TAC Councilmembers

Sarah Izant was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in November 2023 to serve as Deputy Secretary for Climate Policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to joining CalEPA, Izant served the City and County of San Francisco as Mayor London N. Breed’s Manager of State and Federal Affairs, Environmental Policy Advisor, and Deputy Press Director. She has worked in both state and federal government, as an advisor at the California Public Utilities Commission and Executive Fellow at the California Air Resources Board, and as a Constituent Services Representative in the Office of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis and Hispanic Studies from Scripps College.

Amanda Hansen serves as Deputy Secretary for Climate Change at the California Natural Resources Agency. Prior to joining the Newsom Administration, she was a regional director in the New York Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery for the Community Reconstruction Program from 2013 to 2017. She previously served as deputy associate director for policy outreach for the White House Council on Environmental Policy in 2012 and chief of staff to the chairman of the 2010-2011 round of United Nations climate change negotiations. From 2005-2009, she was a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in Science in Society from Wesleyan University, focusing on environmental science and sociology. She received her master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, and specialized in Environmental Policy.

Virginia Jameson is Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Prior to that, she served as the Climate and Conservation Program Manager at the California Department of Conservation, Deputy State Director for the American Farmland Trust, Management Specialist for the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, Board Aide for Monterey County Office of District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker, and Associate Director of the Ag Land Trust. Jameson holds dual Master of Arts degrees in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Abby Edwards serves as the Acting Executive Director of Planning and Policy, Deputy Director for Climate and Planning at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), and Chair of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (ICARP) Technical Advisory Council. With over a decade of experience in climate adaptation and resilience, Abby has led statewide programs, managed interdisciplinary teams, and fostered partnerships across government, nonprofit, and community sectors. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal and manager of climate-focused service programs at CivicWell, Abby Edwards brings a deep commitment to advancing sustainable, equitable, and impactful solutions to California’s most pressing climate challenges.

Julia Kingsley was appointed CalSTA’s Deputy Secretary for Environmental Policy and Housing Coordination by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2025. In this role, Julia focuses on initiatives related to reducing vehicle miles traveled, housing and transportation coordination, and climate resilience, amongst other issues.

Prior to joining the CalSTA team, Julia was Senior Consultant at the California State Assembly Transportation Committee since 2021. She was Assistant Deputy Director at the California Transportation Commission from 2020 to 2021 and Senior Legislative Aide in the Office of Assemblymember Laura Friedman in the California State Assembly from 2017 to 2020. Julia was a Policy Associate at Ecoconsult in 2017, and from 2016-2017, she was a Defense Representative for the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. Julia was a Southern California Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in 2015-16.

Julia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy from Occidental College.

Robyn Fennig was appointed Assistant Director of the Hazard Mitigation Program in February 2024 after serving as the Division Chief of Hazard Mitigation Planning for 2023-2024. Robyn brings a wealth of experience from Wisconsin’s Division of Emergency Management, where she worked from 2012-2017 and 2018-2023. From 2017-2018, Robyn served as a Research Scientist at the Association of State Floodplain Managers. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa and has been a Certified Floodplain Manager since 2012. Robyn is enthusiastic about connecting practitioners and communities to resources that build and enhance local resilience capabilities. She has an interest in the overlap between planning, zoning, and capital improvement planning with hazard mitigation and disaster recovery.

Linda Helland manages the Climate Change & Health Equity Branch at the California Department of Public Health, leading the work of the State of California to embed health and equity into climate change policy and planning so that climate strategies simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for impacts, and improve underlying living conditions to reduce risk of harm for people facing historical and continuing disinvestment. Linda’s 26 years of public health practice have focused on increasing health equity through policy changes to achieve equitable social, economic, and environmental conditions for all. Before joining the California Department of Public Health in 2015, Linda managed the Prevention & Planning Unit at Mendocino County Public Health, overseeing 20 preventive health programs including chronic disease prevention; alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention; youth empowerment and capacity-building of underserved and LGBTQ youth; health impact assessments; and input to land use and transportation policies. She also served as Executive Director of the Alex Rorabaugh Recreation & Community Center in Ukiah, and as the health voice on the Ukiah Planning Commission.

