City hires director for human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion work

Published November 6 2025

Global HR leader Bindi Lassige starts role Nov. 24

Bellevue City Manager Diane Carlson announced the city has hired Bindi Lassige to lead the city's human resources and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging functions. Lassige has more than 20 years of HR leadership experience, including over a decade at the Gates Foundation, where she led global HR operations, employee relations, compliance, and HR business partner teams. Current HR Director Joy St. Germain will retire this month after 36 years of public service, eight with the City of Bellevue.

Lassige has worked across sectors, including global philanthropy, technology, and early-stage organizations, where she has been recognized for her ability to collaborate with executives, lead organizational change, and embed equity into everyday practice.

"We were thrilled to find in Bindi someone who is deeply committed to building people-centered systems that advance equity, strengthen culture, and can support the high-performing teams we have here at the city," said Carlson. "Her extensive HR policy experience and technical competencies will ensure Bellevue can continue to be an innovative and inclusive employer of choice in our region."

At the Foundation, Lassige played a key role in transforming policies and processes to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency, particularly in areas impacting employee experience and organizational accountability. Prior to that role, she held HR leadership roles at companies including Assurance IQ and Promethean and served in other HR roles for Microsoft and General Electric. Lassige has a Master of Business Administration in human resources & change management. She also has a bachelor's degree in economics.

Lassige will start with the city Nov. 24 at the helm of Bellevue's human resources department. The department under Lassige will oversee the Diversity Advantage Team and ADA and Title VI functions, as well as providing comprehensive HR services in the areas of employee and labor relations, collective bargaining and contract administration, classification and compensation, comprehensive benefits administration, payroll, recruitment, training and organizational development, personnel policy development and leave administration, and administration of applicable state and federal employment laws.