstrated expertise in collaborating with both major political parties to accomplish client goals. Her expertise comes from years on Capitol Hill working for seasoned Members of Congress and leading government relations teams for companies and clients in the private sector.

Sandra also serves as a Member of the Board of Exponent Philanthropy, Member of the Philanthropy Editorial Board of Trusts and Estates as well as an Advisory Council Member of Engage, a bipartisan women’s organization that promotes economic security for all American women. She is also a frequent speaker and author, providing insightful analysis of breaking economic issues and policy trends to watch for in Washington.