Raina Thiele (Dena’ina Athabascan and Yup’ik) is a seasoned policy strategist and Native advocate with extensive experience advancing Indigenous and Alaska Native priorities at the highest levels of federal government. She currently serves as Senior Executive Advisor at the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, where she provides strategic counsel on national policy, Tribal engagement, and organizational growth—helping to expand the Alliance’s impact across Indian Country, with a particular focus on Alaska.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Raina served in the Biden Administration as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of the Interior for Alaska Affairs and Strategic Priorities, where she helped shape initiatives supporting Alaska Native communities and coordinated interagency strategies aligned with Tribal self-determination. Her previous government service includes her role as Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Tribal Liaison to President Obama at the White House, where she played a central role in organizing the White House Tribal Nations Conferences and strengthening federal-Tribal relations.

Raina also served in the White House Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw multibillion-dollar federal programs related to energy, environment, and Tribal affairs. After her tenure in public service, she founded Thiele Strategies, a consulting firm focused on advancing Indigenous-led policy, philanthropy, and climate action.

Born and raised in Alaska, Raina’s family is from the Native Village of Pedro Bay on Lake Iliamna and Alexander Creek. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Across all her work, she brings a deep commitment to equity, Tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous self-determination.