Our Board
Meet the California Environmental Voters Board of Directors!
See the EnviroVoters Ed Fund board here.
Fran Diamond
President and Chair
Brigid McCormack
Vice Chair
Victoria Rome
Secretary
Mary Creasman
Chief Executive Officer
Fatima Iqbal-Zubair
Staff Advisor
Fran Diamond, President and Chair, is a four-time former Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board where she served for 20 years. She is a founder of the landmark group No Oil, Inc. which successfully saved the Los Angeles coast from on-shore oil drilling. Fran was a Special Assistant on the Environment to Controller Gray Davis. Ms. Diamond is a Member of the City of Los Angeles Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Proposition O, which provides oversight on the expenditure of $500 million approved by Los Angeles voters for water quality improvement programs. Fran serves on the Executive Committee of The Bay Foundation which provides funding for restoration and resilience projects in the Santa Monica Bay. She is an Alternate Commissioner on the California Coastal Commission. She is a member of the California Women’s Political Committee. Ms. Diamond has a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from Antioch University.
Brigid McCormack, Vice Chair, is Founder of SpinDrift Advisors. As an executive coach, Brigid is dedicated to supporting, enabling, and developing high-performing and high-potential leaders. For the last 24 years, Brigid has led and worked within mission driven organizations. Most recently, as the Deputy Director of Tempest Advisors. Prior to that she served as Executive Director of Audubon California and Vice President of the Pacific Flyway for the National Audubon Society. In earlier positions, Brigid served as Vice President for External Affairs at the ClimateWorks Foundation and spent almost a decade in development at business schools, first at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and later at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Brigid served as a U.S. Peace Corps Environment volunteer in Ukraine. Brigid holds a master’s in environmental management from the University of San Francisco and degrees in biology and history from Santa Clara University. She is a Hudson Institute trained coach and is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation. She lives with her husband and son in San Francisco. When she isn’t working Brigid enjoys running, hiking, backpacking and birding in one of the many beautiful wild spaces in the Bay Area.
Victoria Rome, Secretary, is the California Government Affairs Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she works with the state legislature and administrative agencies to further the environmental community’s agenda. She works to enact laws to reduce exposure to pollution and toxic chemicals, combat climate change, and foster California’s clean energy economy. Before joining the staff of NRDC, Victoria was the legislative coordinator for California Youth Connection, a non-profit foster youth advocacy organization. She also worked in the California State Capitol as a legislative consultant for the Assembly Human Services Committee and former Assemblymembers Tom Bates and Dion Aroner. She holds a B.A. in political science from UCLA and an M.A. in international affairs from California State University, Sacramento. Victoria lives in El Cerrito with her husband and two sons.
Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, has focused the organization on building power to solve the climate crisis, advancing climate justice, and creating the global roadmap for action since taking over in 2018. Under her leadership, EnviroVoters has more than doubled in size, launching three new local league PAC entities to expand organizing efforts in battleground regions across the state. During the 2020 election cycle, EnviroVoters PAC entities and partners stopped Big Oil’s top three candidates from advancing in the primary election and unseated two anti-environmental state senators in the general election. In addition, EnviroVoters led efforts in 2020 to expand mail ballots to every voter, protect in-person and drop box polling options, and lower the voting age. While passing numerous climate policies statewide, EnviroVoters led an accountability effort to oust a pro-oil and gas Assembly Transportation Chair and ensured California’s congressional delegation delivered a historic win federally by securing permanent conservation funding through the Great American Outdoors Act. Prior to EnviroVoters, Mary served as the California Director of Government Affairs for The Trust for Public Land where she led the effort to pass the largest parks tax measure in the nation, spearheaded the state’s biggest single investment in underserved communities in California’s history, and created an urban greening program marking the first time green infrastructure was included in California’s climate policy. Mary has a long and successful track record of leading campaigns and initiatives at regional, statewide, and national levels as the Chief Strategy Officer of Green For All, the Associate Director of the Partnership for Children & Youth, and the Political and Organizing Director of the AFL-CIO Labor Council in Silicon Valley. She has advised organizations across the country as an organizational development and effectiveness consultant. Mary has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Hill, Politico, the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, and more.
Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is EnviroVoters’ Legislative Affairs Manager. In this role, she works with our elected leaders and stakeholders in the Capitol to pass transformative climate policy that will meet the urgency of this moment. Living in a frontline community in South Los Angeles, Fatima brings with her lived experiences and intersectional advocacy in a frontline community that has struggled with the impacts of environmental racism for far too long. Her activism stemmed from her work as a high school Science teacher in Watts working in a school that has contaminated water and land. Since then, she has grown to be part of numerous local and statewide coalitions and is excited to use her experiences and focus on youth to create communities all across our state that are healthy, livable, and thriving. In her free time, she loves supporting her South LA Robotics team that she founded, crossfitting, watching her favorite TV shows, and spending time with her family, especially her 8-year son.