Jacob Alvarez, serving as the Energy and Sustainability Program Manager at the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), rejoined the organization in 2023. In this role, he oversees CVAG’s regional energy, environmental, and sustainability programs, including Desert Community Energy (DCE), the Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN) and the development of Coachella Valley’s second Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory.

Before his current position, Mr. Alvarez worked as a Management Analyst (2009-2013) for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), a sub-region to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). As CVAG’s SCAG Liaison, Mr. Alvarez was tasked with becoming the regional expert in SB375 and AB32. Mr. Alvarez worked with SCAG and CVAG’s 10 member jurisdictions on understanding and strategizing the implementation of Coachella Valley’s Sustainable Community Strategy given the region’s inadequate public transit.

Notably, Mr. Alvarez played a pivotal role in the Coachella Valley’s first Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. This GHG Inventory was a huge milestone for the region and was done in partnership with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Mr. Alvarez also managed and implemented CVAG’s Green for Life Program, which was funded by a $4.91m grant from Southern California Edison (SCE), as provided by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This program developed the first regional and local green building policy with standards 15% above Title-24, including: a climate action plan; greenhouse gas inventories; facility benchmarking; commissioning; and, retro-commissioning policies for CVAG’s member cities. In another first for the region, Mr. Alvarez participated in the Coachella Valley’s first Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. In 2009, due to State mandate AB1881, Mr. Alvarez assisted in managing the implementation and development of a water efficient landscape ordinance in partnership with the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) that exceeded the State’s requirement.

Between his roles at CVAG, Mr. Alvarez joined the City of Coachella’s Finance Department in 2013 where he transitioned from Interim Controller to the Assistant to the City Manager. As Assistant to the City Manager, Mr. Alvarez provided supervision on the City’s Special Projects and served as the City’s representative on several City sponsored commissions and committees; he also oversaw the City’s Legislative Platform, assisted in management of City Operations, served as the City’s Public Information Officer, managed Grants Management, and developed and administered the City’s overall strategy and branding.

Mr. Alvarez obtained both his Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Redlands.

Mr. Alvarez, a Coachella Valley resident, is appointed to the Bermuda Dunes Community Council by Riverside County’s 4th District Supervisor. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, Cynthia, and they have three wonderful children.

Molly Oshun, P.E., serves as the Climate Resiliency Engineer at Sonoma Water, responsible for preparing the agency’s water supply, flood management, and wastewater systems for a changing climate. In this capacity, she tracks and guides implementation of Sonoma Water’s 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan, leads discovery and integration of critical new datasets to help plan for future climate conditions, and staffs regional climate collaboratives including the North Coast Resource Partnership. Molly holds additional responsibilities related to advancing nature-based solutions to climate change and integrating more equitable processes into Sonoma Water’s climate portfolio. Prior to Sonoma Water, Molly held positions providing technical assistance to northern California fiber ranchers implementing carbon farming, developing community-driven stormwater plans for flood prone areas of southside Chicago, and supporting the PIO of San Francisco’s Presidio Parkway. Molly earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and her M.S. in Energy and Resources from U.C. Berkeley. Molly was born and raised in the Russian River watershed of Sonoma County, where she now raises her two daughters.

Kim Clark is an Urban Planner at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), specializing in climate adaptation and mitigation, conservation, geographic information systems (GIS), and interactive data visualization. SCAG serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for a six-county region in Southern California, including Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. Covering 38,000 square miles, this region encompasses 191 cities and is home to 19 million people. As a public agency, SCAG collaborates with various regional partners to create long-range transportation, housing, and sustainability plans that cross jurisdictional boundaries and enhance the quality of life for Southern Californians. Currently, Kim leads SCAG’s Resource Conservation & Resilient Communities program. They hold a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside, and a master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA.

David Loya, Arcata Community Development Director, has a diverse background in biology; housing and economic development policy and implementation; urban planning, including current and long-range planning; and climate adaptation planning. Mr. Loya currently oversees the long-range planning updates to the Local Coastal Plan, including the sea level rise adaptation and measured retreat policies for the City of Arcata. Through this work, he has helped develop sea level rise adaptation policy in Humboldt Bay, arguably one of the most dynamic sea level areas in the state. Mr. Loya’s approach to sea level rise adaptation places emphasis on integrating science, economic policy, and regional stakeholder collaboration. He has broad experience with a diverse group of landowners and land managers, regional city and county planners, engineers and scientists, and the public.

