As an energy industry professional, I know that energy policy is important, but policymaking itself remains something of a black box.

State representative Liana Cassar of Rhode Island is pulling back the curtain for us today.

Liana's professional background is systems thinking and design for the health care sector, but as a legislator, she balances myriad legislative priorities including energy policy.

On this episode, Liana shares with us how she learns about domain specific issues, how she helps educate constituents on the issues at hand, and how she looks for holistic solutions that are integrative and solve multiple issues facing communities at once.

*Note: Episode 1.04 with Kameale Terry is referenced often. Check it out: Episode 1.04: On EV Infrastructure and Green Workforce Development with Kameale Terry

Quotables

"There's that space between shutting down the old and turning on the new. It's really a rich and important space, and we need to get it right."

"My bottom line for how we make change: we engage."

“So much mythology is getting in the way of good work.”

“What is going to be the right thing that is best for the well-being of all?”

- All quotes above by Liana Cassar

“Energy is an intersectional issue that touches every single aspect of our human lives and it affects our planet.” – Amy Simpkins

This week’s guest

Representative Liana Cassar is in her second term in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Her legislative priorities are good government, economic justice, reproductive justice, and environmental stewardship. She currently serves on the House Committees on Health and Human Services, and Small Business.

Rep. Cassar has spent the past 20+ years working across the health care and public health sectors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
With a background in public health, operations and systems, she currently consults with mission-driven and women-led businesses, mainly in the care economy, on operations planning, change management and systems development. She holds a Masters in Public Health from Boston University and a Masters in Business Administration from Simmons College.
Resources:

Connect with Liana Cassar on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Check out Cassar Consulting’s website.

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Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!