Dee Zinke

Dee Zinke is the assistant general manager and chief external affairs officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She has a 30-year career in public affairs working on complex policy issues related to water resources, environmental issues, and housing in California. Currently, she directs Metropolitan’s strategic initiatives related to legislative advocacy, media services, public and community relations, and its environmental education and outreach programs. Before joining Metropolitan in 2009, she managed governmental and legislative affairs at Calleguas Municipal Water District. She is an active participant in several water advocacy and policy associations and organizations, and has held numerous leadership positions throughout her career. She is currently co-chair of the Southern California Water Dialogue and serves on the Board of Directors for HomeAid, an organization dedicated to constructing transitional housing for Southern California’s homeless. She brings this experience to the PPIC Water Policy Center Advisory Council. She holds a BA in communication and psychology from Virginia Tech.