Deborah Burke is a program officer for the Fund’s Sustainable Development program, focusing on advancing the clean energy economy and movement building. She has extensive legislative experience from three terms as the senior policy advisor to Oregon State Representative Jules Bailey. In this role, she made direct contributions to lasting clean energy and low-carbon state policies in Oregon. Prior to joining the RBF, Ms. Burke was part of the research team at New York University’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. In 2012, Ms. Burke was honored to support West Lancashire Member of Parliament Rosie Cooper as a parliamentary researcher in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons. She currently serves on the board of PACENation, a national organization leading the charge to make energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resiliency an option for all building owners. Ms. Burke also serves as the co-chair of the Climate and Energy Funders Group steering committee, a program of the Biodiversity Funders Group.
Ms. Burke holds a M.P.A. in nonprofit and public management and policy from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a B.A. in political science from Portland State University’s School of Urban Affairs.