Diane Bast is the wife of Joseph L. Bast, founder and longtime president of The Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank focused on free-market policies, climate skepticism, and limited government. She was a co-founder and an early operational leader at the institute, joining in 1987 after working as a paralegal for a Chicago-based law firm and co-editing the bimonthly magazine Nomos, which provided her with legal support and editorial experience valuable for her nonprofit career. Over her 31-year tenure, she served in multiple key roles including senior editor, executive editor, finance manager, treasurer, and website manager, overseeing publications, financial operations, and digital presence. Her contributions helped build the organization's infrastructure during its formative years and grow it into an influential voice in policy debates, particularly on environmental and economic issues. Bast retired from The Heartland Institute in 2018 and briefly served one year on its board of directors afterward. Her close personal and professional ties to Joseph Bast positioned her at the center of the think tank's network, influencing its direction and operations through decades of advocacy for libertarian-leaning causes.