Roberto Carlos Torres uses the pronouns he, him, and “él” in Spanish and has a strong passion and commitment equity and environmental justice for marginalized communities. He is currently the Senior Environmental Justice Coordinator for the City and County of San Francisco’s Environment Department. Prior to working in San Francisco, he worked for a statewide nonprofit, the Institute for Local Government and served as the first Climate Equity Specialist for the City of San Diego. Roberto has led the efforts to co-develop the first-of-its-kind San Diego Climate Equity Index in partnership with various community-based organizations, developed an Environmental Justice Element for the City of La Puente, and promoted more inclusive engagement and equitable practices in local governments across the state. Roberto earned a dual bachelor’s degree in government and communication studies at Sacramento State University and has previously worked in the cities of San Pablo, Richmond, and San Diego – as well as in the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Energy Commission. Roberto was born and raised in San Francisco, where he currently lives, but spent 13 years living in San Diego and served has a community organizer and regional leader on climate equity and environmental justice.

John Wentworth is a member of the Town Council of the Town of Mammoth Lakes. He also serves on local agency boards, including the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments, the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, and Mammoth Lakes Tourism. John is also Chairman and CEO of the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA). MLTPA’s current efforts include serving as an Industry Sector Coordinator for the Sierra Jobs region in support of the “Sustainable Recreation and Tourism” industry sector for the Sierra Jobs First Collaborative. MLTPA also recently convened and delivered “California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience” to the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force, which was recognized by Region 5 of the U.S Forest Services as its Partnership of the Year in 2022. MLTPA also supports the Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership and its Sustainable Recreation and Tourism Initiative. In a previous life, John worked in the motion picture industry, where his credits include Co-Producer of “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” and “Mulholland Drive”, directed by David Lynch.

Jasneet Sharma is the Director for the San Mateo County Sustainability Department where she provides leadership to fulfill the County’s mission of enhancing the resilience and sustainability of both the County’s operations and the wider community through efforts to combat and adapt to climate change, ensure access to clean energy, water, and air, and conserve resources through effective waste reduction strategies.

Prior to this, she led the County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability and Resiliency in implementing the County’ Sustainability Master Plan which lays the roadmap to build a livable, equitable and resilient Santa Clara County.

Jasneet is a trained architect and urban planner, has experience working in both academia and local governments and has led several research, policy and community-based initiatives on sustainable land use and food systems, health policy and planning, smart growth, and climate change.

Alex Ghenis is the CEO of Accessible Climate Strategies, a consultancy focused on the intersection of climate, health, and disability. Born and raised in California, Alex received a BA in Geography from UC Berkeley with a focus on climate and the built environment and a Master’s of Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy with a focus on renewables and storage integration. In 2014, he founded the New Earth Disability initiative at the World Institute on Disability, where he addressed the intersection of disability and climate change through public awareness campaigns, disaster readiness partnerships, inclusive transportation studies, and more. Alex left WID for private consulting in 2020 supports government, business, and nonprofits in their pursuit of equitable resilience and climate justice. He currently serves as the Disability Subject Matter Expert for California’s Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST) program and is a member of the Equity Working Group for the Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network (BayCAN). A writer at heart, Alex recently started the DisabilitYIMBY newsletter focused on disability, urbanism, and climate change; he’s also a contributor to United Spinal publications, including New Mobility magazine.

Denise Kadara was appointed as a member to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in Fall 2014 and continues to serve. She also serves on the board of the Tulare Basin Watershed Partnership and is President of the Allensworth Progressive Association, a non-profit organization serving community needs and governance. Her career spans over 25 years of public service in City Planning and consulting services for cities in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Marin and San Mateo counties. Her expertise includes housing, economic and community planning, policy and program development and implementation. She received her education in urban & regional planning and public administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and University of La Verne, La Verne, CA, respectively.

