Anthony Williams,  Board Member

Anthony Williams,
Board Member.

Anthony C. Williams is Managing Partner with Ballard Partners. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the California High Speed Rail Authority, and previously was Governor Gavin Newsom’s first Legislative Affairs Secretary. His legislative experience includes serving two California Senate Leaders: John Burton and Darrell Steinberg for whom he was Policy Director and Special Counsel. He has also been a legislative advocate for the Judicial Council of California and a Senior Executive and Chief Lobbyist for the State Bar of California.

He served as the Director of Public Policy at Amazon since 2020, where he shaped the company’s policy strategies In 2007, Anthony co-founded the Wada Williams Law Group, LLP, a Sacramento based law and lobbying firm. Anthony has represented clients in regulatory, civil and criminal matters before federal and state courts and agencies. In 2014, he was appointed by Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown to serve on the California Fish and Game Commission. He is also founder and president of the Stand Strong Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to developing excellence in youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Anthony received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from U.C. Davis, a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Juris Doctorate degree from McGeorge School of Law with distinction. He is an avid reader and high-handicap golfer who, above all, enjoys spending time with his wife and three school-aged children.

Appointed by the Governor.