Peter Barth

Peter Barth (he/him) is chief of staff and strategy integration at Blue Shield of California Foundation, leading the team’s strategic planning, integration, Board governance, and organization-wide special projects.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2023, Peter was chief of staff and director of public policy and government affairs at First 5 LA, one of the largest early childhood grantmaking and advocacy organizations in the country. He also served as a director at Third Sector, a national nonprofit social impact consulting organization, and assistant secretary of program and fiscal affairs at the California Health and Human Services agency for Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown.

While in state service, Peter coordinated the work of multiple state departments including Public Health, Mental Health (now State Hospitals), Developmental Services, Community Services and Development, and Statewide Health Planning and Development (now Health Care Access and Information), and represented the Health and Human Services Agency on various boards and commissions including the Strategic Growth Council and its Health in All Policies Task Force, California Workforce Investment Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Mental Health Planning Council.

Peter received his master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and bachelor’s degree in policy, management, and planning from the University of Southern California. He serves on the board of directors for Public Health Advocates and the USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association, and lives in Southern California with his husband and two dogs.

Email: Peter.Barth [at] blueshieldcafoundation.org