Sara Aminzadeh joined the California Natural Resources Agency in March 2023. As the Deputy Secretary for Federal Affairs, she leads federal relations with California’s Congressional Delegation and federal partners on the Agency’s behalf. Sara works to advance federal policies and investments to advance affordable clean energy, effective management of water resources, wildfire protection and forest management and California’s other natural resources priorities. Sara also leads the Agency’s external affairs, working to ensure close coordination with a diverse array of stakeholders in the NGO community, private sector and philanthropy. Before joining Governor Newsom’s administration, Sara spent fifteen years working at the intersection of environmental policy and politics. Sara has created and led numerous campaigns and initiatives to defend California’s rivers, bays, coast and ocean, and deliver climate resiliency and clean water for California communities. Sara served as a member of the California Coastal Commission from 2017 to 2023. In 2022, Sara ran for state Assembly in California’s 12th District in the North Bay Area. Sara lives in Marin and enjoys soccer, hiking, running, kayaking and stand-up paddling with her partner and two young sons. Sara holds a Juris Doctor from the University of California, San Francisco College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
