Speaker profile
Maria Doa
Maria J. Doa is the Senior Director of Chemicals Policy at the Environmental Defense Fund, where she focuses on reducing exposures to toxic chemicals through effective, health-protective implementation of the nation’s chemical safety laws. Her work champions robust, inclusive and transparent decision-making that considers the impacts chemicals can have throughout their lifecycle, with particular attention to protecting those most at risk.
A key priority is addressing PFAS exposure by advocating for upstream solutions in the chemicals’ lifecycle, including reducing production of non-essential uses of PFAS, implementing more effects treatment at production and industrial and commercial use sites to minimize environmental releases, and identifying alternatives to PFAS in processes and products.
Previously she held a number of leadership roles at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, including as the Director of the Chemical Control Division in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, where she led activities for the assessment and management of a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer chemicals, including PFAS and other persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals, under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
She has worked across the Federal Government and internationally on efforts to reduce risk to chemicals, including with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to eliminate lead poisoning in children. She was the co-chair of the United Nations Environment Program and World Health Organization Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paints, led the United Nations Environment Program Mercury Products Partnership, and led efforts on nanomaterials in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s chemicals program.
Maria holds a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry.