Liane Randolph

Liane Randolph is a climate and energy leader who has tackled some of the most challenging public policy questions of our time. She prides herself on being a careful and analytical listener and developing strategic and pragmatic solutions to our clients’ problems.

Before co-founding Compass Advisors, Liane was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), from 2021 to 2025, where she led the Board of 16 members and an agency of 2,000 employees. As Chair, Liane led the adoption of the 2022 California Climate Change Scoping Plan which set California on a path towards carbon-neutrality by 2045. She also led the Board’s approval of landmark regulatory actions including advanced zero emission vehicle rules and pioneering locomotive emission reduction standards, a phase out of hexavalent chromium from chrome plating facilities, and an update of California’s highly effective Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. Throughout this work, she forged relationships with state, local, national, and international leaders, which included substantive policy discussions with officials in China, India, Norway, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union.

Liane not only provides our clients with a unique caliber of leadership, but she also offers an insightful steer on advancing equity which derives from her deep experience of integrating this value into every initiative she has led. Most notably, Liane prioritized the effective implementation of the Community Air Protection Program to support communities most impacted by air pollution in California and supported internal equity efforts at CARB. Liane also worked with the Newsom Administration to extend California’s Cap-and-Invest program until 2045 as part of the 2025 Energy Affordability and Climate Action legislative package, and coordinated closely with sister agencies on such cross-cutting issues as energy affordability, the future of the petroleum sector in California, the infrastructure needed to support the economy-wide transition to carbon-neutrality, and the need to begin implementation of California’s ground-breaking corporate climate disclosure laws.

Prior to her time at CARB, she served six years as a Commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014. In that role, she served with two different Commission Presidents and was the Assigned Commissioner for some of the most impactful proceedings of her tenure. These included Integrated Resource Planning, regulation of transportation network companies, major electric and gas utility General Rate Cases, the energy efficiency program portfolio, Aliso Canyon gas storage facility, and major infrastructure proceedings. She also worked with the Commission President, the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to spearhead significant internal CPUC reforms focused on greater accountability, transparency and oversight.

Before being appointed to the CPUC, Liane served as Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011. In her role with then-Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, she had the key responsibility to work with numerous parties, including tribes, the U.S. Department of the Interior, non-governmental organizations and state agencies to continue implementation of the ultimately successful Klamath Dam Removal agreement. She provided legal support for significant legislative negotiations, including work on Assembly Bill 52 (Gatto, 2014) to protect tribal resources and Senate Bill 4 (Pavley, 2013), developing an effective new regulatory scheme for petroleum well stimulation activities.

Earlier in her career, Liane was appointed by Governor Gray Davis to serve as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) from 2003 to 2007. At the FPPC, she tackled the implementation of Proposition 208 (2002), a then new set of campaign finance legislation that was being implemented for the first time in a historic special election to recall the Governor.

Liane also served in private practice at various firms, including Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, Remcho, Johansen and Purcell and Pillsbury. She practiced for many years at Meyers Nave, where she represented local governments and special districts. She served as City Attorney for the cities of San Leandro and Suisun City and served as redevelopment and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) counsel for several other cities. Liane has a Bachelor of Arts in History and a law degree, both from UCLA. She is a member of the California State Bar. Liane currently serves as a Board member of the non-profit organization California Forward.