Danny Wan has dedicated his career to strengthening the economic vitality of Oakland and the East Bay. He most recently served as General Counsel and later Executive Director of the Port of Oakland, overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes maritime port facilities, Oakland International Airport, and more than 875 acres of waterfront property. As Executive Director, he guided the Port through the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced major real estate and infrastructure initiatives, and led development of a five-year strategic plan focused on business growth, real estate development, and the transition to clean energy operations.
Mr. Wan began his public service career as a public finance attorney advising municipalities and nonprofits on infrastructure and enterprise financing. He was elected to the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Board in 1996 and later appointed to the Oakland City Council, where he became the first openly LGBTQ council member in Oakland. On the Council, he led a successful bond measure to fund cleanup and capital improvements for Lake Merritt and the Oakland Estuary and chaired the finance committee, championing investments in public safety, streets, parks, and recreation. He later served as City Attorney and Risk Manager for the City of Morgan Hill before returning to the Port of Oakland as Port Attorney and General Counsel.
A recognized leader in the port and civic sectors, Mr. Wan serves in national and statewide port leadership roles, including on the Board of Governors of the American Association of Port Authorities and as President of the California Association of Port Authorities. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Bay Area Council, on the Sierra Nevada Conservancy by gubernatorial appointment, and on the transition team for Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Mr. Wan holds degrees from UC Berkeley and UCLA School of Law and lives in Oakland with his husband.