Jennifer Barrera

Jennifer Barrera is president and chief executive officer of the CalChamber, the state’s largest broad- based business advocate to California government. In leading the organization, she has elevated CalChamber’s policy and political engagement, including working with other business leaders to reform California’s Private Attorneys General Act in the Labor Code, advancing the state’s Equal Pay Pledge, launching CalChamber’s Women in Leadership Council, pursuing an initiative for the November 2026 ballot to streamline the building of essential projects in California, and expanding CalChamber’s political action committees. She previously served as executive vice president of policy for four years, a role in which she oversaw the development and implementation of policy and strategy. Prior to that, she led CalChamber’s advocacy on labor and employment and taxation from 2010 through 2017. Before joining CalChamber, she worked at a statewide law firm that specializes in labor/employment defense, representing employers in both state and federal court. She also advised small and large businesses on compliance issues, presented seminars on various employment-related topics, and regularly authored articles in human resources publications. She currently serves on the PPIC Statewide Leadership Council. She earned a BA in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a JD with high honors from California Western School of Law.