About the Portland Utility Board

Purpose of the Board

The Portland Utility Board (PUB) is a community oversight body whose purpose is to advise City Council and bureau leadership on budgetary and policy matters related to the two utility bureaus, the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau. PUB believes every person is entitled to clean and affordable drinking water, healthy communities, and healthy watersheds.

PUB believes and acts upon anti-racist principles. We must hold ourselves and the Bureaus accountable for identifying and addressing racism, systemic racism, and structural inequities. In interacting with the PUB, while every person has the right to share their personal perspective, we stand against wrongful conduct, particularly any conduct that is targeted toward people that are made vulnerable by systemic inequities.

Read the full version of PUB's Beliefs, Values and Anti-Racist Principles:

PUB has 11 voting members and three ex-officio members. One voting member of the PUB is a current employee in a represented bargaining unit with the Portland Water Bureau or the Bureau of Environmental Services. Board members will be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Mayor and Council strive to have PUB reflect the diversity of the Portland community. 

Current Members

Voting Members

Bruk Berhanu is a water resources engineer and new resident of Portland, moving here in Spring of 2024 after 11 years in Austin, TX.  He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of Texas at Austin researching strategies for cities to support water resilience through “one water” strategies such as greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting. After graduating, Bruk spent five years working in Austin’s water and wastewater utility supporting cross-functional efforts to develop and implement the city’s 100-year integrated water resources plan while integrating an equity lens into utility decision-making processes.  He is now a senior research specialist with the Pacific Institute, a global water resources think tank, where he leads water efficiency and reuse research projects to support long-term water resilience across the country. Originally from Cleveland, OH and completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Bruk has developed his passion for understanding the intersection of water, infrastructure, and society through his academic and life experiences. He now works to use his expertise and experience to build that passion in others and work toward a just and sustainable water future for all.

Term: August 6, 2025 – August 5, 2028

Darrel Bobb is an infrastructure and energy systems professional with a background in public works, clean energy, and military service. He currently serves as a utility locator for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and is a U.S. Navy veteran who specialized in weapons systems safety and emergency response aboard submarines. A former wind turbine technician and quality assurance specialist, Darrel is committed to technical excellence and ensuring that frontline experience informs public infrastructure decisions.

Term: August 6, 2025 – August 5, 2028

Cormac Burke has been a Portland resident since 1990 and has recently retired from a 40 year career in Information Technology. In his role as an IT Analyst/Architect/Director he worked across numerous organizations and industries to deliver enterprise IT Solutions. Roughly 15 years of his career were spent at a large electric utility based in Portland where he was involved in the implementation and support of Corporate Systems (Financial/HR/Regulatory) as well as Power Delivery and Transmissions systems. In that role he developed a strong appreciation and awareness of both the criticality and nuance of utilities in general, as well as how Investor owned utilities differ from public utilities. He led and collaborated with numerous groups, organizations and vendors in his roles, and built up a strong reputation as an open, supportive and collaborative leader who worked well with people across multiple different cultures. 

He has served in volunteer positions in a variety of areas, including the Multnomah County Citizens Advisory Board, the PCC Information Systems Advisory Committee, and an informal advisory board that was established to provide input and guidance to the City of Portland around their initial implementation of the SAP software suite.

Term: August 6, 2025 – August 5, 2028

Kyle J Chipman (he/him) -with over a decade of experience in project and program management, Kyle brings visual thinking and actionable solutions as Chief Process Officer to Chipman Design Architecture. In his time at the firm, he has overhauled the technology stack, defined the knowledgebase, led a company-wide rebranding and directly supported the firm's clients as they structure their own solutions. Kyle excels at tackling abstract obstacles that elicit solutions for the beleaguered with best practices for the whole. He's a member of Smartsheet Overachievers, was nominated to the Miro Hall of Fame for Design, and has spoken at Smartsheet Engage, Miro Distributed and Bluebeam Extreme in addition to multiple webinars and user groups. In service to the environment, Kyle has volunteered with the Sierra Club (Oregon Chapter), serving on its Political Committee, and Citizens' Climate Lobby (Portland Chapter), serving on its Communications Committee. For a more complete window into his body of work, visit kylechipman.info/resume.

Term: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027

Co-Chair Term: September 3, 2025 – June 30, 2027

Julia DeGraw is the senior West Coast campaign manager for offshore wind energy at the National Wildlife Federation based in Portland Oregon, and has spent her entire career in the environmental nonprofit sector. She was born and raised in the Portland Metro region and has lived here her entire life except for four years of college in Wisconsin where she earned a BS in Environmental Studies and Sociology from Northland College. Much of her career has focused on water issues including her nine-year stint at Food & Water Watch as the Senior Northwest Organizer where she often advocated for Portland water issues. She is passionate about ensuring a clean environment for future generations, sanitation, and clean affordable water for all, and dismantling systemic racism in Portland. Her experience interacting with thousands of residents from her campaigns for public office, alongside her professional experiences make her uniquely suited to serve the diverse interests of people of Portland on the PUB.

Term: January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2026

Dr. Myra Khushbakht is an emergency medicine resident physician at Oregon Health and Science University, where she works to help meet the needs of patients in the emergency department—often deemed the social safety net of the hospital. Here in Portland, she has seen the diversity of our community right in the emergency department both at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University. Her working experience further motivates and empowers her in seeking to create inclusive environments and explore ways to participate in supporting infrastructure that help meet people’s social drivers of health and basic needs. She is interested in discussing sustainable recommendations for water infrastructure that helps support our environments and communities. In terms of her career, she specializes in emergency medicine with an interest in medical toxicology, particularly environmental toxicology. Outside the duties of residency, she enjoys learning new languages, tending to her plants, and swimming.

