Elizabeth Balkan is the Director of Policy and Senior Advisor to the Commissioner at the New York City Department of Sanitation. In this role, she has been responsible for developing and implementing the city's zero waste plan. Previously, Balkan worked on long-term planning and sustainability at the Mayor’s Office. Before joining the City, she lived and worked in China for more than a decade, researching solid waste planning in China and running an energy and environmental consulting firm. Balkan has worked extensively with cities to make sustainable development a viable option for both developed and emerging economies. Her educational background is in public policy and economic development. She holds a Masters degree from Columbia University and a Bachelors from Georgetown University.