Deb Kollars is a Senior Policy Advisor for CA FWD and blends her experience as a journalist, attorney and communications expert to provide research, writing, policy analysis, and communications services to assist California Forward in achieving its mission and goals.

For more than 20 years, Deb worked as a newspaper reporter for The Sacramento Bee, where she specialized in public policy issues and developed deep ties within California’s Capitol region. In particular, she focused on local and state government, environmental and water resources, urban development, and public education. In addition to her experience as a journalist, Deb is a licensed California attorney who has specialized in water and environmental law, with additional emphasis on municipal government operations, transactional matters, and legislative and regulatory processes. Previously, she provided communications consulting services to clients on water, environmental, and other policy-related issues.

Deb holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a Juris Doctor degree from Pacific McGeorge School of Law.