Keynote Speaker

In December 2009, Cecilia V. Estolano joined Green For All, the national organization which advocates for broad access and opportunity in the clean-energy economy. As Chief Strategist of State and Local Initiatives, Ms Estolano is charged with spearheading Green For All’s effort to scale public-private partnerships as a means to grow family-supporting, green jobs in cities across the United States, particularly in under-served communities. She also promotes policies and practices that support green-construction and clean-tech manufacturing jobs.

From May 2006 to November 2009, Ms Estolano was the Chief Executive Officer of CRA/LA (Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles), the largest redevelopment agency in the State of California. She redefined the role of CRA/LA to encompass a broad mission of creating economic opportunity and improving the quality of life for current and future generations living in CRA/LA project areas. Under Ms Estolano’s leadership, CRA/LA focused on creating family-supporting jobs, producing affordable and workforce housing, promoting sustainable urbanism and delivering significant, transformative investment to areas of Los Angeles that have not shared in the city’s cycles of prosperity. During her tenure, CRA/LA rebuilt its housing department, adopted a landmark policy on local hiring in construction jobs receiving financial support from CRA/LA, and adopted a Healthy Neighborhoods policy as a blueprint for incorporating sustainability principles throughout CRA/LA’s practices, programs and projects.

Prior to joining CRA/LA, Ms Estolano was counsel in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  From 2001 to 2004, Ms Estolano served as Special Assistant City Attorney for land use, economic development and environment for Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, where she was the City's top negotiator in achieving a landmark settlement in Clean Water Act litigation brought by the US Department of Justice, US EPA Region IX, the State of California and the Santa Monica Baykeeper regarding the City's sewer system.

Ms Estolano served on the California Coastal Commission from 1999 to 2002. From 1993 to 1995, she served as Senior Policy Advisor with the US Environmental Protection Agency and she served as Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley's Environmental Policy Advisor from 1991 to 1993.

Ms Estolano is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law and holds an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.  She received her undergraduate degree in Social Studies with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges.