Amy Liu has more than 30 years of multidisciplinary experience in nonprofit leadership, public policy, and research. She is a national expert on cities and regional economies, with a track record of helping to improve policies and governance locally, nationally, and globally.

At Equal Measure, Amy guides the organization’s strategic direction—building on its longstanding reputation as a vital learning partner to foundations, nonprofits, and government in helping them achieve the change they seek and expand opportunities for all. A longtime member of the Equal Measure Board of Directors, Amy brings a unique perspective supporting the strengths of the entire Equal Measure team as it works with partners to transform systems, eliminate disparities, and build equitable communities.

In 2022, Amy served as interim president of the Brookings Institution, where she led the institution’s strategic assessment and helped it remain strong for its next chapter. She guided Brookings’ efforts to elevate its impact, safeguard its credibility, and improve workplace collaboration. She stayed on as a presidential advisor and senior fellow in 2024, overseeing Brookings’ International Advisory Council and cross-institutional initiatives, such as the responsibly governing of AI and emerging technologies.

Before July 2022, Amy was the vice president and director of Brookings Metro and the Adeline M. and Alfred I. Johnson Chair in Urban and Metropolitan Policy. She co-founded Brookings Metro in 1996 and built what is today a leading resource for state and local leaders who want to promote prosperous, just, and resilient communities. Amy also served several stints in the federal government—as a special advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and as staff in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Senate Banking Committee’s subcommittee on housing and urban affairs.

Amy has been published nationally, including in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Bloomberg News. Her research has focused on transformative economic development in cities and metro areas: their resilience, growth, and opportunities for prosperity. She sits on the boards of multiple organizations that work toward more inclusive economies and has been a member of Equal Measure’s Board of Directors since 2019.

ASK AMY ABOUT…

Her two daughters; the incredible visits she took learning from leaders in cities, large and small, across the U.S.; and her fond memories growing up in a Chinese restaurant family.

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