People

Joanna Gubman gave her first YIMBY public comment in 2017, became a YIMBY Action lead in San Francisco in March 2020, and started as Executive Director of Urban Environmentalists in July 2021. She has spent the last 15 years in the energy, climate, and transportation sectors as an Administrative Law Judge and Commissioner’s Advisor at the California Public Utilities Commission. She has also worked as a research fellow at multiple institutions in Germany, and a sustainability consultant at Navigant Consulting (now Guidehouse). In her work as Executive Director for Urban Environmentalists and Environmental Director at YIMBY Action, Joanna advocates for the integration of urban land use policy with environmental policy. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Joanna is the former Executive Director of Urban Environmentalists and she now sits on the Advisory Board. She came to Urban Environmentalists from the California Public Utilities Commission, where she served as an Administrative Law Judge and Commissioner's Advisor, among other roles. She brings to Urban Environmentalists her expertise in clean energy and transportation policy, energy and infrastructure programs for underserved communities, and of course, navigating complex government bureaucracies. Her several research fellowships in Germany have also inspired Joanna to become ever more committed to urbanism here in the Bay Area. In her free time, Joanna serves as a member of the board of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

Chris is a renowned expert in urban sustainability and climate action strategies. With a background in urban planning and energy management, Chris works with local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations across the United States to develop sustainable infrastructure and environmental policy frameworks. He recently led the consultant teams for New York City’s first comprehensive environmental justice report and the award-winning Los Angeles Countywide Sustainability Plan – widely recognized as the nation’s boldest, most inclusive regional sustainability strategy.