Ashley Conrad-Saydah

A recognized expert in climate change, renewable energy and natural resources policy, Ashley Conrad-Saydah works with SIG to translate their cutting-edge science into policy. Ashley is adept at incorporating scientific information and uncertainty in decision-making and using an inter-disciplinary lens to solve climate and energy challenges.

Ashley is the Principal Investigator for nature-based solutions to climate change at the California-China Climate Institute at UC Berkeley. She mentors women through She Shares and serves on the Advisory Board of the UC Davis Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management. Ashley previously served as the Deputy Secretary for Climate and Energy Policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency and Renewable Energy Program Manager and Presidential Management Fellow at the US Bureau of Land Management. Prior to those roles, she empowered youth through educational, outdoor and research programs in both California and the northeast. Throughout her career, she has worked to provide all people access to nature, education, healthy communities and good jobs.

Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University and her master’s degree from the UC Santa Barbara, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, where she was a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow. She lives in Sacramento with her family and enjoys being outside as much as possible, paddle-boarding, hiking, climbing and biking.