Sara Aminzadeh is an attorney and environmental policy leader who has been working at the intersection of policy and politics for 20 years. She worked to protect clean water for California communities on behalf of the California Coastkeeper Alliance and continued to work on water in leadership roles at the Pisces Foundation and US Water Alliance. 

Sara served as a public member on the California Coastal Commission for five years, making decisions about land use, climate adaptation and infrastructure development in the coastal zone. In that seat, she was an outspoken champion for environmental justice and sea level rise adaptation.

Throughout her career, Sara has been a steadfast champion for working people and equitable climate action that can ensure we leave a livable planet to the next generation. 

In 2021, Sara embarked on her first political campaign, running as a climate candidate to represent Marin and southern Sonoma in the California Assembly. While she did not win the race, she earned the endorsement of 50 sitting state legislators, several labor and environmental organizations, women’s and reproductive rights organizations, and local, statewide and national leaders. She subsequently launched the Parity Project with FundHer, which seeks to achieve gender parity in the California Legislature by 2028.

In March 2023, Sara was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as a Deputy Secretary in the California Natural Resources Agency. In her role, she is focused on securing federal resources for climate, water and conservation priorities, including California’s natural and built infrastructure.

Sara received her bachelors degree in environmental studies and political science and graduated with honors from the University of California Santa Barbara. Sara also holds a Juris doctorate from the University of California College of Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings).

Sara is married and lives in Central Marin with husband Max and son Henry. She enjoys stand up paddling, dancing, and hiking.