Ellen Hanak is an adjunct fellow with the PPIC Water Policy Center with decades of experience in California water issues. She founded the PPIC Water Policy Center in 2015, where she held the Ellen Hanak Chair in Water Policy, and served as its first director. She was also a vice president and senior fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California. Previously, she served as the institute’s research director. Under her leadership, the center became a critical source of information and guidance for natural resource management in California. She has authored dozens of reports, articles, and books on water policy, including Managing California’s Water. Her research has been frequently profiled in the national media, and she has participated in briefings, conferences, and interviews throughout the nation and around the world. Her other areas of expertise include climate change and infrastructure finance. Before joining PPIC, she held positions with the French agricultural research system, the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, and the World Bank. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland, an MA in economics from the University of Dar es Salaam, and a BA in history from Swarthmore College.
