San Francisco Baykeeper is pleased to announce that our new Executive Director is Sejal Choksi-Chugh. Sejal has been an organizational leader on staff for 13 years, most recently serving as Program Director, and for the last several months, also as Interim Executive Director.
“I’m thrilled to take the helm at Baykeeper to continue our proud legacy of strong Bay protection,” said Sejal. “I’ve been passionate about our mission to achieve a healthier, safer San Francisco Bay since I joined the team in 2002. And I’m honored to continue the environmental leadership of Deb Self, our previous long-time Executive Director. Baykeeper is fortunate to have a deeply committed Board of Directors, talented staff, dedicated volunteers, and outstanding supporters. Together, we will continue to stand up to San Francisco Bay’s biggest polluters, and to tackle the greatest threats to the Bay’s health.”
As Baykeeper’s Interim Executive Director, Sejal directed all aspects of the organization’s operations, including legal actions, policy advocacy, science, financial management, development, and communications. Previously, Sejal served as Program Director, providing senior strategic leadership for Baykeeper's high-impact policy and litigation programs to protect San Francisco Bay. Under her programmatic direction, the organization has led the charge to reduce agricultural pollution, industrial runoff, sewage overflows, mercury contamination, and oil spills in the Bay.
Sejal holds a J.D. with a specialization in Environmental Law from the University of California at Berkeley. In April, she was honored with the UC Berkeley Law Ecology Law Quarterly’s annual Environmental Leadership Award. The Ecology Law Quarterly is one of the nation’s most respected and widely read environmental law journals, and past honorees of the award include David Brower, the Sierra Club’s first executive director; East Bay Congressional Representative George Miller; and renowned Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson.
Bay Nature magazine recently profiled Sejal’s work as Program Director for Baykeeper and revealed her enthusiasm for Baykeeper’s mission. You can read the full profile here.
The Baykeeper Board of Directors conducted a national executive search and considered many highly qualified candidates before making its selection for Executive Director.
"Sejal brings with her a long and accomplished track record with Baykeeper, unwavering dedication to the health of the San Francisco Bay, and an exciting vision for the organization's future," said Jeff Russell, Chair, Baykeeper Board of Directors. “She’s going to provide great leadership. I know I speak for everyone on the Board and staff when I say we expect big wins for the Bay with Sejal as Baykeeper’s new Executive Director.”
