Development & Energy Panel | 9:40 a.m.
About Jamie
Gov. Spencer Cox appointed Jamie Barnes as commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources in August 2026. In the role, she leads nearly 2,500 employees overseeing the state’s water security, energy development, wildfire management, state parks and public lands stewardship.
She previously served as Utah state forester and director of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, capping more than 15 years with the agency. Her landmark work on the Great Salt Lake — including negotiating a historic water donation and establishing a framework for critical mineral extraction — earned her the 2025 Utah Water Pioneer Award.
A lifelong Utahn, she enjoys exploring the state’s outdoors with her husband and two children.