Mark Gold

As Director of Water Scarcity Solutions at NRDC, Mark Gold focuses on integrated water management issues in California and the west. From 2019-2022, Mark Gold was the Executive Director of the Ocean Protection Council and the Deputy Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy for the California Natural Resources Agency. Mark served as a key advisor to Governor and the Secretary of Natural Resources and directed policy, scientific research, and critical partnerships to increase protection of coastal and ocean resources in California. Prior to his appointment, he was the UCLA Associate Vice Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability where he helped create and lead their Sustainable Los Angeles Grand Challenge effort. Before becoming associate vice chancellor, Mark was the interim director and associate director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES). Mark has been an adjunct professor at UCLA for over 15 years. Prior to UCLA, Mark was the first hire at Heal the Bay, where he served as their President for 18 years. Over the course of his career, Mark has focused on all things wet and his research focused on beach water quality and health risks, as well as sustainable water resources management and sustainable cities. Mark received his bachelor’s and master’s in Biology as well as his doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering, all from UCLA. Mark has served on numerous Boards and Commissions including the Metropolitan Water District, the California Coastal Commission and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project.