Laurie Newman

Laurie Newman brings decades of environmental leadership, public service, and community activism to our Board. A lifelong advocate for equity and sustainability, Laurie’s work has consistently centered on strengthening communities and protecting the places people call home. Her approach is both practical and deeply values-driven, shaped by a belief that healthy ecosystems and healthy communities go hand in hand.

Raised on Long Island during a period of social change, Laurie found her voice early, advocating for girls’ rights at her high school and participating in anti-war activism. She earned a B.A. in Sociology from Pitzer College and began her career in the cooperative organic food movement before becoming a professional chef and corporate culinary leader. She later devoted more than 15 years to public service, working for Assemblymember and Senator Sheila Kuehl, where she authored legislation for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and advanced policy on coastal and transportation issues affecting Santa Monica, the Bay, Malibu, Pacific Coast Highway, and Topanga Canyon.

Laurie has been a member of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and The Bay Foundation since 1996, contributing nearly three decades of steady leadership in regional environmental restoration. Now retired from state service, she continues to channel her energy into volunteer work, environmental advocacy, gardening, and food. She brings to our Board seasoned political insight, thoughtful perspective, and an enduring commitment to caring for our coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.