Vice President and Director of the PPIC Water Policy Center
Dr. Ellen Hanak is vice president and director of the PPIC Water Policy Center and a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where Ellen holds the Ellen Hanak Chair in Water Policy. Under Ellen’s leadership, the center has become a critical source of information and guidance for natural resource management in California. Ellen has authored dozens of reports, articles, and books on water policy, including Managing California’s Water. Ellen’s research is frequently profiled in the national media and participates in briefings, conferences, and interviews throughout the nation and around the world. Ellen’s other areas of expertise include climate change and infrastructure finance. Previously, Ellen served as research director at PPIC. Before joining PPIC, Ellen held positions with the French agricultural research system, the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, and the World Bank. Ellen holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Maryland.