Mandy Gunasekara is a Senior Fellow for Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise America’s energy IQ. A veteran climate and energy strategist and communicator, Mandy founded the Energy 45 Fund, a Jackson, Mississippi-based non-profit educational organization dedicated to informing the public about recent environmental and economic gains.
Prior to ENERGY 45, Mandy served in the EPA as the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. While at EPA, she spearheaded many of the Trump Administration’s greatest energy and environmental policy achievements. Mandy was the chief architect of the Paris Accord withdrawal and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. She also led efforts to develop its replacement – the proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule.
Previously, Mandy served as Majority Counsel for Chairman Inhofe during the 114th Congress and for Chairman Barrasso during the 115th Congress on the United States Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She led committee actions and policy development on the Clean Air Act and climate change issues.
A native Mississippian, Mandy earned a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law and a B.A. from Mississippi College. She and her husband Surya have two small children. They are in the process of moving back to her hometown, Decatur, MS.