Sarah Dennis-Phillips MLA ’00 has been announced as the new Planning Director for the City of San Francisco. Appointed by Mayor Daniel Lurie in June 2025, she is the first woman to serve in this role. Sarah previously worked as Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development for the City of San Francisco.

In a press release from the City, Sarah shared, “I am honored to be tapped by Mayor Lurie to support his vision for San Francisco and direct the Planning Department in accelerating housing development across income bands through his Family Zoning plan, unlocking pipeline projects, and incentivizing adaptive reuse of commercial properties…I’m excited to help guide the city into its next phase of revitalization—one focused on long-term transformation, regulatory reform, and building the foundation for the kind of sustainable, inclusive innovation that defines San Francisco at its best.”

Photo courtesy of Sarah Dennis-Phillips (LinkedIn).