The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is honored to welcome Kelli Nicholas Owens as the official representative of Governor Kathy Hochul for our 2026 Legislative Luncheon.

Ms. Owens serves as the Executive Director of the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) — the nation’s only cabinet-level executive state agency solely dedicated to improving prevention efforts and strengthening New York State’s response to domestic violence. Her leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to public service, policy advancement, and community impact.

Prior to her appointment at OPDV, Ms. Owens served as New York State’s Director of Women’s Affairs, where she played a key role in launching the state’s first-ever Council on Women and Girls. This coordinated, statewide initiative addressed critical issues affecting women and girls across education, workforce equity, economic opportunity, healthcare, childcare, safety, leadership, and intersectionality.

Throughout her career, Ms. Owens has been instrumental in advancing landmark New York State legislation related to gender equity, survivor justice, reproductive healthcare, workplace protections, and human rights. Her work has helped shape policies that directly impact families, employers, and communities across the state. Among these efforts, she is especially proud of overseeing the passage of the Reproductive Health Act, which enshrined the right to safe and legal abortion in New York State law.

Ms. Owens brings extensive experience from both government and nonprofit leadership roles, including senior positions with Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, the YWCA, and multiple state and local government offices. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Utica College of Syracuse University and completed graduate studies at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Her participation in the 2026 Legislative Luncheon reflects the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to fostering informed dialogue, civic engagement, and meaningful connections between our business community and state leadership.