Donna Lucas

Donna Lucas is CEO & founder of Lucas Public Affairs, a California-based strategic consulting, public affairs, and communications firm. She has served on the Public Policy Institute of California Survey Advisory Committee since 1998 and was on PPIC’s board of directors from 2007 to 2019, serving as chair from 2013 to 2016; she also currently sits on PPIC’s Statewide Leadership Council. Over the course of her career, she has provided strategic counsel to large corporate clients, labor unions, nonprofits, and political candidates. She also has worked on several statewide initiative campaigns on a variety of policy issues, including gaming, housing, education, local government, campaign finance, and energy. Prior to forming Lucas Public Affairs in 2006, she served as a deputy chief of staff for strategic planning and initiatives for Governor Schwarzenegger and chief of staff to First Lady Maria Shriver. Previously, she was the global and public affairs practice leader for Porter Novelli and CEO of the Nelson Communications Group. She also served as deputy press secretary for Governor George Deukmejian, deputy treasurer for Tom Hayes, and California press secretary for President George H. W. Bush. In addition, she was chairperson of the American Association of Political Consultants. She is also a founding member of She Shares, a unique conversation series featuring trailblazing women leaders who have created a lasting impact for women in California and beyond. Currently, she serves on the boards of the California Chamber of Commerce, the College Futures Foundation, Maria Shriver’s Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. She was chair of the board in 2020– 2021 and is currently chair of the College Futures Foundation, contributing significantly to the advancement of education. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Journalism.