Glen Dake is a landscape architect at Dake Landscape and leader in building Southern California community-designed landscapes. His design work includes the Keck Ocean Atmosphere Science Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a number of stormwater collection facilities in the San Fernando Valley parks and a commemoration for the historic Sleepy Lagoon in Maywood, CA. He helped to found the LA Community Garden Council in 1998, and he led a team to acquire land for and build a series of community gardens in Echo Park, East Hollywood, East LA, Vermont Square, and Watts. Between 2001 and 2005 he served on then-Los Angeles Council Member Eric Garcetti’s staff to lead his work for the City of LA’s Proposition O, for the Renewable Portfolio Standard, and developed 13 new parks.
Lauren Faber O’Connor is an Operating Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, an early-stage VC firm focused on climate technology solutions to decarbonize the world’s largest industries, cities, and world at large. Prior to Lowercarbon, Lauren served as the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles where she developed and oversaw the green transition of the second largest city in the country, including the country’s largest municipal electric and water utility, as well as the busiest Port and Airport. Over her eight years in the L.A. Mayor’s Office, Lauren ushered in a series of climate-leading actions to pursue a zero emissions Port, require that all new construction be all-electric, eliminate single-use packaging, pursue 100% recycled water and 100% clean energy, and end urban oil drilling. She also oversaw the national network of mayors committed to climate action known as Climate Mayors and LA’s Chairship of the international mayoral climate action organization C40. Lauren has spent her career working on environmental issues, from serving as West Coast Political Director for the Environmental Defense Fund to being appointed Assistant Secretary for Climate Change at the California EPA, to addressing climate change and energy as Senior Policy Advisor at the British Embassy. Lauren serves on the Boards of California Environmental Voters, WRI Ross Center for Cities, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems, and USC Center for Sustainability Solutions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Systems and Economics from Stanford University, and Master’s degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University. Lauren was awarded Columbia University’s Dean’s Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2023, which recognizes profound impact on academia and the world at large. She has been recognized as 40 under 40 Public Utilities Fortnightly 2021, 2019 LA Power Woman by Bisnow, and 2018 Climate Leader to Watch by E&E News.
Wendy Leshgold is the President, Co-Founder of Fast Forward Group. As a facilitator and keynote speaker, Wendy’s authenticity, energy and experience leave people inspired to take action in their lives. As head of FFG’s executive coaching practice, Wendy manages a team of senior level coaches and supports clients in achieving their full potential in their whole lives. Wendy has worked with thousands of executives across the globe from companies such as Facebook, Google, Visa, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg and more. Wendy received her coaching certification (CPCC/ACC) from CTI in 2005 and since then has coached hundreds of executives in areas such as: performance, leadership, career growth / transition, and change management. Before coaching, Wendy spent fifteen years leading senior teams at renowned advertising agencies Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO and Deutsch. She opened and grew Deutsch Los Angeles from five people to over 300. Wendy received her BA in History from the University of Virginia. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. In her free time, Wendy can often be found watching her son play baseball and walking with her beloved dogs, Scout and Cali.
Oscar Lopez is the Political Director of the Service Employees International Union California (SEIU CA). As the largest labor union in the State of California, SEIU CA advocates on behalf of 700,000 nurses, healthcare workers, janitors, doctors, social workers, security officers, in-home caregivers, school and university employees, court workers, and city, county and state employees, who have passed a comprehensive, progressive agenda for economic, racial, environmental, gender and immigrant justice. Known for his ability to develop broad coalitions, his strategic insight, and his ability to bring together the resources necessary to win elections, Lopez has been instrumental in leading the California groundswell that helped flip the House in 2018, in strengthening California’s pro-worker legislative majorities, and in passing significant revenue measures on the ballot that have brought billions to educating our children, funding vital local community services like public health, and providing assistance to those most in need. Prior to SEIU, Lopez worked on congressional and presidential campaigns in southwestern states, as well as serving as a Director of City’s Boys and Girls Club in New Mexico. Oscar lives in Long Beach with his wife, two kids and dog.
Jennifer Miner received a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Skidmore College, and an MA and MEd in Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. As a therapist, Jennifer worked with dually diagnosed unhoused people in NYC. After moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Jennifer moved into travel writing. As a travel writer she focused on family travel and sustainable, “green” travel. Jennifer shifted gears after the 2016 election and became a full time community organizer, progressive activist, and political donor and fundraiser. A lifetime member of the Sierra Club, and longtime member of the World Wildlife Fund and Nature Conservancy, Jennifer is proud to be a board member of the EnviroVoters. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two neurotic dogs, Jasper and Willie.
