Emily Desai

Senior Deputy Director for Global and Strategic Program Planning and External Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Emily Desai was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the Senior Deputy Director for Global and Strategic Program Planning and External Affairs at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and is responsible for overseeing a range of portfolio areas, including the state’s international affairs and trade strategy. Prior to her time at GO-Biz, Emily served the U.S. Congress as a Senior Project Manager for International Affairs and Trade at the U.S. Government Accountability Office where she led high-impact reports, testimonies, and briefings for Congressional leaders to act on emerging regulatory challenges. Emily was appointed by Secretary Gina Raimondo to serve on the U.S. Investment Advisory Council and appointed by Ambassador Katherine Tai to serve on the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. She is a 2024 U.S. Presidential Leadership Scholar.
Emily grew up in Arizona and graduated summa cum laude and with honors from the University of Arizona. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.