Term: August 6, 2025 – August 5, 2028

Jennifer O’Connor has dedicated her life to public service through her work as a civil servant and her volunteer work with underrepresented communities. A licensed landscape architect with over 20 years of experience, she managed public infrastructure projects with a long-range perspective, including the environmental review and design phases of San Francisco’s Embarcadero Freeway Replacement which was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. She also participated in San Francisco’s Public Utility Commission’s pilot program testing a tertiary treated water system. Jennifer has an understanding about how natural resource systems and water infrastructure could work together to support environmental and community health, and she brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to complex challenges. Her volunteer service on the City of Portland’s CEI Hub Policy Project and Water Bureau’s budget review committee reflect her commitment to ensure the public sector meets community needs and equity goals. Jennifer supports Portland’s One Water Initiative and is ready to step up and assist the city in tackling the growing challenges of its water systems.

Term: August 6, 2025 – August 5, 2028

Alexis Rife works in the environmental non-profit sector, primarily on natural resource management. Her work is largely focused on understanding the dynamics of complex, intersecting systems that shape fisheries, especially working closely with coastal communities in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Alexis brings much experience in facilitating collaborative processes, designing and applying participatory processes, and ensuring that voices of all stakeholders are involved in decision-making. She holds a firm commitment to advancing equity and environmental justice in our world and is especially interested in access to information. Alexis volunteers with a range of local organizations, especially those in North Portland. 

Term: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2028

Lauren Rosenkranz (she/her, co-chair) is an environmental scientist specializing in environmental compliance and impact assessment for water resource development projects. With a background in industrial engineering, Lauren's journey has led her from Texas to NYC and Colorado before settling in Portland. She has been active in the music industry across the country, and you can often catch her out enjoying live music or comedy. She is passionate about her community, and always aims to contribute to making the world a better and more sustainable place to live, work, and play. Her hands-on approach to environmental stewardship often finds her knee-deep in cleanups and habitat restoration efforts. Passionate about advocating for environmental justice and equitable access to resources for all humans, Lauren brings a blend of technical expertise and a commitment to sustainability in her work.

Term: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027

Previous Co-Chair Term: February 1, 2025 - January 31, 2026

Lorraine Wilson is an immigrant from the beautiful twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, who moved to the United States 21+ years ago. Coming from a family of educators and humanitarians, she resisted the natural path to becoming an educator. However, over the years she has embraced her natural leaning towards learning, coaching and authentic communication and have continued her calling to speak up and act against injustices and inhumanity.

Her field of study is in Organizational Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Behavior (Culture Change), with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and BSc. in Business Management (emphasis on Organizational Behavior).

Lorraine’s upbringing was grounded in racial justice and as such she volunteered in various areas to drive those conversations and changes. She served as a Commissioner on the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs (OCBA) from 2010 -2013 serving as Vice Chair. There she championed racial equity and challenged the state to focus on hate crimes during the “Post Racial” period (2008-2016). She was a member of the Eugene 4J School District Equity Committee with a focus on closing the achievement/opportunity gap, United Coalition of Color (working on the Disproportionate Minority contact at Lane County Department of Youth Services). She is also a member of Blacks In Government (BIG) - Eugene/Springfield Branch, having served as the membership chair and National Legislative representative for Region 10. She is currently serving on the Board of Resolution Northwest. (RNW) and a Board Aunty of Brown Girls Rise. Lorraine also served on the Portland Harbor Community Grant Review Committee and advocated successfully for increased funding for community groups, Children Levy fund reviewer and Oregon Community Fund Grant Reviewer.

Lorraine has facilitated inclusive Strategic Planning with Brown Girls Rise, Co-Facilitated - American Association of University Women (AAUW) Washington Online Branch – Diversity and Inclusion Online Training and as a Board member at RNW, part of the strategic focus on dismantling white supremacy within the organization, and have contributed to conversations challenging the status quo.

What you are guaranteed to get is honest, thoughtful, humane consideration. Lorraine considers herself a thought leader in dissecting systemic racism and anti-blackness

Term: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2028

Co-Chair Term: March 17, 2026 – September 17, 2026

Ex-officio Members

Joanne Johnson (she/her) has been the Accessibility Analyst on the Water Bureau’s Equity and Policy Team since February 2021. Her current role focuses on policy development and implementing systems to integrate language access and disability access into the way the bureau operates. Previously, she spent five years coordinating the city’s Disability Program and founding Adapt to Impact within the Office of Community and Civic Life.  Here, she developed and facilitated leadership programs and provided citywide guidance on accessibility and conducting more equitable community engagement.

She grew up in Michigan and has lived on both the East and West Coasts. Having worked in both government and non-profit roles, she’s well versed in the challenges and opportunities of each sector. In past roles, she advocated for policy change with nonprofit organizations and governments, developed and facilitated technical and culture-centered trainings, and organized for change. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and a certified Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator.

Joanne considers her dedication to advancing equitable outcomes and acting in anti-racist, anti-ableist ways as core to who she is, and she enjoys that every new role and place has offered unique ways to bring this dedication to life.

Joanne looks forward to bringing her knowledge of government systems, experience in authentic community engagement, and deep commitment to advancing equity to the Portland Utility Board.

Term: November 1, 2023-June 30, 2025

Current Board Vacancies 

1 Labor Representative Voting Member 

2 Ex-Officio Non-Voting Members