CHSWC Commission Member


Sidharth Voorakkara

Sidharth Voorakkara
Appointed by: Senate Rules Committee
Term Expires: December 31, 2024

Sid Voorakkara is a Senior Partner at ArroyoWest, LLC, a full-service research, government, public affairs, and communications firm. His client portfolio includes non-profit, academia and business entities identifying advocacy strategies at state and regional levels of government.

Prior to consulting, Mr. Voorakkara was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to serve as the Deputy Director of External Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Mr. Voorakkara was responsible for promoting California’s economy and advantages for start-ups and business expansion, state and local resources to impacted communities. He oversaw the state’s innovation portfolio and co-led implementation of international MOUs signed by Governor Brown related to business and trade investment.

Before joining the Brown Administration, Mr. Voorakkara was a Program Manager at The California Endowment. In this capacity, he was The Endowment’s statewide officer on building pathways into high-wage, high-growth jobs. He worked closely with non-profits, businesses, foundations, and workforce investment boards across the state.

Mr. Voorakkara spent nearly a decade prior to The California Endowment as a communication and media specialist in California and national campaigns and elections. Serving both as a Communications Advisor to then-Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and as a Communications Strategist at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

He is the past Chair the City of San Diego’s Ethics Commission where he was appointed by the Mayor and City Council. He is a Board member at Business for Good, and a Board member at Jewish Family Service.

Mr. Voorakkara received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University where he studied Government and American Institutions and Ideals.


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