Emily Desai, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Designee

Emily Desai was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the Chief Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Under the direction of the GO-Biz Director, Emily oversees all aspects of the organization, which is responsible for the state’s economic strategy. Prior to her time at GO-Biz, Emily served the U.S. Congress as a Senior Project Manager for international affairs, trade, and national security 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.