California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Indian-origin business executive Sushma Bhatia to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, reinforcing the state’s focus on integrating technology, sustainability, and environmental leadership into public governance.
Bhatia, who lives in Cupertino, currently works at Google as the company’s Global Business and Applied AI Director, a position she assumed in 2024. Prior to this role, she served as Google’s Global Head of Strategy and Operations for nearly five years, overseeing major business and operational initiatives within the technology giant.
Her appointment to the influential environmental board is currently awaiting confirmation from the California State Senate. According to official details, the position offers compensation of $250 per day. The announcement also identified Bhatia as a member of the Democratic Party.
Before joining Google, Bhatia built extensive experience in consulting and business strategy while working at Accenture between 2014 and 2019. During her time there, she held several senior positions, including Consultant, Manager, and Business Strategy Senior Manager. Her professional background also includes entrepreneurship, as she co-founded Dreeya and led the company as Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2016.
Apart from her corporate leadership experience, Bhatia has a long-standing connection with environmental initiatives and sustainability programs. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade with the San Francisco Department of the Environment, where she worked in multiple roles focused on environmental management and public policy. Her responsibilities included serving as Toxics Reduction Program Manager and Coordinator, positions that involved developing initiatives aimed at reducing environmental hazards and promoting sustainable practices.
Bhatia’s educational qualifications reflect a strong combination of technical expertise and business leadership. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Berkeley, along with a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
The appointment adds another experienced technology and sustainability professional to California’s environmental leadership network at a time when issues related to water quality, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management continue gaining national attention.
