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Environmental Leadership Chronicles

Environmental Leadership Chronicles

Navigating San Diego Bay, ft. Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego

Jul 24, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min · 15 segments

In this episode, we are joined by Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego Board Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Port's Environmental Advisory Committee. Sid shares his experience in advocacy and public…

In this episode, we are joined by Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego Board Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Port's Environmental Advisory Committee. Sid shares his experience in advocacy and public service, the power of networks and perseverance, and local outreach efforts that connect students and communities to San Diego Bay. We explore Port of San Diego priorities including the Maritime Clean Air Strategy, the Blue Economy incubator, Pond 20 wetlands restoration and mitigation bank, and workforce development to create high-wage regional jobs. Sid highlights concrete project examples and cross-jurisdictional collaboration with city, state, and federal partners. For environmental professionals, Sid offers practical takeaways on presenting data and stories, engaging with agencies on decision-making, and advancing equitable, resilient solutions for San Diego Bay's future.

In this episode, we are joined by Sid Voorakkara, Port of San Diego Board Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Port's Environmental Advisory Committee. Sid shares his experience in advocacy and public…

Speakers: Sid VoorakkaraGuestJessaHost

Show signals: Audience≈193 followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: Port of San Diego×35 San Diego Bay×7 The California Endowment×9 Association of Environmental Professionals×11 Moises G. Aguirre×4

Greetings & Shared Connections1:13 – 2:24

J

JessaHost

1:13

Hi, I'm Jessa, and today we're joined by Sid Varakara, who is a commissioner with the Port of San Diego.

J

JessaHost

1:22

Thank you so much for joining us, Sid.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:25

Hi, Jessa.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:25

Thank you for having me.

J

JessaHost

1:26

Of course.

J

JessaHost

1:27

Of course.

J

JessaHost

1:28

So first question, how are you connected to AEP?

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:32

So actually I'm connected to you and through you connected to AEP, but through a mutual other organization, Business for Good.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:44

So I'm thrilled that you're on the board of Business for Good.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:47

It was a, it's, that organization has been just part of my kind of like my history and kind of pride and joy.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:55

So I'm really happy to be here and to get to know AEP and actually just being able to like through you becoming an avid listener to this podcast.

J

JessaHost

2:05

Yay, thank you.

J

JessaHost

2:07

And thanks for the shout out.

J

JessaHost

2:08

Yeah, VFG.

J

JessaHost

2:09

We have had a few other guests on from Business for Good.

J

JessaHost

2:12

So great, great community.

J

JessaHost

2:14

And thank you for bringing that community to us.

J

JessaHost

2:17

And we might get into that through this conversation.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

2:20

Yeah, I hope so.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

2:20

Yeah.

J

JessaHost

2:21

Yeah.

J

JessaHost

2:22

All right.