Andrew Okun has been a board member of California Environmental Voters since 2000. He was president of the American Go Association from 2012 to 2022, and a board member before that. He received a BSc in Physics from University College London, and a Diploma in International and Comparative Politics and an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He worked previously as a legal journalist and in the music industry as co-owner of Cherry Lane Music Publishing.
Wendy-Sue Rosen is a community advocate, land use policy consultant and environmental activist. She currently serves on eight boards dealing with issues ranging from responsible and balanced land use policies, air & water quality, protection of the Santa Monica Mountains, open space preservation, public access to trails, wildlife connectivity, and the health of the environment. In her work she has been recognized by city, state and federal agencies and elected officials. In 2007 Wendy was named “Woman of the Year” by then-Assemblymember Mike Feuer. “I am very excited that Wendy-Sue is AD 42’s Woman of the Year. Her passion for civic involvement, community engagement and environmental activism represents many of the shared values of my district. Her willingness to lead many of these causes is illustrative of what can be accomplished when people of good will work for our common benefit. She has lead efforts to improve water quality, protect wildlife, preserve our environment and support public access to open space.” Wendy works tirelessly with the hope that together we can find solutions to conquer the climate crisis and end global warming, bringing balance back to the planet.
Parin Shah provides strategic advice and consulting to emerging renewable energy and environmental organizations; his specialty is working with communities of color and native communities. He has worked on climate, environmental justice (EJ) and energy equity policy for over 20 years, most recently as Director of The Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund (The Fund), where he established their Policy Accelerator. The Accelerator supports organizations to advance policies that improve conditions for communities experiencing the causes and effects of climate change. Prior to The Fund, he was at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) leading their California focused environmental justice policy portfolio. At APEN, Parin led their equitable energy and climate justice policy agenda. His leadership led to the passage of California’s 33% (SB 350, de León) and 100% renewable (SB 100, de León) legislation. His favorite legislative win was a first-in-the-nation legislation that put solar and storage on multifamily affordable housing (AB 693, Eggman). Parin also helped launch Green For All, which gave birth to the green jobs movement in the US. He established their program working with mayors, cities and counties across the U.S. on workforce and green jobs with a focus on bringing about a “triple bottom” line — profit, planet, and people. And in 2004, he founded the Urban Accords Institute, which in 2005 co-hosted the U.N. World Environment Day in San Francisco out of which was developed the Urban Environmental Accords — a road map for creating sustainable cities, which was signed by the mayors of 67 of the 100 largest cities in the world. From 2000-04, he served as the President of the Commission on the Environment for the City and County of San Francisco. He co-authored ground-breaking policies on climate change, environmental justice, wetlands conservation and restoration, zero waste, green buildings as well as food security. Parin began his environmental work developing habitat restoration projects, horticultural education and job-training programs for formerly incarcerated youth and adults in Southeast San Francisco. He began his ecological work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia. When he is not working on policy or watching/playing basketball at home in Oakland, Parin loves to connect with the Earth and garden or hike with his teenage daughter…if he can get her away from a glowing screen.
Nancy Sutley is Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Previously, she served as Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality from January 2009 to February 2014 and was one of the chief architects of President Obama’s June 2013 Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution, prepare the U.S for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address climate change. Prior to her appointment to the Council on Environmental Quality, Sutley was the Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment for the City of Los Angeles under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and represented Los Angeles on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She served on the California State Water Resources Control Board from 2003-2005 and held positions at US EPA. Sutley received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
Davida Herzl is Founder, President and CEO of Aclima, where she leads a diverse team pioneering an entirely new way to diagnose the health of our air and track climate-changing pollution. A Public Benefit Corporation, Aclima measures air pollution and greenhouse gases at unprecedented scales and with source-level resolution. Aclima Pro, the company’s groundbreaking enterprise software, translates billions of scientific measurements into analytics for companies, governments, and communities to reduce emissions, improve public health, and deliver clean air for all. Today, Aclima serves national, state, and local governments implementing leading-edge climate policies, as well as the world’s top public companies in technology and energy. The company operates the largest mobile sensor network on Earth, creating datasets of hyperlocal greenhouse gas levels and air pollution never before available. As CEO, Davida is the first woman of Latin descent to ever raise more than $100M in venture capital for a deeptech or climatetech company in the history of Silicon Valley. She is a polymath and has authored over 11 patents. She holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, and a Triple B.A. in Economics, Political Science, and Communications from the University of California, San Diego. Davida has received numerous accolades for her achievements. She was named one of Scientific American’s four innovators who are making health care more fair (2022), one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Influence (2022), a member of the Worthy100 (2022), one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders (2020), one of the Top 100 Most Creative People in Business by FastCompany (2019), one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs (2018), and a Grist 50 Fixer (2017).