Denise moved to Allensworth, CA in May 2010 with her husband where they have devoted their time to improving the quality of life of residents in Allensworth and other disadvantaged communities. Denise and her husband have focused on various community issues including water quality, distressed housing, infrastructure, youth and leadership development, environmental justice and economic development.

Denise was appointed by the Tulare County Board of Supervisor – 2nd District to serve on the Tulare Lake Basin Disadvantaged Community Water Study – Stakeholders Oversight Advisory Committee (SOAC) in 2013. She is currently leading efforts to update the Allensworth Community Plan. Tulare County approved its framework in April 2022. The final version is being drafted with the assistance of the USC Landscape Architecture and School of Design Department for inclusion in the next update to the County’s General Plan.

Nayamin Martinez is the Executive Director of the Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN). Ms. Martinez has vast experience working with immigrants and residents of disadvantaged communities across the San Joaquin Valley managing public health programs; conducting participatory research and launching leadership and civic engagement programs. During her tenure at CCEJN, Nayamin has been leading the charge to address the disproportionate impact of pollution and extreme heat on communities in Central California. Through her grassroots advocacy and innovative programs, she equips residents with the tools and knowledge to fight for systemic change. Nayamin’s work continues to create healthier, more equitable futures for those who need it most. Recently, Nayamin received the 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award in recognition for her work advocating for resiliency programs for those most impacted by pollution and extreme heat. Ms. Martinez holds a Master’s Degree in both Public Health and Sociology.

Gloria Walton is an award-winning community organizer, writer, speaker, and the President and CEO of The Solutions Project, a nonprofit that funds and amplifies climate justice solutions created by frontline communities building power for an equitable and regenerative economy. Described as one of the country’s most exciting “next generation” political leaders and named “New President to Watch” and one of the “100 Power Players in Philanthropy” by Inside Philanthropy, Gloria is disrupting the industry status quo with her power and movement building experience.

Gloria has won numerous awards for her work and leadership, including most recently the inaugural TIME CO2 Earth Awards for her ceaseless commitment to climate justice, NAACP-LA’s Empowerment Award and the LA League of Conservation Voters Environmental Justice Champion Award, and named a Grist 50 Fixer and a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst.

Jonathan Parfrey is the founding director of Climate Resolve, a Los Angeles-based organization. Jonathan served as a commissioner at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for five years. He is a founder of the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability and the statewide Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation, where he currently serves as chair. He is also a founder of CicLAvia, the popular open-street event. He directed the Green LA Coalition as well as the Los Angeles office of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Prior to that, Jonathan founded and directed the Orange County Catholic Worker community in Santa Ana, California.

Michelle Passero is the Climate Change Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, California office. She has extensive experience working in land conservation and environmental law and policy. Currently, Ms. Passero is leading TNC’s climate policy efforts to ensure successful implementation of California’s landmark climate policies, with a focus on the intersection of climate change, conservation and land use.

She has led and advised processes to develop greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standards for California’s natural and working lands, as well as GHG project standards published by the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development. She coauthored an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlighting the statewide potential of California’s lands to contribute to its climate goals. Most recently, she successfully managed a project in partnership with Merced County and the California Department of Conservation to develop a county-scale climate and multi-benefit analysis and scenarios tool for natural and working lands in the County.

Ms. Passero’s professional history includes serving as a Business Development Executive in Forest and Land Use for EcoSecurities, Director of Policy Initiatives for the Pacific Forest Trust, and a contract environmental law attorney for The Natural Heritage Institute and Heller, Ehrman, White and McCauliffe. She holds an LL.M. in Sustainable International Development from the University of Washington, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont.

Nathan Bengtsson is the Interim Director of Climate Resilience at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, where he leads the company’s efforts to bolster the resilience of assets, infrastructure, operations, employees, and communities amid the growing risks of climate change. He has over 10 years of experience in the public policy arena with a focus on energy and environmental issues. Nathan joined PG&E in 2015 as a representative to the California Energy Commission and California Air Resources Board, advocating for environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies including the refinement and extension of California’s landmark Cap-and-Trade Program. He is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and the CORO Fellows Program in Public Affairs and is a proud Teach for America alum (San Antonio, 12’). He currently lives in Sacramento with his family.