Port of San DiegoTourist AttractionPort authority in San Diego, California
99%35 mentions
San Diego BayBody of WaterHarbor in California
97%7 mentions
The California EndowmentCompany
94%9 mentions
Association of Environmental ProfessionalsOrganizationNon-profit organization
92%11 mentions
Moises G. AguirrePerson
90%4 mentions
CaliforniaAdministrative AreaUS state
88%8 mentions
Kent LeePersonMember of the San Diego City Council
85%2 mentions
New York UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in New York
83%6 mentions
United Nations FoundationCompanyCharitable organization
81%8 mentions
Imperial BeachCityCity in California
78%4 mentions
Blue economyEntity
76%1 mention
South BayCityRegion in San Diego County, California
74%4 mentions
Indigenous peoplesEntityPeople
72%1 mention
FrenchLanguageSpoken language
69%4 mentions
Brown BuildingEntityBuilding in New York
67%1 mention
California State Lands CommissionGovernment OrganizationGovernment office
65%1 mention
Andrew JacksonPerson7th U.S. President
63%1 mention
John Quincy AdamsPerson6th U.S. President
60%2 mentions
San Diego CountyAdministrative AreaUS county in California
58%2 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
56%2 mentions
National CityCityCity in California
53%1 mention
Scripps Institution of OceanographyCollege or UniversityUniversity in San Diego, California
51%3 mentions
Environmental Health CoalitionOrganization
49%2 mentions
Foreign AffairsPeriodicalJournal
47%1 mention
Shelter IslandTourist AttractionIsland in San Diego, California
44%1 mention
Long BeachCityCity in California
42%1 mention
Sweetwater Union High School DistrictAdministrative AreaSchool district
40%1 mention
Barrio LoganPlaceNeighborhood in San Diego, California
38%2 mentions
Point LomaTourist AttractionNeighborhood in San Diego, California
35%2 mentions
Chula VistaCityCity in California
32%1 mention
CoronadoCityCity in California
32%1 mention
OaklandCityCity in California
28%1 mention
Morse codeEntity
26%2 mentions
University of California, San DiegoEntityLand-grant university in San Diego, California
24%1 mention
Torrey pineEntityPlant
22%3 mentions
California Environmental Quality ActBook
19%1 mention
JPMorgan ChaseCompanyInvestment banking company
17%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
15%1 mention
EarthPlacePlanet
13%1 mention
Maritime Museum of San DiegoMuseumMaritime museum in San Diego, California
10%1 mention
San Diego CoastkeeperCompanyNon-profit organization
8%1 mention
North AmericaContinentContinent
6%1 mention
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationGovernment OrganizationGovernment agency
3%1 mention
CaulerpaEntityAlgae
1%1 mention

Society
Economic DevelopmentEconomics
Environmental PolicyPolitics > Local Government > Policy Making
SustainabilityEnvironment > Environmental Stewardship
Environmental StewardshipEnvironment
Workforce DevelopmentEconomics > Economic Development
Community DevelopmentGovernment > Public Service > Advocacy
Local GovernmentPolitics
Community IssuesSociety
AdvocacyGovernment > Public Service
Policy MakingPolitics > Local Government
Public ServiceGovernment
Politics
Environment
Economics
Government
Social JusticeSociety > Community Issues
Port of San DiegoGovernment > Public Service > Advocacy > Community Development
Wetlands MitigationEnvironment > Environmental Stewardship > Sustainability
Pond 20Environment > Environmental Stewardship > Sustainability > Wetlands Mitigation
Equitable DevelopmentEconomics > Economic Development > Workforce Development
Community EngagementEconomics > Economic Development > Workforce Development > Equitable Development
Access to OpportunitiesSociety > Community Issues > Social Justice
Education and AwarenessSociety > Community Issues > Social Justice > Access to Opportunities
Maritime Clean Air StrategyPolitics > Local Government > Policy Making > Environmental Policy

Greetings & Shared Connections1:13 – 2:24

J

JessaHost

1:13

Hi, I'm Jessa, and today we're joined by Sid Varakara, who is a commissioner with the Port of San Diego.

J

JessaHost

1:22

Thank you so much for joining us, Sid.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:25

Hi, Jessa.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:25

Thank you for having me.

J

JessaHost

1:26

Of course.

J

JessaHost

1:27

Of course.

J

JessaHost

1:28

So first question, how are you connected to AEP?

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:32

So actually I'm connected to you and through you connected to AEP, but through a mutual other organization, Business for Good.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:44

So I'm thrilled that you're on the board of Business for Good.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:47

It was a, it's, that organization has been just part of my kind of like my history and kind of pride and joy.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

1:55

So I'm really happy to be here and to get to know AEP and actually just being able to like through you becoming an avid listener to this podcast.

J

JessaHost

2:05

Yay, thank you.

J

JessaHost

2:07

And thanks for the shout out.

J

JessaHost

2:08

Yeah, VFG.

J

JessaHost

2:09

We have had a few other guests on from Business for Good.

J

JessaHost

2:12

So great, great community.

J

JessaHost

2:14

And thank you for bringing that community to us.

J

JessaHost

2:17

And we might get into that through this conversation.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

2:20

Yeah, I hope so.

Sid VoorakkaraGuest

2:20

Yeah.

J

JessaHost

2:21

Yeah.

J

JessaHost

2:22

All right.

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