Sarah Michael
Sarah Michael served as President of IWF Idaho (2007-2020) after spending 40 years in public policy leadership roles in California and Idaho in state and local governments and in the private and non-profit sectors. She has divided her career between Sun Valley, Idaho, and Sacramento, California. While not engaged in public policy, Sarah has worked as a wilderness guide in Idaho, Yellowstone, in Southern Utah, and Alaska and has led treks in Nepal and Bhutan. Ms. Michael is an acknowledged Idaho community leader elected to three terms as a Blaine County, Idaho, County Commissioner (2000-2008). Under her leadership, Blaine County enacted stronger land use protections for water quality, wildlife, agricultural lands, and reduced urban sprawl. She also spearheaded the creation of the county’s first regional public transportation system with the second largest ridership in Idaho. In California, Ms. Michael served as senior legislative staff to the California State Legislature and then led renewable energy, energy R&D, and transportation energy programs at the California Energy Commission. Subsequently, as a lobbyist, she represented multi-national corporations including IBM, American Express, Bechtel, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Luz International, the world’s largest solar energy developer. From 2009-2012, Sarah returned to the California Energy Commission as Special Advisor to the Vice Chairman to assist in overseeing California’s multi-million dollar energy R&D efforts and California’s $100 million alternative transportation fuels and vehicle technology program. Sarah has been active on environmental issues and founded Winter Wildlands Alliance, a national organization representing Nordic and backcountry skiers. In 2015, Sarah Michael was recognized as one of Idaho’s Women of the Year.