Esther Morales is a cross-sector leader with over 25 years of experience advancing priorities across a range of issues, including clean energy, small business policy, women-led entrepreneurship, and support for low-income families. She brings a deep commitment to advancing the clean energy economy as foundational to human health, resilience, and economic vitality. Through roles in nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and political campaigns, she has consistently partnered with private-sector leaders to drive lasting impact.

From 2021 to 2025, she served as Executive Director of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI), leading the organization’s largest expansion to date. Previously, Esther was Deputy Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), where she co-managed $20 million in small business programs and oversaw COVID-19 and wildfire relief efforts for small businesses. From 2009 to 2017, she held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, the White House Office of the First Lady Michelle Obama, and the National Women’s Business Council, shaping national policy implementation.

Her early career focused on political strategy and grassroots advocacy, managing issue and candidate campaigns and working with nonprofits to advance racial justice. Esther holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Princeton University.