The San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping solve the region’s biggest problems through equity-centered research, policy analysis and collaboration-building among regional leaders and stakeholders – announced today the hire of Emily Wier, who will serve as PIC’s first vice president, chief policy and strategy officer.
In her new role, Wier is responsible for identifying, developing and implementing cross-sector initiatives that help PIC secure new growth opportunities through policy, business development, research and partnerships that create positive regional impact.
She will also manage key staff, and works closely with government entities, agencies and partners to develop and manage a portfolio of collaborative projects across the San Diego region, while providing subject matter expertise on policy initiatives, grants, and collaborating with PIC’s research team.
Prior to joining PIC, Wier was the policy director for the former San Diego County Supervisor for the 4th District. She spent over four years in policy roles for Supervisor, including during an unprecedented two consecutive years as the Chair. While serving District 4, she developed a comprehensive strategic policy agenda and helped guide a robust policy team that developed over 130 policy proposals, including over 40 transformative policies that she wrote. Her work on the Framework for the Future of San Diego County was a groundbreaking initiative that fundamentally reshaped the way the County tackles racial justice, climate change, conditions for working families, and government transparency.
“Emily’s deep policy expertise, research skills and management experience will be a huge asset to PIC,” said President and CEO Susan Guinn. “During her time serving District 4, Emily worked closely with PIC, our Government & Agency Council, and research partner Brookings Metro, and worked on many of the same initiatives that match our strategic priorities. I look forward to working closely with her as the newest member of our core leadership team.”
Previously, Wier served in the Obama White House Domestic Policy Council as a graduate fellow. She coordinated much of the federal electric vehicle policy that launched in summer 2016, which included working across federal agencies, and with industry and nonprofit leaders. She convened stakeholder meetings to achieve buy-in on the federal announcement, including on the development of the "Guiding Principles to Promote Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure." This significant lift represented the beginning of industry-wide collaboration that would grow over subsequent years.
From there, Wier managed government relations for Greenlots, an electric vehicle startup, and she lobbied legislators and government agencies across more than 15 states and secured over $250 million in support of electric vehicles.
Active and engaged in the San Diego community, Wier has held board roles with the San Diego Leadership Alliance, the City of San Diego’s Sustainable Energy Advisory Board, helped grow an environmental advocacy nonprofit, and currently serves as a delegate for the78th Assembly District to the California Democratic Party’s State Central Committee. She holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Tufts University.
Since launching in August 2021, PIC has been on a mission to break down silos and build strong working relationships among San Diego’s regional leaders, government agencies, municipalities, and other community stakeholders. By doing so, PIC cultivates cross-sector, multi-jurisdictional collaborations focused on developing effective, research-informed solutions to key issues in the region and securing the federal and state funding needed to implement those solutions.
To learn more, visit sdrpic.org.
About the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center
The San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) is a partnership between the San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and the world’s leading think tank – The Brookings Institution – to conduct research and policy analysis and help solve the region’s biggest problems. Over the next few years, PIC will continue building strong and diverse partnerships among the leaders of the region; use equity-centered research to identify the region’s biggest needs and best opportunities for change; secure funding for future solutions; challenge systemic inequities; and develop a pipeline of potential projects and pilots that improve the lives of all San Diegans. For more information, visit sdrpic.org.