Work

Derek Walker develops and coordinates legislative and communications campaigns in target states throughout the U.S. to generate support for strong global warming and clean energy policies.

His primary responsibility is managing a team of policy and legal experts working on implementation of California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), which was enacted in 2006 and co-sponsored by Environmental Defense Fund.

In this role, he engages political, community, business and environmental leaders to build consensus, leverage resources and sustain public support for California’s pioneering environmental leadership.

Background

Prior to joining Environmental Defense Fund, Walker served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party, where he helped design and implement a successful $5 million campaign to elect a new Democratic Governor and U.S. Senator.

From 2001-2005, he was Senior Vice President of the Hawthorn Group, where he provided strategic counsel for and managed public relations projects for Fortune 500 companies, trade organizations and business groups, and launched national philanthropic partnerships for a Dow 30 company.

Walker began his career as a Congressional Aide to U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). He received a B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and studied European literature and politics at University College, Oxford.